Fgt climbed above assigned altitude in preparation for air refueling without ATC authorization.

Attributes
ACN	109905
Time
Date	198904
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sju
State Reference	PR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 19000 msl bound upper : 20000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zsu
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Fighter
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Military Transport
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : military
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	109905
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : military
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While under the control of ZSU I was proceeding downtrack on aar-332 (ar-332 block altitude goes from 200 to 250 on the sju 325 degree right). At FL190 I was cleared by the center downtrack past the 1P (50 DME). At this time my wing man had a/a (air to air) TACAN DME with the tanker and would relay DME between us on our FM radio. Around the contact point the center cleared me to their fueling frequency. After checking in with the tanker I informed him I would leave FL190 for FL210. The tanker acknowledged and confirmed his altitude of FL220. While climbing through FL200 ZSU called me on 243.0 (guard), instructed me to descend to FL190. I acknowledged and descended to FL190 and switched by to their frequency. They then informed me that I was not cleared to leave FL190 until they approved takeoff. They then cleared me to the block and we were sent to the refueling frequency. I assumed that clearance downtrack and the frequency changed coupled with the call to the tanker informing him I was leaving FL190 for FL210 and his acknowledgement meant I could climb into the block. It appears that until the tanker declared marsa with me to the center I am still under their control and must maintain the last assigned altitude even if not on their frequency. The tanker must declare the marsa then get clearance for me into the block since he is monitoring both frequencys. I feel the center should not have sent us to the refueling frequency until marsa has been declared.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FGT CLIMBED ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT IN PREPARATION FOR AIR REFUELING WITHOUT ATC AUTHORIZATION.

Narrative: WHILE UNDER THE CTL OF ZSU I WAS PROCEEDING DOWNTRACK ON AAR-332 (AR-332 BLOCK ALT GOES FROM 200 TO 250 ON THE SJU 325 DEG R). AT FL190 I WAS CLRED BY THE CENTER DOWNTRACK PAST THE 1P (50 DME). AT THIS TIME MY WING MAN HAD A/A (AIR TO AIR) TACAN DME WITH THE TANKER AND WOULD RELAY DME BTWN US ON OUR FM RADIO. AROUND THE CONTACT POINT THE CENTER CLRED ME TO THEIR FUELING FREQ. AFTER CHKING IN WITH THE TANKER I INFORMED HIM I WOULD LEAVE FL190 FOR FL210. THE TANKER ACKNOWLEDGED AND CONFIRMED HIS ALT OF FL220. WHILE CLBING THROUGH FL200 ZSU CALLED ME ON 243.0 (GUARD), INSTRUCTED ME TO DSND TO FL190. I ACKNOWLEDGED AND DSNDED TO FL190 AND SWITCHED BY TO THEIR FREQ. THEY THEN INFORMED ME THAT I WAS NOT CLRED TO LEAVE FL190 UNTIL THEY APPROVED TKOF. THEY THEN CLRED ME TO THE BLOCK AND WE WERE SENT TO THE REFUELING FREQ. I ASSUMED THAT CLRNC DOWNTRACK AND THE FREQ CHANGED COUPLED WITH THE CALL TO THE TANKER INFORMING HIM I WAS LEAVING FL190 FOR FL210 AND HIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT MEANT I COULD CLB INTO THE BLOCK. IT APPEARS THAT UNTIL THE TANKER DECLARED MARSA WITH ME TO THE CENTER I AM STILL UNDER THEIR CTL AND MUST MAINTAIN THE LAST ASSIGNED ALT EVEN IF NOT ON THEIR FREQ. THE TANKER MUST DECLARE THE MARSA THEN GET CLRNC FOR ME INTO THE BLOCK SINCE HE IS MONITORING BOTH FREQS. I FEEL THE CENTER SHOULD NOT HAVE SENT US TO THE REFUELING FREQ UNTIL MARSA HAS BEEN DECLARED.

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.