ATC confusion reference assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	217523
Time
Date	199208
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : slc
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 31700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zlc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 4500
ASRS Report	217523
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Intra Facility Coordination Failure
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

Climbing through FL200 on slc ATC (128.55) we were cleared to FL350. Copilot read back clearance to ATC and since we filed for FL310 he then asked me if FL350 was ok. I checked our performance data computer and it showed FL340 as our optimum altitude so I said to him that we would take it (FL350). Copilot checking in with next controller (132.55), 'air carrier X climbing to FL350.' center acknowledged with, 'roger air carrier X.' as we were climbing through FL317 the controller said, 'air carrier X I have you at thirty-one seven.' the copilot acknowledged saying, 'roger, we're climbing to FL350.' center then said, I have you filed at FL310. The copilot explained that the previous controller had cleared us to FL350 and we accepted it but would go back to FL310 if required. ATC said no, continue to FL350. I then re-explained the situation to ATC and no further difficulties were experienced. The copilot suggested to the controller that she contact the previous controller but she said he had already left work. She also said she should have connected what she heard with what she saw. Traffic was light.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC CONFUSION REF ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: CLBING THROUGH FL200 ON SLC ATC (128.55) WE WERE CLRED TO FL350. COPLT READ BACK CLRNC TO ATC AND SINCE WE FILED FOR FL310 HE THEN ASKED ME IF FL350 WAS OK. I CHKED OUR PERFORMANCE DATA COMPUTER AND IT SHOWED FL340 AS OUR OPTIMUM ALT SO I SAID TO HIM THAT WE WOULD TAKE IT (FL350). COPLT CHKING IN WITH NEXT CTLR (132.55), 'ACR X CLBING TO FL350.' CTR ACKNOWLEDGED WITH, 'ROGER ACR X.' AS WE WERE CLBING THROUGH FL317 THE CTLR SAID, 'ACR X I HAVE YOU AT THIRTY-ONE SEVEN.' THE COPLT ACKNOWLEDGED SAYING, 'ROGER, WE'RE CLBING TO FL350.' CTR THEN SAID, I HAVE YOU FILED AT FL310. THE COPLT EXPLAINED THAT THE PREVIOUS CTLR HAD CLRED US TO FL350 AND WE ACCEPTED IT BUT WOULD GO BACK TO FL310 IF REQUIRED. ATC SAID NO, CONTINUE TO FL350. I THEN RE-EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO ATC AND NO FURTHER DIFFICULTIES WERE EXPERIENCED. THE COPLT SUGGESTED TO THE CTLR THAT SHE CONTACT THE PREVIOUS CTLR BUT SHE SAID HE HAD ALREADY LEFT WORK. SHE ALSO SAID SHE SHOULD HAVE CONNECTED WHAT SHE HEARD WITH WHAT SHE SAW. TFC WAS LIGHT.

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.