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Flight crew of a B757 was directed by ATC to expedite a climb to a higher altitude after just arriving at an altitude to which they had been cleared. ARTCC radar controller believed that they had been given a lower altitude since the other traffic was level at their altitude.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 423680 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199812 |
| Day | Sat |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : fwa |
| State Reference | IN |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 15000 msl bound upper : 16000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : mmex |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Navigation In Use | Other |
| Route In Use | departure other enroute : on vectors enroute airway : zid |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 130 flight time total : 14500 flight time type : 800 |
| ASRS Report | 423680 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | conflict : airborne less severe other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Air Traffic Incident | Operational Deviation other |
Narrative:
After departing cvg, center cleared us to climb to 16000 ft. This was clearly heard by both pilots, and entered into MCP (autoplt on). We leveled at 16000 ft for about 3-4 mins, and we were told traffic would prevent our further climb (1 O'clock). Then controller asked us to confirm level 15000 ft! We answered, 'negative, level 16000 ft assigned.' ATC, 'immediate climb to FL230, expedite through 17000 ft.' autoplt disconnected, power added, pitched up, and we were out of 17000 ft in less than 15 seconds. ATC added that our hold-down traffic was at 16000 ft, and that he 'could've sworn I gave you 15000 ft.' he also advised no conflict occurred. No further action required. Aside from the adrenaline shot and secondary heart effect the foregoing scenario provided, I can give some suggestions: 1) controllers should always give altitude of opposing traffic and pilots should listen for it. 2) don't rely on TCASII -- it never showed anything in this case. 3) controllers should have a better way of noting directions they have given.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: FLC OF A B757 WAS DIRECTED BY ATC TO EXPEDITE A CLB TO A HIGHER ALT AFTER JUST ARRIVING AT AN ALT TO WHICH THEY HAD BEEN CLRED. ARTCC RADAR CTLR BELIEVED THAT THEY HAD BEEN GIVEN A LOWER ALT SINCE THE OTHER TFC WAS LEVEL AT THEIR ALT.
Narrative: AFTER DEPARTING CVG, CTR CLRED US TO CLB TO 16000 FT. THIS WAS CLRLY HEARD BY BOTH PLTS, AND ENTERED INTO MCP (AUTOPLT ON). WE LEVELED AT 16000 FT FOR ABOUT 3-4 MINS, AND WE WERE TOLD TFC WOULD PREVENT OUR FURTHER CLB (1 O'CLOCK). THEN CTLR ASKED US TO CONFIRM LEVEL 15000 FT! WE ANSWERED, 'NEGATIVE, LEVEL 16000 FT ASSIGNED.' ATC, 'IMMEDIATE CLB TO FL230, EXPEDITE THROUGH 17000 FT.' AUTOPLT DISCONNECTED, PWR ADDED, PITCHED UP, AND WE WERE OUT OF 17000 FT IN LESS THAN 15 SECONDS. ATC ADDED THAT OUR HOLD-DOWN TFC WAS AT 16000 FT, AND THAT HE 'COULD'VE SWORN I GAVE YOU 15000 FT.' HE ALSO ADVISED NO CONFLICT OCCURRED. NO FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED. ASIDE FROM THE ADRENALINE SHOT AND SECONDARY HEART EFFECT THE FOREGOING SCENARIO PROVIDED, I CAN GIVE SOME SUGGESTIONS: 1) CTLRS SHOULD ALWAYS GIVE ALT OF OPPOSING TFC AND PLTS SHOULD LISTEN FOR IT. 2) DON'T RELY ON TCASII -- IT NEVER SHOWED ANYTHING IN THIS CASE. 3) CTLRS SHOULD HAVE A BETTER WAY OF NOTING DIRECTIONS THEY HAVE GIVEN.
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.