Date: 201411
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZFW.ARTCC, TX
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Descent
Airspace: Class A ZFW
ATC / advisory: Center ZFW
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Second reporter function: First Officer
Anomaly: Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met; Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Contributing factors: Procedure; Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: Just before beginning the BRDJE1 arrival ATC gave us descend to FL260; pilot's discretion; no mention of descend via. A few minutes into this descent a new controller gave us 'descend via the BRDJE1; except maintain 15;000.' We set in 15;000; and verified it as 'set and armed.' I looked and saw a 15;000 limit on another waypoint further into the arrival; and somehow justified the 15;000 in my mind. Passing thru FL230 controller had us stop descent; then told us we were to have levelled at FL260 per the arrival; but to now maintain FL230 and comply with rest of arrival except maintain 310 kts. We did so without further incident. Controller was very tactful regarding our error; and thank him for that. I think that transitioning from a cruise altitude to a pilot's discretion clearance to FL260 without mention of a descend via; might have lulled us into getting the next descent to 15;000 with a descend via; however it was plain and simple an error that either one of us pilots should not have committed. I think we pilots both got a little dyslexic thinking that we were to descend now to 15;000; THEN comply with rest of STAR; instead of meet all higher altitude constraints on STAR; EXCEPT do not descend below 15;000. I would prefer to hear 'descend via STAR; except do not descend below 15;000.' However; in the future I will do as I usually do and query the controller if unsure about his/her expectations.


Second narrative: While flying the BRDJE1 RNAV arrival; ATC first cleared us from FL320 pilot's discretion to FL260. During our descent thru Approx. FL300 ATC then cleared us 'to descend via the BRDJE1 arrival except maintain 15000 ft.' We continued via the arrival routing and speeds planning on crossing LEMYN at 15000. ATC interceded approximately 10 NM prior to ARMYY and told us to level off at our current altitude of 23000 ft. We cleared up the miscommunication and ATC later cleared us to continue descending via the BRDJE1 Arrival. There was no further incident and there was no apparent traffic conflict. Approach and landing were uneventful.


Synopsis: Air Carrier flight crew reports being cleared to descend via the BRDJE1 RNAV arrival except maintain 15;000 feet. The crew attempts to descend directly to 15;000 feet and is admonished by ATC.