Narrative:

Abq low sector clearance climbing to FL230. Near drk, then handoff to high sector 132.9, initial new clearance to FL350. I replied too heavy FL350, request FL310 final. ATC reclred us climb and maintain FL310. About 4 mins plus later climbing through FL280 (+1000'/min): ATC called 'we have traffic at 12 O'clock 15+ mi southeast bnd medium large transport at FL290'. I looked/saw then called ATC, traffic in sight. (Seconds later I realized something was wrong and ATC called back) maximum altitude 28700'. ATC clearance for immediate descent to FL280 and right turn 50 degree, conflicting traffic right turn 50 degree. I grabbed the aircraft controls pushing down and right. When at FL280 I called ATC back level at FL280 (still turning). ATC then advised us that we had been reclred earlier from FL350 to FL280 for traffic, and that someone acknowledged. I called back negative to that amended clearance. ATC did reply there was no traffic conflict with both aircraft's evasive actions per ATC clearance. All three of us on the flight deck were paying attention during the climb to FL310 and none of us heard the amended FL280 clearance. I got ATC's phone number and asked if he could 'check the tape'. In oak, I called abq supervisor and he finalized there was no problem (traffic conflict) with our actions and he felt it unnecessary to check the tape. He did mention that the controller told him it looked, through several sweeps of the radar, that we were slowing our rate of climb to level FL280, and that someone had responded to the amended clearance. We discussed improper read backs, i.e. West/O callsigns, and working to better ATC/pilot communication. I have strived towards proper communication (listen/respond) and caution my first officer's as to the same, professional response, as an air carrier/commercial pilot.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF ACR MLG DOES NOT HEAR ZAB CTLR'S CLRNC AMENDMENT TO MAINTAIN FL280 AFTER PREVIOUS CLRNC TO CLB AND MAINTAIN FL310. POTENTIAL CONFLICT WITH OPPOSITE DIRECTION TRAFFIC MLG AT FL290.

Narrative: ABQ LOW SECTOR CLRNC CLBING TO FL230. NEAR DRK, THEN HDOF TO HIGH SECTOR 132.9, INITIAL NEW CLRNC TO FL350. I REPLIED TOO HEAVY FL350, REQUEST FL310 FINAL. ATC RECLRED US CLB AND MAINTAIN FL310. ABOUT 4 MINS PLUS LATER CLBING THROUGH FL280 (+1000'/MIN): ATC CALLED 'WE HAVE TFC AT 12 O'CLOCK 15+ MI SE BND MLG AT FL290'. I LOOKED/SAW THEN CALLED ATC, TFC IN SIGHT. (SECS LATER I REALIZED SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND ATC CALLED BACK) MAX ALT 28700'. ATC CLRNC FOR IMMEDIATE DSCNT TO FL280 AND R TURN 50 DEG, CONFLICTING TFC R TURN 50 DEG. I GRABBED THE ACFT CONTROLS PUSHING DOWN AND R. WHEN AT FL280 I CALLED ATC BACK LEVEL AT FL280 (STILL TURNING). ATC THEN ADVISED US THAT WE HAD BEEN RECLRED EARLIER FROM FL350 TO FL280 FOR TFC, AND THAT SOMEONE ACKNOWLEDGED. I CALLED BACK NEGATIVE TO THAT AMENDED CLRNC. ATC DID REPLY THERE WAS NO TFC CONFLICT WITH BOTH ACFT'S EVASIVE ACTIONS PER ATC CLRNC. ALL THREE OF US ON THE FLT DECK WERE PAYING ATTN DURING THE CLB TO FL310 AND NONE OF US HEARD THE AMENDED FL280 CLRNC. I GOT ATC'S PHONE NUMBER AND ASKED IF HE COULD 'CHK THE TAPE'. IN OAK, I CALLED ABQ SUPVR AND HE FINALIZED THERE WAS NO PROB (TFC CONFLICT) WITH OUR ACTIONS AND HE FELT IT UNNECESSARY TO CHK THE TAPE. HE DID MENTION THAT THE CTLR TOLD HIM IT LOOKED, THROUGH SEVERAL SWEEPS OF THE RADAR, THAT WE WERE SLOWING OUR RATE OF CLB TO LEVEL FL280, AND THAT SOMEONE HAD RESPONDED TO THE AMENDED CLRNC. WE DISCUSSED IMPROPER READ BACKS, I.E. W/O CALLSIGNS, AND WORKING TO BETTER ATC/PLT COM. I HAVE STRIVED TOWARDS PROPER COM (LISTEN/RESPOND) AND CAUTION MY F/O'S AS TO THE SAME, PROFESSIONAL RESPONSE, AS AN AIR CARRIER/COMMERCIAL PLT.

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