Medium large transport flight crew cleared to 17000' handed to center were then cleared back to 1600...

Attributes
ACN	117834
Time
Date	198907
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : orf
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc tracon : orf
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 10800 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	117834
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 850
ASRS Report	117835
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : airborne less severe
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation Inter Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

After departing norfolk and contacting departure on 125.2 we were turned over to departure on 127.9 who assigned us a heading to intercept orf 290 degree right for wakes intersection, climb and maintain 17000'. We requested a heading to avoid WX which was approved and were handed over to ZDC on 118.75. Center called us back and asked our altitude, which was 16300' for 17000' at that time, and he then requested we descend to 16000'. Another voice came on the frequency and instructed us to expedite to 16000' for traffic and who had cleared us to 17000'. There were no further comments after we told him ot was norfolk departure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG FLT CREW CLEARED TO 17000' HANDED TO CENTER WERE THEN CLEARED BACK TO 16000'.

Narrative: AFTER DEPARTING NORFOLK AND CONTACTING DEP ON 125.2 WE WERE TURNED OVER TO DEP ON 127.9 WHO ASSIGNED US A HDG TO INTERCEPT ORF 290 DEG R FOR WAKES INTXN, CLB AND MAINTAIN 17000'. WE REQUESTED A HDG TO AVOID WX WHICH WAS APPROVED AND WERE HANDED OVER TO ZDC ON 118.75. CENTER CALLED US BACK AND ASKED OUR ALT, WHICH WAS 16300' FOR 17000' AT THAT TIME, AND HE THEN REQUESTED WE DSND TO 16000'. ANOTHER VOICE CAME ON THE FREQ AND INSTRUCTED US TO EXPEDITE TO 16000' FOR TFC AND WHO HAD CLRED US TO 17000'. THERE WERE NO FURTHER COMMENTS AFTER WE TOLD HIM OT WAS NORFOLK DEP.

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.

Medium large transport flight crew cleared to 17000' handed to center were then cleared back to 16000'.