Narrative:

Cruising at 25000 ft MSL at previous center suggestion for smooth ride. Advised that higher altitudes had smoothed out, so requested FL330. Given interim FL290. Approaching FL290, center asked how long it would take to reach FL330. Confirmed with PF of approximately 4 mins and advised center. After a pause, center came back with 'maintain FL290.' noticing that we were within 200 ft of FL290, advised center that we were level and went back to eating. Shortly thereafter, center said flight xyz maintain FL290. I picked up the microphone to advise them we were level and glanced at altimeter that was approaching FL320. PF had quizzical look on face. Told center we were returning to FL290 when he cleared us to FL330. Looked at the altitude alert instrument (located in front of PF) and it was set at FL330. Is also used by automatic level off portion of autoplt if function is selected, which it had been. When center had advised us to maintain FL290 after query on time to FL330, PF heard what he wanted to hear and set FL330 in altitude reminder and continued climb. Again, a case of: if have 3 people in the crew, all 3 people have to be sure airplane does what it is supposed to. If not, ask questions.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LGT LOOKING FOR SMOOTHER RIDE ADVISED THAT HIGHER ALTS SMOOTHER OUT, REQUESTED HIGHER. CONFUSION REF CLRNC CLBED ABOVE CLRED ALT.

Narrative: CRUISING AT 25000 FT MSL AT PREVIOUS CTR SUGGESTION FOR SMOOTH RIDE. ADVISED THAT HIGHER ALTS HAD SMOOTHED OUT, SO REQUESTED FL330. GIVEN INTERIM FL290. APCHING FL290, CTR ASKED HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE TO REACH FL330. CONFIRMED WITH PF OF APPROX 4 MINS AND ADVISED CTR. AFTER A PAUSE, CTR CAME BACK WITH 'MAINTAIN FL290.' NOTICING THAT WE WERE WITHIN 200 FT OF FL290, ADVISED CTR THAT WE WERE LEVEL AND WENT BACK TO EATING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, CTR SAID FLT XYZ MAINTAIN FL290. I PICKED UP THE MIKE TO ADVISE THEM WE WERE LEVEL AND GLANCED AT ALTIMETER THAT WAS APCHING FL320. PF HAD QUIZZICAL LOOK ON FACE. TOLD CTR WE WERE RETURNING TO FL290 WHEN HE CLRED US TO FL330. LOOKED AT THE ALT ALERT INST (LOCATED IN FRONT OF PF) AND IT WAS SET AT FL330. IS ALSO USED BY AUTO LEVEL OFF PORTION OF AUTOPLT IF FUNCTION IS SELECTED, WHICH IT HAD BEEN. WHEN CTR HAD ADVISED US TO MAINTAIN FL290 AFTER QUERY ON TIME TO FL330, PF HEARD WHAT HE WANTED TO HEAR AND SET FL330 IN ALT REMINDER AND CONTINUED CLB. AGAIN, A CASE OF: IF HAVE 3 PEOPLE IN THE CREW, ALL 3 PEOPLE HAVE TO BE SURE AIRPLANE DOES WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO. IF NOT, ASK QUESTIONS.

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.