Narrative:

On climb out of san antonio, departure control gave us a heading of 300 degrees and a climb to FL230. We were then switched to ZHU. After several attempts, we finally established contact with ZHU. We were told to climb to FL350 and turn to a heading of 335 degrees and direct to abilene when able, flight plan route. We read the clearance back to ZHU and continued our climb nd turned to 335 degrees. Passing FL235 ZHU asked our heading. When we responded 335 degrees, the controller told us to turn left to 300 degrees and that we were told to turn to 335 degrees out first officer FL240. We were then told to level at FL240. Later we were again given the heading of 340 degrees, direct to abi, and told to climb to FL350. I know the controller was busy working several other aircraft on at least 1 other frequency. I believe we called 3 or 4 times when we checked on the frequency before we were acknowledged. I don't know if part of his instructions to us were covered by another aircraft transmission. I know we responded with a climb to FL350 and turn to 335 degrees readback, which we proceeded to do. Perhaps our readback was partially covered. I strongly disagree with the FAA policy of a controller working several different sectors with different frequencys where I can't hear other aircraft xmissions. I believe this is a serious degradation of safety!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR REPORTER COMPLAINS ABOUT CTLR WORKING 2 FREQS AT THE SAME TIME. A READBACK HEARBACK PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN THE REPORTER STARTED TURN EARLY.

Narrative: ON CLBOUT OF SAN ANTONIO, DEP CTL GAVE US A HDG OF 300 DEGS AND A CLB TO FL230. WE WERE THEN SWITCHED TO ZHU. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, WE FINALLY ESTABLISHED CONTACT WITH ZHU. WE WERE TOLD TO CLB TO FL350 AND TURN TO A HDG OF 335 DEGS AND DIRECT TO ABILENE WHEN ABLE, FLT PLAN RTE. WE READ THE CLRNC BACK TO ZHU AND CONTINUED OUR CLB ND TURNED TO 335 DEGS. PASSING FL235 ZHU ASKED OUR HDG. WHEN WE RESPONDED 335 DEGS, THE CTLR TOLD US TO TURN LEFT TO 300 DEGS AND THAT WE WERE TOLD TO TURN TO 335 DEGS OUT FO FL240. WE WERE THEN TOLD TO LEVEL AT FL240. LATER WE WERE AGAIN GIVEN THE HDG OF 340 DEGS, DIRECT TO ABI, AND TOLD TO CLB TO FL350. I KNOW THE CTLR WAS BUSY WORKING SEVERAL OTHER ACFT ON AT LEAST 1 OTHER FREQ. I BELIEVE WE CALLED 3 OR 4 TIMES WHEN WE CHKED ON THE FREQ BEFORE WE WERE ACKNOWLEDGED. I DON'T KNOW IF PART OF HIS INSTRUCTIONS TO US WERE COVERED BY ANOTHER ACFT XMISSION. I KNOW WE RESPONDED WITH A CLB TO FL350 AND TURN TO 335 DEGS READBACK, WHICH WE PROCEEDED TO DO. PERHAPS OUR READBACK WAS PARTIALLY COVERED. I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THE FAA POLICY OF A CTLR WORKING SEVERAL DIFFERENT SECTORS WITH DIFFERENT FREQS WHERE I CAN'T HEAR OTHER ACFT XMISSIONS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS DEGRADATION OF SAFETY!

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.