B737-700
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 212; Flight Crew Type 28000
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Chart Or Publication; Procedure; Human Factors
We were cleared to cross BENEY at 10;000' on the CSI [CENTERPOINT] Arrival. On check-in with Approach; I requested the RNAV (RNP) Z RWY 22. We were told to expect that. A few miles later; Approach cleared us to cross JUMDI at or above 6000' and cleared RNAV (RNP) RWY 22 approach. The pilot flying wanted clarification if we had been cleared direct to JUMDI to begin the approach. I asked Approach and got cleared direct to JUMDI; cross at or above 6000'; and cleared RNAV (RNP) RWY 22. My question is: did Approach's original clearance allow us to close the route discontinuity after MEDIN on the CENTERPOINT1 Arrival; fly the RNAV (RNP) RWY 22 from MEDIN; and descend out of 10;000' complying with the altitudes on the approach prior to reaching MEDIN? In other words; were we cleared originally to cross MEDIN at or below 9000' or at 10;000'; that being my last altitude clearance until established on the RNAV at MEDIN?Standard terminology is used to prevent confusion. All the wrinkles are not clear in my mind about the transition from arrivals to approaches with different altitudes depicted for the same points.
When cleared; first; to descend on the CENTERPOINT STAR and subsequently to fly the RNAV (RNP) Z Rwy 22 at SAT the flight crew of a B737NG was uncertain as to compliance with altitude restrictions at waypoint MEDIN which is a fix on the STAR and an IAF for the RNAV approach.