Flight Crew Last 90 Days 180; Flight Crew Total 10000; Flight Crew Type 4000
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors
Being vectored for the ILS 19L. Just coming up on BERKS; instructed by Norcal to descend and maintain 2100. Selected 2100 in MCP and; per SOP; altitude was acknowledged by First Officer (FO). I read back altitude clearance to Norcal and we began descent to 2100 feet. Concurrent with this; as we turned onto the localizer; we receive a FUEL L WING TANK LO LVL ECAM. I complete ECAM while FO continues approach. We both acknowledge that 2100 is below the published 2800 for the segment between BERKS and SHAKE and resolve we are clear of terrain and communication from Norcal was clear and unambiguous; as was our readback and that 2100 must be the minimum vectoring altitude for that segment of the approach. Reaching 2100; Norcal asks us to confirm our altitude. I respond '2100'. Norcal says 'cancel approach clearance and climb to 2900'. I acknowledge clearance and we climb to 2900. Norcal then reclears us for the ILS19L shortly prior to SHAKE. Landed uneventfully.
We were being vectored on to ILS 19L from right downwind at 5000 FT. From base we were given a heading to intercept LOC inside BERKS intersection and told to descend to 2100 FT. After reading back the intercept clearance and the clearance to descend to 2100 the LOC was intercepted as we started down. Soon after; we got an ECAM indicating a low fuel level in the left wing tank with the appropriate to-do list. It was determined that the ECAM was simple enough to complete and continue. Upon completion of the procedure and leveling at 2100 FT; ATC asked us to 'say altitude.' We were then instructed to climb to 2800 FT and continue inbound. Clearance for the ILS 19L was received and the rest of the approach and landing was normal.
A320 flight crew reports being cleared by NCT to descend and maintain 2;100 feet approaching BERKS during an ILS 19L at SFO. This is below the approach segment altitude of 2;800 feet but was clear and unambiguous and the readback was not challenged. This altitude is not correct and NCT issues a climb to 2;900 feet.