Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
Coming into Memphis on the Tammy arrival. Descending via. First Approach Controller stopped our descent at 10;000 FT. Then just prior to frequency changed she gave a descent to 3;000 FT. Checked on with next Approach Controller with our altitude and down to 3;000 FT. Passing through 3;700 FT Controller questioned our altitude and she thought we were cleared only down to 4;000 FT. Probably because of the descend via arrival. I don't believe we made a mistake; but just covering myself in case we did. I honestly don't think there was a deviation on our part; but because the Approach Controller questioned our altitude; I thought it was best to fill this out. If we did make an error the breakdown would have occurred sometime during the initial clearance down to the lower altitude and my read back.
Given the descend via Tammy 4 into MEM Landing South transition; we were following profile when we were issued descend via except maintain 9;000 FT. We stated that we did not understand that clearance; maintained published speeds; stop 9;000 FT. Then we were issued maintain 10;000 FT. Then we were told to descend to 3;000 FT. We received frequency change; checked in descending to 3;000 FT; got acknowledgement from Controller. As we were leveling at 3;000 FT; Controller stated we were supposed to be at 4;000 FT. We stated we were issued 3;000 FT from previous Controller; no further comment was made from Controller. Cause; Poor ATC clearances. Suggestions; ATC needs to give proper clearances.
Air carrier inbound to MEM assigned the Tammy 4 STAR encountered confusion with regard to the 'descend via' clearances issued by ATC.