Commercial Fixed Wing
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert
Human Factors; Procedure; Chart Or Publication
This is a general report regarding multiple events on the FISSK 2 Arrival into MDW. The times noted are estimated and refer to the most recent of several events. Chicago Center issues aircraft to cross the FISSK waypoint on the FISSK 2 arrival at 11;000 FT and hand them off to us; South Bend Approach. I have noticed on more than one occasion aircraft cross the FISSK waypoint at 11;000 FT; and without ATC instruction; begin to descend or ask if they are allowed to descend. The pilots are instructed to fly a transition after the HALIE intersection. When they review the transition; some confusion may occur. The arrival says to cross HILLS waypoint at 5;000 FT or SAILZ waypoint at 3;000 FT (depending on the transition). The pilots think they are free to descend at that time. I caught one pilot starting to descend as I was issuing a descent clearance from 11;000 FT to 10;000 FT. I asked the pilot if he was already starting to descend seconds before I was talking. He said he was and explained the confusion on the altitudes posted on the transition. There was no deviation since he had only dropped 100 FT and I was descending him anyways. There have been several other pilots that question ATC about whether or not they are allowed to descend. From what I have experienced; every aircraft was being operated by a single air carrier. Note: South Bend has a LOA with Chicago Approach to hand off aircraft at 6 or 7 thousand FT. The transitions show 5 and 3; therefore South Bend never issues a 'Descend Via' clearance. Remove the crossing restrictions since we don't issue them (due to LOA). Change the 'Note:' on the arrival to say 'Expect' instead of 'Cross'; Contact this Air Carrier and see if they are receiving the proper training on arrival procedures.
SBN Approach Controller reports many pilots becoming confused during the FISSK 2 RNAV arrival into MDW and descending before being cleared to do so. A descend via clearance is never issued for this arrival due to the LOA with Chicago Approach and the reporter believes the altitude restrictions at HILLS and SAILZ should be changed to expect altitudes.