Air carrier flight crew described the confusion resulting from the first officer mistakenly confirmi...

Attributes
ACN	1390677
Time
Date	201609
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Large Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Person 2
Function	Pilot Not Flying First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Track / Heading All Types Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown

Narrative:

We requested a 'hold for release IFR clearance'; due to departing 'IFR' traffic ahead of us. Our ATC clearance was to depart a specific runway; climb to 3000 feet; and turn left to a heading of 180. (Note: ATC radar was out of service). After given our 'release for departure'; we were then given further climb altitudes. During the early climb; ATC requested us to intercept a VOR radial. We were filed on an FMC route and needed to tune the VOR. The first officer (first officer) mistakenly told ATC we were established on the 160 radial. I mentioned to the first officer that we were not yet established and that I would do a 140 degree heading intercept. The first officer then told ATC that we were not established on the 160 radial and were heading to 140. Communication breakdown. ATC then said flying 140 climb to and maintain xx altitude. We understood this to mean climb to xx altitude and maintain 140 (an intercept heading would be a normal course of action and not need a revised altitude). When in radar contact we received further direct routing and our final altitude. On hand off he asked us to give center a call upon arrival.communication breakdown/confusing instructions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier flight crew described the confusion resulting from the First Officer mistakenly confirming aircraft established on a VOR radial; instead stating the aircraft heading which confused ATC.

Narrative: We requested a 'hold for release IFR clearance'; due to departing 'IFR' traffic ahead of us. Our ATC clearance was to depart a specific runway; climb to 3000 feet; and turn left to a heading of 180. (Note: ATC radar was out of service). After given our 'release for departure'; we were then given further climb altitudes. During the early climb; ATC requested us to intercept a VOR radial. We were filed on an FMC route and needed to tune the VOR. The First Officer (FO) mistakenly told ATC we were established on the 160 radial. I mentioned to the FO that we were not yet established and that I would do a 140 degree heading intercept. The FO then told ATC that we were not established on the 160 radial and were heading to 140. Communication breakdown. ATC then said flying 140 climb to and maintain xx altitude. We understood this to mean climb to xx altitude and maintain 140 (an intercept heading would be a normal course of action and not need a revised altitude). When in radar contact we received further direct routing and our final altitude. On hand off he asked us to give center a call upon arrival.Communication breakdown/confusing instructions.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

Air carrier flight crew described the confusion resulting from the first officer mistakenly confirming aircraft established on a VOR radial; instead stating the aircraft heading which confused ATC.