Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Chart Or Publication; Procedure; Human Factors
During descent into Baltimore on the RAVNN RNAV STAR we were vectored off the arrival numerous times and given assigned airspeed changes. After being vectored off the arrival we were cleared direct to OTT; cross OTT at 9;000. Neither the Captain nor I ever heard 'Descend via the RAVNN arrival.' We complied with the clearance to cross OTT at 9;000 and subsequently switched controllers. The next Controller asked if we were going to make RAVNN at 6;000. We told him that; although we had not heard a clearance to 'Descend via' the arrival; we would descend to 6;000. The Controller then cleared us to 'descend to 6;000' and never mentioned anything further about missing an altitude. No further incident occurred. In the future; when being vectored off the arrival and checking in with a new controller; it is would be wise to check with the new controller to make we are all on the same page as the previous controller. This way you know what is expected of you.
After they had been vectored off of and then returned to the RAVNN RNAV STAR to BWI; the flight crew of a B717-200; as well as the Controller to which they were switched; were uncertain as to whether or not they had been 'cleared via' the STAR and were intending to comply with the STAR restrictions.