Narrative:

Right after takeoff departure control changed our level off altitude from 13000' to 5000' MSL which was acknowledged. Shortly thereafter departure control told us to climb rapidly through (or to?) to 6000', turn right to 070 degree. I acknowledged climbing to just 6000' and a right turn to 070 degree. At this time we heard another clearance from departure control for I believe air carrier (xyz) to maintain runway heading. We then received a traffic advisory for us (air carrier ban) at 5500' which we saw and we leveled at 6000' MSL. No evasive maneuvers were required. I then questioned departure control and told them we were level at 6000' MSL. He told us that we were told to maintain runway heading and I told him that we never received that clearance nor had acknowledged it. During this confusion, another controller (man) took over from a female controller. We also found out that the clearance for air carrier (xyz) was meant for us. I believe the problem was controller training in progress. Supplemental information from acn 171369. Our call sign was air carrier (ban). A male controller cleared us for takeoff, 'climb runway heading to 13000'.' a female controller in departure control then changed our altitude to 5000'. A few seconds later, she told us to climb rapidly through 6000' and turn right to heading 070 degree. The male controller then came on the radio, stating 'air carrier (xyz), (not our call sign), maintain runway heading.' we were now thoroughly confused. Was altitude 13000' , 5000' or 6000'? Was heading, runway heading, or 070 degree heading? We leveled off at 6000', our last assigned altitude, and headed 070 degree, our last assigned heading. The male controller then pointed out traffic for us with which we maintained visibility sep. We were then handed off to fort worth center. There was confusion on both altitudes and headings. No evasive maneuvers were required.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR DEP WAS GIVEN RWY HDG BY TWR CTLR, THEN WHEN SWITCHED TO DEP CTLR GIVEN A 070 DEG HDG. LATER ANOTHER DEP CTLR SAID SHOULD BE ON RWY HDG.

Narrative: RIGHT AFTER TKOF DEP CTL CHANGED OUR LEVEL OFF ALT FROM 13000' TO 5000' MSL WHICH WAS ACKNOWLEDGED. SHORTLY THEREAFTER DEP CTL TOLD US TO CLB RAPIDLY THROUGH (OR TO?) TO 6000', TURN R TO 070 DEG. I ACKNOWLEDGED CLBING TO JUST 6000' AND A R TURN TO 070 DEG. AT THIS TIME WE HEARD ANOTHER CLRNC FROM DEP CTL FOR I BELIEVE ACR (XYZ) TO MAINTAIN RWY HDG. WE THEN RECEIVED A TFC ADVISORY FOR US (ACR BAN) AT 5500' WHICH WE SAW AND WE LEVELED AT 6000' MSL. NO EVASIVE MANEUVERS WERE REQUIRED. I THEN QUESTIONED DEP CTL AND TOLD THEM WE WERE LEVEL AT 6000' MSL. HE TOLD US THAT WE WERE TOLD TO MAINTAIN RWY HDG AND I TOLD HIM THAT WE NEVER RECEIVED THAT CLRNC NOR HAD ACKNOWLEDGED IT. DURING THIS CONFUSION, ANOTHER CTLR (MAN) TOOK OVER FROM A FEMALE CTLR. WE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THE CLRNC FOR ACR (XYZ) WAS MEANT FOR US. I BELIEVE THE PROB WAS CTLR TRNING IN PROGRESS. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 171369. OUR CALL SIGN WAS ACR (BAN). A MALE CTLR CLRED US FOR TKOF, 'CLB RWY HDG TO 13000'.' A FEMALE CTLR IN DEP CTL THEN CHANGED OUR ALT TO 5000'. A FEW SECS LATER, SHE TOLD US TO CLB RAPIDLY THROUGH 6000' AND TURN R TO HDG 070 DEG. THE MALE CTLR THEN CAME ON THE RADIO, STATING 'ACR (XYZ), (NOT OUR CALL SIGN), MAINTAIN RWY HDG.' WE WERE NOW THOROUGHLY CONFUSED. WAS ALT 13000' , 5000' OR 6000'? WAS HDG, RWY HDG, OR 070 DEG HDG? WE LEVELED OFF AT 6000', OUR LAST ASSIGNED ALT, AND HEADED 070 DEG, OUR LAST ASSIGNED HDG. THE MALE CTLR THEN POINTED OUT TFC FOR US WITH WHICH WE MAINTAINED VIS SEP. WE WERE THEN HANDED OFF TO FORT WORTH CTR. THERE WAS CONFUSION ON BOTH ALTS AND HDGS. NO EVASIVE MANEUVERS WERE REQUIRED.

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.