ZNY controller utilizes nonstandard phraseology, and the air carrier flight crew interpretation tran...

Attributes
ACN	426998
Time
Date	199901
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mrb
State Reference	WV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Jetstream 41
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	arrival other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 2100 flight time type : 120
ASRS Report	426998
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While en route from newark (ewr) to dulles (iad) on V143, proceeding to the robrt intersection, we were given an initial instruction to head 275 degrees, vectors for spacing by center. We complied. Shortly thereafter, he called us again saying 'air carrier X, 200 degrees on the nose please.' immediately I responded and said, 'heading 200 degrees for air carrier X' to which my captain also confirmed the heading as I set up the heading indicator. Then after a min or so, center comes on again saying '275 degrees on the heading' and queries our direction. I told him that he initially gave us a 275 degree heading, then changed it to 200 degrees. He said he didn't say anything, and instead told us to now head 275 degrees and speed restr to 200 KTS. We complied, however, the captain and I discussed after the transmission that we both heard '...200 degrees on the nose...' previously, and that such a statement was interpreted to head 200 degrees, not slow down. Maybe next time, radio ambiguity could be better avoided if we didn't use such terms as 'on the nose...' or other such phraseology. I also think that the high volume of traffic at that time contributed to this.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZNY CTLR UTILIZES NONSTANDARD PHRASEOLOGY, AND THE ACR FLC INTERP XMISSION AS A HEADING CHANGE INSTEAD OF INTENDED SPD ASSIGNMENT.

Narrative: WHILE ENRTE FROM NEWARK (EWR) TO DULLES (IAD) ON V143, PROCEEDING TO THE ROBRT INTXN, WE WERE GIVEN AN INITIAL INSTRUCTION TO HEAD 275 DEGS, VECTORS FOR SPACING BY CTR. WE COMPLIED. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, HE CALLED US AGAIN SAYING 'ACR X, 200 DEGS ON THE NOSE PLEASE.' IMMEDIATELY I RESPONDED AND SAID, 'HDG 200 DEGS FOR ACR X' TO WHICH MY CAPT ALSO CONFIRMED THE HEADING AS I SET UP THE HEADING INDICATOR. THEN AFTER A MIN OR SO, CTR COMES ON AGAIN SAYING '275 DEGS ON THE HEADING' AND QUERIES OUR DIRECTION. I TOLD HIM THAT HE INITIALLY GAVE US A 275 DEG HDG, THEN CHANGED IT TO 200 DEGS. HE SAID HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING, AND INSTEAD TOLD US TO NOW HEAD 275 DEGS AND SPD RESTR TO 200 KTS. WE COMPLIED, HOWEVER, THE CAPT AND I DISCUSSED AFTER THE XMISSION THAT WE BOTH HEARD '...200 DEGS ON THE NOSE...' PREVIOUSLY, AND THAT SUCH A STATEMENT WAS INTERPRETED TO HEAD 200 DEGS, NOT SLOW DOWN. MAYBE NEXT TIME, RADIO AMBIGUITY COULD BE BETTER AVOIDED IF WE DIDN'T USE SUCH TERMS AS 'ON THE NOSE...' OR OTHER SUCH PHRASEOLOGY. I ALSO THINK THAT THE HIGH VOLUME OF TFC AT THAT TIME CONTRIBUTED TO THIS.

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.

ZNY controller utilizes nonstandard phraseology, and the air carrier flight crew interpretation transmission as a heading change instead of intended speed assignment.