Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 250; Flight Crew Total 14100; Flight Crew Type 4
Situational Awareness; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Chart Or Publication; Human Factors; Procedure
As we were returning to SJC; Oakland Center gave us Direct TROXX; which I recognized as a waypoint on the SILCN ONE arrival. We pulled the Jeppesen chart up on the Multifunction Display (MFD) to begin our arrival planning. Center asked us for our best forward speed (.68 mach); and we heard other planes being asked to slow for the arrival. While descending but still in the flight levels we were given the SILCN ONE arrival as expected; and told to descend via the arrival.Between SILCN and VLLEY; we were given the 'West transition'. The Jeppesen plate was zoomed in enough that the EAST and West Transition notes were off the screen. Since the transition through BAXBY and APLLE was to the west of the one through GUUYY to KLIDE; we both assumed that was the one we were to take. On the other hand; from previous experience into San Jose; I knew that KLIDE was the normal way to get to RW 31L; which is what we expected. We discussed the situation; and I assumed that we were being taken off the normal arrival because we were slower than the people behind us. Neither of us felt comfortable about this concept and after passing BAXBY we started questioning our choice; especially after hearing the other planes that had been asked to slow down also being given the West Transition. At this point the Pilot Not Flying (PNF) called NORCAL (we'd been transferred to NORCAL earlier) and asked it we should be on the transition to KLIDE or the one to ZORSA. The reply was; of course; the one to KLIDE - NORCAL then gave us direct KLIDE.We could easily have continued on the wrong transition; and followed an inappropriate descent profile as well as the wrong course. In retrospect; we should have clarified the transition question before arriving at VLLEY by asking if the transition was the one through KLIDE or ZORSA; and should have checked the zoom on the arrival chart to make sure we had seen the entire arrival. From a human factors perspective; calling a transition that is on the west side of the chart the EAST Transition; and on the East side of the chart the WEST Transition is asking for problems. And we found them.
RNAV ARRIVAL transitions need to be renamed. This is the 2nd time in one week in training pilots to fly Citations I have had an issue. Is this situation; we were cleared for the SILCN 1 RNAV STAR and told to 'Descend via the Arrival - West Transition'.The Pilot in training is a 15;000 hour pilot with 4 Citation Type Ratings and over 10;000 hours dual given. So you have 2 very seasoned instructor pilots. I was given DUAL to the PiT on RNAV Arrivals using the Garmin G3000 (a new avionics suite to this PiT).Having been given the arrival; we both briefed the plate and noted the two transitions at the bottom of the Jeppesen plate. West Transition for Runways 29;30 -- East Transition for Runways 11;12Here is where the Human Factors element comes into play: If you look at the plate which is in a North Up depiction; one transition (the WEST Transitions) runs up the EAST side of the Arrival and the (EAST Transition) runs up the WEST side of the plate. We went back to ATC and confirmed you wanted us on the 'West Transition'. ATC confirmed this. Therefore we briefing and loaded the EAST TRANSITION which is loaded via selecting the Runway.A contributing factor to this decision making process was: Just days earlier I had been into MEM with a different pilot. This time in a Citation Mustang with Garmin G1000 flight deck. In this situation we planned the NORTH Transition as depicted on the plate however Memphis Center gave us the South Transition. When re-checking with Center about this assignment they acknowledged that the plate said for 9-27 fly the North Transition but they specifically wanted us to fly the SOUTH which we did.Here's our opinion: CHANGE these Transition Names back to the names of the waypoint you want us to fly to. 'Descend via the SILCN ONE RNAV Arrival - KLYDE Transition'. That way there won't be an accident or midair by someone descending on the wrong transition!
CE-525 flight crew landing SJC is cleared via the SILCN1 west transition; which visually is on the East side of the chart causing confusion and the wrong transition to be chosen. One suggests that the transitions should be named after the first fix after the last common fix to eliminate confusion.