Controller questions altitude of aircraft moving into his airspace.

Attributes
ACN	102323
Time
Date	198901
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cju
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 26000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : rorg artcc : rktt
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	102323
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 225 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 1400
ASRS Report	102315
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation Inter Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

At approximately N32 degrees 00' east 125 degrees 30' we requested and received clearance to descend from FL350 to FL260 from taegu control. We advised taegu we were leaving FL350 for FL260 and taegu 'rogered.' upon reaching FL260 we advised taegu we were 'level 260' and taegu 'rogered.' conditions were VFR on top from FL350 to FL265 and IFR at FL260. At atoti (a compulsory reporting point) we advised reported our position time and altitude (FL260) to taegu control and were told to 'contact naha control of 127.5.' we contacted confirmation of our altitude 3 or 4 times so I concluded that naha was not aware of the altitude change and that taegu had failed to inform naha of the change. The accents that often cause a lack of understanding in international flying were not a problem in this case. I believe there was a procedures break down at the taegu center but I do not have a solution for the problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR QUESTIONS ALT OF ACFT MOVING INTO HIS AIRSPACE.

Narrative: AT APPROX N32 DEGS 00' E 125 DEGS 30' WE REQUESTED AND RECEIVED CLRNC TO DSND FROM FL350 TO FL260 FROM TAEGU CTL. WE ADVISED TAEGU WE WERE LEAVING FL350 FOR FL260 AND TAEGU 'ROGERED.' UPON REACHING FL260 WE ADVISED TAEGU WE WERE 'LEVEL 260' AND TAEGU 'ROGERED.' CONDITIONS WERE VFR ON TOP FROM FL350 TO FL265 AND IFR AT FL260. AT ATOTI (A COMPULSORY RPTING POINT) WE ADVISED RPTED OUR POS TIME AND ALT (FL260) TO TAEGU CTL AND WERE TOLD TO 'CONTACT NAHA CTL OF 127.5.' WE CONTACTED CONFIRMATION OF OUR ALT 3 OR 4 TIMES SO I CONCLUDED THAT NAHA WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ALT CHANGE AND THAT TAEGU HAD FAILED TO INFORM NAHA OF THE CHANGE. THE ACCENTS THAT OFTEN CAUSE A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING IN INTL FLYING WERE NOT A PROB IN THIS CASE. I BELIEVE THERE WAS A PROCS BREAK DOWN AT THE TAEGU CENTER BUT I DO NOT HAVE A SOLUTION FOR THE PROB.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.