Date: 201504
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: IMC
Weather elements / visibility: Rain
Aircraft: A320
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Descent
Airspace: Class C ZZZ
ATC / advisory: TRACON ZZZ
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Not Flying
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Distraction; Confusion
Second reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Speed All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Contributing factors: Chart Or Publication; Procedure; Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: Controller 1 gave us direct [to a fix]; then he gave us Pilots Discretion to FL240. We then started our descent. When we reached FL240 we were then cleared again Pilot's Discretion to FL190. We were never given a descend via clearance - we were only given direct. We were then switched to another controller. This controller then cleared us to descend via [the] arrival into ZZZ. I set the lowest altitude 5;000 feet for transition. Before I moved my finger I verified that the Pilot flying (PF) put it in Managed Descent and Managed Speed of which he did. Aircraft started to slow and we were on profile. Shortly thereafter the Controller was very curt in his question of our speed of which I professionally replied 278 knots. His agitated response was you should've been at 270 knots. This controller took it further by now telling us to call when we land. We were surprised by this tone; that we actually needed to have him repeat it. If there were separation issues; I don't think giving us a phone number twice fixes the separation issue - (of which we were not aware of any other aircraft - he did not point any traffic out). We are on a descent into mountainous terrain at night and becoming confused by ATC's handling of our flight. After that he told us to fly an off course heading. I heard turn 30 degrees left; the captain initiated a 30 degree right turn to what he thought was to be a 030 heading. When I saw him turn right I responded turning 30 degrees right thinking I misunderstood him of which the controller did not correct us. The next transmission came from the controller and he said I thought I told you to turn to the left.  The controller told us stay on your course to the right to I believe a 030 heading. I queried the Captain and said that's where the high terrain is; we need to go back left. When I was about to ask ATC to go left he cleared us direct [to a fix] descend and maintain 7;000. There was a chain of events that started because we never were initially cleared to Descend Via the Arrival until inside the arrival. The manner in which this was handled; in my opinion raised safety issues by creating communication barriers and confusion. We landed without incident and then called the phone number at the gate. The Captain called and spoke with the ATC Supervisor. I did not hear the conversation the Captain had but I was told a synopsis from the Captain. He gave me a thumbs up that it's no problem and not to worry. Apparently this controller had a very heated discussion regarding this arrival with the Chief Pilot over this exact thing regarding speed on the arrival. In my opinion; from what I was briefed by the Captain; it almost seems we were almost setup to fall into what I believe was a 'trap'; so as to possibly validate his discussion with the Chief Pilot; just my opinion.


Second narrative: ...At this point as a crew; we were confused and losing situational awareness. The controllers tone and agitation was only adding to our stress and creating a communication barrier. We continued to receive vectors and landed uneventfully. I contacted approach at the given number after parking at the gate. Approach control supervisor took the call for the controller we were working with during the approach. [He] said he had review the situation and we discussed the arrival and communication errors. [He] explained the controller on duty recently had a heated discussion with the Chief Pilot over his approach control clearances and the controller was still on edge with pilots over the discussion. We ended the conversation on good terms and exchanged names and numbers.


Synopsis: An A320 flight crew received a 'Descend Via' clearance and were in Managed Descent and Managed Speed. ATC queried the crew about their speed and they replied '278 knots'; they were slowing to the required 270 knots as required by the profile. The Controller gave them a number to call upon landing. The Captain called and spoke to a supervisor who relayed that the controller on duty had recently had a heated discussion with the Chief Pilot about his dissatisfaction with pilot's arrival and communications errors.