Military X unauthorized uncoord climb to new assigned altitude. Operational deviation.

Attributes
ACN	206131
Time
Date	199203
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mei
State Reference	MS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme artcc : ztl tracon : mei
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	206131
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Intra Facility Coordination Failure Operational Deviation

Narrative:

I was working NMM3 arrival position in a sup 8 confign. I released military X off runway 1R. Military X departed and I released military Y. Both aircraft's route of flight was basically the same. Military X was vectored on course and climbed to 12000 ft. Military Y departed, was vectored on course and climbed to 12000 ft also. Military X then requested higher and I initiated coordination with ZTL, advising them of his request. The ZTL controller stated 'climbing to 17000 approved.' I then advised ZTL that military Y was following and the controller stated 'reference military X, 16000 approved.' the ZTL's instructions led me to believe that further coordination with ZME was not required. Subsequently, I coordinated with ZTL and ensured that they had radar contact on both aircraft. I issued both aircraft the altitudes assigned by ZTL and transferred communication. ZME called and inquired as to who had climbed and I advised ZME that ZTL had told me to climb the aircraft. At this point, I realized that an operational deviation may have occurred and I reported it to area supervisor.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MIL X UNAUTHORIZED UNCOORD CLB TO NEW ASSIGNED ALT. OPDEV.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING NMM3 ARR POS IN A SUP 8 CONFIGN. I RELEASED MIL X OFF RWY 1R. MIL X DEPARTED AND I RELEASED MIL Y. BOTH ACFT'S RTE OF FLT WAS BASICALLY THE SAME. MIL X WAS VECTORED ON COURSE AND CLBED TO 12000 FT. MIL Y DEPARTED, WAS VECTORED ON COURSE AND CLBED TO 12000 FT ALSO. MIL X THEN REQUESTED HIGHER AND I INITIATED COORD WITH ZTL, ADVISING THEM OF HIS REQUEST. THE ZTL CTLR STATED 'CLBING TO 17000 APPROVED.' I THEN ADVISED ZTL THAT MIL Y WAS FOLLOWING AND THE CTLR STATED 'REF MIL X, 16000 APPROVED.' THE ZTL'S INSTRUCTIONS LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT FURTHER COORD WITH ZME WAS NOT REQUIRED. SUBSEQUENTLY, I COORDINATED WITH ZTL AND ENSURED THAT THEY HAD RADAR CONTACT ON BOTH ACFT. I ISSUED BOTH ACFT THE ALTS ASSIGNED BY ZTL AND TRANSFERRED COM. ZME CALLED AND INQUIRED AS TO WHO HAD CLBED AND I ADVISED ZME THAT ZTL HAD TOLD ME TO CLB THE ACFT. AT THIS POINT, I REALIZED THAT AN OPDEV MAY HAVE OCCURRED AND I RPTED IT TO AREA SUPVR.

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.