Altitude deviation altitude excursion.

Attributes
ACN	163435
Time
Date	199011
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : iiu
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 8500
ASRS Report	163435
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were advised we would have to leave/descend from FL310 to FL280 by ZID because of conflicting traffic. We asked if we could vector and not descend since we had just climbed to FL310 from FL280. Radio got very busy and no answer after he asked if we could climb to FL330. I said let us check. When we cold get in to say yes we could, he asked if we could do it in 2 min or less again I couldn't get on the frequency do to other traffic talking to say yes. On the subsequent xmissions center was stepped on and all we heard was FL290 no call sign. We didn't respond to that or acknowledge it. As soon as I could I said we can climb to FL330 in 2 min and started the climb. He came back and said I told you to descend to FL290 and you are climbing. I assumed we were cleared to climb when I said we could make FL330 in 2 min or less (we made it in 1 min 15 seconds). Talked to ZID supervisor when I got on ground at chicago. He told me no problem was caused. Too much radio talk on center frequency and too much traffic caused this problem. We also need to use the even altitudes above FL290 for more flex in traffic conflicts.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION ALT EXCURSION.

Narrative: WE WERE ADVISED WE WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE/DSND FROM FL310 TO FL280 BY ZID BECAUSE OF CONFLICTING TFC. WE ASKED IF WE COULD VECTOR AND NOT DSND SINCE WE HAD JUST CLBED TO FL310 FROM FL280. RADIO GOT VERY BUSY AND NO ANSWER AFTER HE ASKED IF WE COULD CLB TO FL330. I SAID LET US CHK. WHEN WE COLD GET IN TO SAY YES WE COULD, HE ASKED IF WE COULD DO IT IN 2 MIN OR LESS AGAIN I COULDN'T GET ON THE FREQ DO TO OTHER TFC TALKING TO SAY YES. ON THE SUBSEQUENT XMISSIONS CTR WAS STEPPED ON AND ALL WE HEARD WAS FL290 NO CALL SIGN. WE DIDN'T RESPOND TO THAT OR ACKNOWLEDGE IT. AS SOON AS I COULD I SAID WE CAN CLB TO FL330 IN 2 MIN AND STARTED THE CLB. HE CAME BACK AND SAID I TOLD YOU TO DSND TO FL290 AND YOU ARE CLBING. I ASSUMED WE WERE CLRED TO CLB WHEN I SAID WE COULD MAKE FL330 IN 2 MIN OR LESS (WE MADE IT IN 1 MIN 15 SECS). TALKED TO ZID SUPVR WHEN I GOT ON GND AT CHICAGO. HE TOLD ME NO PROB WAS CAUSED. TOO MUCH RADIO TALK ON CTR FREQ AND TOO MUCH TFC CAUSED THIS PROB. WE ALSO NEED TO USE THE EVEN ALTS ABOVE FL290 FOR MORE FLEX IN TFC CONFLICTS.

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.