Narrative:

After takeoff we were cleared by departure to climb and maintain one four thousand and contact departure on [a frequency I can't recall for certain]. While I switched over I heard the autopilot disengage. Upon my check-in I said: '[flight XXX] vacating one; one thousand for one four; fourteen; thousand; confirm our assigned altitude.' the controller responded: [flight XXX]; roger. Climb and maintain one four thousand.' the first officer; however; held the climb in abatement; and I said something to him in agreement as I pointed to the TCAS traffic display. I then repeated: [flight XXX]; I say again; confirm our assigned altitude.'the controller then responded in a stressed vocal tone: 'descend and maintain one zero thousand;' to which I responded: 'vacating one; one; eleven; thousand for one zero; ten; thousand; traffic in sight.' the controller responded to this readback in a tone that led me to believe he was still confused as to what had just happened. The first officer and I discussed what had transpired; and I have a specific recollection of being irritated because I had stated our altitude three times; and twice included the specific request to confirm [our cleared] altitude.' when we received our next frequency change I read back the clearance and commented that we had the traffic in sight and that as far as we were concerned we have no 'deal' meaning that I had no intention to pursue the traffic conflict with this controller. The first officer; who saw the conflict before I did; acted with forethought and [his timely l and appropriate precautionary action] prevented this from becoming a [bigger] problem. I always have been the first to provide peer education for safety and am willing to accept fault immediately. However; I honestly believe we were handed off in error.in that ATC is a compressed environment; I would like to see strict adherence to terminology of altitudes spoken i.e.: 'one-four; fourteen thousand' instead of the compressed and often used 'one-four thousand.' when an aircraft says 'confirm altitude' it should generate strict attention from the controller.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-700; departing ATL and inappropriately cleared to climb to 14;000 MSL; avoided a conflict with a prior departure Airbus; opposite direction at 12;000; through the alert response of the First Officer/pilot flying who stopped his climb after spotting the traffic. ATC ultimately noted the error and cleared them to descend immediately to 10;000.

Narrative: After takeoff we were cleared by Departure to climb and maintain one four thousand and contact Departure on [a frequency I can't recall for certain]. While I switched over I heard the autopilot disengage. Upon my check-in I said: '[Flight XXX] vacating one; one thousand for one four; fourteen; thousand; CONFIRM OUR ASSIGNED ALTITUDE.' The Controller responded: [Flight XXX]; roger. Climb and maintain one four thousand.' The First Officer; however; held the climb in abatement; and I said something to him in agreement as I pointed to the TCAS traffic display. I then repeated: [Flight XXX]; I say again; confirm our assigned altitude.'The Controller then responded in a stressed vocal tone: 'descend and maintain one zero thousand;' to which I responded: 'Vacating one; one; eleven; thousand for one zero; ten; thousand; traffic in sight.' The Controller responded to this readback in a tone that led me to believe he was still confused as to what had just happened. The First Officer and I discussed what had transpired; and I have a specific recollection of being irritated because I had stated our altitude three times; and twice included the specific request to CONFIRM [our cleared] ALTITUDE.' When we received our next frequency change I read back the clearance and commented that we had the traffic in sight and that as far as we were concerned we have no 'deal' meaning that I had no intention to pursue the traffic conflict with this Controller. The First Officer; who saw the conflict before I did; acted with forethought and [his timely l and appropriate precautionary action] prevented this from becoming a [bigger] problem. I always have been the first to provide peer education for safety and am willing to accept fault immediately. However; I honestly believe we were handed off in error.In that ATC is a compressed environment; I would like to see strict adherence to terminology of altitudes spoken i.e.: 'one-four; fourteen thousand' instead of the compressed and often used 'one-four thousand.' When an aircraft says 'CONFIRM ALTITUDE' it should generate strict attention from the Controller.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.