B777 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 2
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure
Aircraft X direct TORNN intersection on DRLLR Star level at FL390. Aircraft X advises ATC they are leaving FL390 for FL240 without ATC clearance to do so. I immediately advised Aircraft X to descend and maintain FL370. Aircraft X then read back; 'descend and maintain FL370.' Pilot thought with the new STARS they could start descending whenever they needed too; to make their descent profile. Had it been busier or if aircraft had traffic below there could have been an unsafe situation.Brief pilots on proper procedures of new OAPM arrivals.
ZFW Controller reports of a pilot that thought they could descend on the STAR whenever they needed to.