Altitude deviation altitude excursion.

Attributes
ACN	122864
Time
Date	198909
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zoa
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 34000 msl bound upper : 36000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : other oceanic enroute : pacific enroute airway : r465
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	122864
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 135 flight time total : 7150 flight time type : 930
ASRS Report	122861
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

En route from hnl to sfo on R465 at 34000', we received an commercial radio SELCAL. The commercial radio operator told us (at XX15 am Z), 'when able, climb to flight level 360.' I read back the clearance as cleared to FL360. As we were still about 20 mins away from optimum weight for FL360, we did not climb yet. About 10 mins later commercial radio called and asked for our climb time. I gave it as XX35 am Z. At XX35 Z my first officer initiated our climb. I tried to call hnl commerecial radio to report leaving FL340, however the frequency was in use. When we leveled at 36000' I was able to get through to hnl commercial radio to report level. At that time, they said that we were not cleared to 36000' and that the climb time was not a clearance to climb. I indicated that we were previously cleared up 'when able' earlier. A clearance was obtained to maintain FL360. HF reception 5x3, however we all understood we had a climb clearance. In retrospect I do not recall the original clearance being preceded by the phrase, 'ATC clears.' supplemental information from acn 122861: hnl commercial radio called and cleared the flight to climb to FL360. We indicated we were too heavy to climb, and hnl commercial radio wanted to know the time we could climb and maintain FL360. We indicated we could climb at XX35. Hnl commercial radio never cancelled our climb clearance to FL360; therefore, our understanding was at XX35 Z we were cleared to climb and maintain FL360.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION ALT EXCURSION.

Narrative: ENRTE FROM HNL TO SFO ON R465 AT 34000', WE RECEIVED AN COMMERCIAL RADIO SELCAL. THE COMMERCIAL RADIO OPERATOR TOLD US (AT XX15 AM Z), 'WHEN ABLE, CLB TO FLT LEVEL 360.' I READ BACK THE CLRNC AS CLRED TO FL360. AS WE WERE STILL ABOUT 20 MINS AWAY FROM OPTIMUM WT FOR FL360, WE DID NOT CLB YET. ABOUT 10 MINS LATER COMMERCIAL RADIO CALLED AND ASKED FOR OUR CLB TIME. I GAVE IT AS XX35 AM Z. AT XX35 Z MY F/O INITIATED OUR CLB. I TRIED TO CALL HNL COMMERECIAL RADIO TO RPT LEAVING FL340, HOWEVER THE FREQ WAS IN USE. WHEN WE LEVELED AT 36000' I WAS ABLE TO GET THROUGH TO HNL COMMERCIAL RADIO TO RPT LEVEL. AT THAT TIME, THEY SAID THAT WE WERE NOT CLRED TO 36000' AND THAT THE CLB TIME WAS NOT A CLRNC TO CLB. I INDICATED THAT WE WERE PREVIOUSLY CLRED UP 'WHEN ABLE' EARLIER. A CLRNC WAS OBTAINED TO MAINTAIN FL360. HF RECEPTION 5X3, HOWEVER WE ALL UNDERSTOOD WE HAD A CLB CLRNC. IN RETROSPECT I DO NOT RECALL THE ORIGINAL CLRNC BEING PRECEDED BY THE PHRASE, 'ATC CLRS.' SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 122861: HNL COMMERCIAL RADIO CALLED AND CLRED THE FLT TO CLB TO FL360. WE INDICATED WE WERE TOO HEAVY TO CLB, AND HNL COMMERCIAL RADIO WANTED TO KNOW THE TIME WE COULD CLB AND MAINTAIN FL360. WE INDICATED WE COULD CLB AT XX35. HNL COMMERCIAL RADIO NEVER CANCELLED OUR CLB CLRNC TO FL360; THEREFORE, OUR UNDERSTANDING WAS AT XX35 Z WE WERE CLRED TO CLB AND MAINTAIN FL360.

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.