An air carrier large transport crew overshot its initial altitude on departure in foreign airspace.

Attributes
ACN	236336
Time
Date	199303
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pty
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2100 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pty tower : pty tower : sfo
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : takeoff ground : preflight
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 9500 flight time type : 7100
ASRS Report	236336
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	236863
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

Takeoff clearance was misunderstood by crew. Tower controller's english was not very clear and he used incorrect phraseology which caused an apparent altitude 'bust.' ATC clearance was to 9000 ft, which is normal for them. We were using runway 21. Takeoff clearance was 'cleared for takeoff, runway heading 210 degrees, contact departure.' departure said we were cleared to 2100 ft (as we were passing 3000 ft). Evidently the '21' after 'runway heading' was meant as an amended altitude clearance. If proper phraseology had been used, I am sure we would have either understood or asked for a clarification. Proper phraseology is even more important when speaking to people whose primary language is not english. Pilots should understand this because of trying to give position reports, etc, to so many different people.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR LGT CREW OVERSHOT ITS INITIAL ALT ON DEP IN FOREIGN AIRSPACE.

Narrative: TKOF CLRNC WAS MISUNDERSTOOD BY CREW. TWR CTLR'S ENGLISH WAS NOT VERY CLR AND HE USED INCORRECT PHRASEOLOGY WHICH CAUSED AN APPARENT ALT 'BUST.' ATC CLRNC WAS TO 9000 FT, WHICH IS NORMAL FOR THEM. WE WERE USING RWY 21. TKOF CLRNC WAS 'CLRED FOR TKOF, RWY HDG 210 DEGS, CONTACT DEP.' DEP SAID WE WERE CLRED TO 2100 FT (AS WE WERE PASSING 3000 FT). EVIDENTLY THE '21' AFTER 'RWY HDG' WAS MEANT AS AN AMENDED ALT CLRNC. IF PROPER PHRASEOLOGY HAD BEEN USED, I AM SURE WE WOULD HAVE EITHER UNDERSTOOD OR ASKED FOR A CLARIFICATION. PROPER PHRASEOLOGY IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT WHEN SPEAKING TO PEOPLE WHOSE PRIMARY LANGUAGE IS NOT ENGLISH. PLTS SHOULD UNDERSTAND THIS BECAUSE OF TRYING TO GIVE POS RPTS, ETC, TO SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

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.