Narrative:

On mke departure frequency 125.35 at approximately XA21Z, vectors were given with initial departure clearance of 5000 ft. On runway, a departure heading was assigned 210 degrees. On departure, a heading of 250 degrees was assigned. The controller then asked, 'air carrier X where are you going today -- phx?' PNF replied, 'affirmative' and the controller assigned a 270 degree heading with 7000 ft altitude assigned. As we passed through approximately 6700 ft, the controller replied, 'turn to a 290 degree heading and you were assigned 5000 ft.' the altitude was confirmed as 7000 ft by both pilots. At no time in the cockpit was there a question of what was assigned and we therefore questioned the controller. The controller assigned a 270 degree heading and insisted he was correct. Supplemental information from acn 439779: passing through 6700 ft, controller said to 'turn to heading 290 degrees, you were cleared to 5000 ft.' I responded, 'sir, you have us 7000 ft.' he said, 'no, you were assigned 5000 ft, turn heading 270 degrees.' end of discussion! Crew was aware of altitude assigned at all times. We vehemently agree on this matter. No deviation on our part. Hearback/readback disagreement. Pilot/controller multiple clrncs.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLC ARE ASSIGNED MULTIPLE DEP HDGS PRIOR AND ON DEP ROLL WITH AN ALT CHANGE. MKE TRACON CHALLENGES ALT ASSIGNMENT.

Narrative: ON MKE DEP FREQ 125.35 AT APPROX XA21Z, VECTORS WERE GIVEN WITH INITIAL DEP CLRNC OF 5000 FT. ON RWY, A DEP HDG WAS ASSIGNED 210 DEGS. ON DEP, A HDG OF 250 DEGS WAS ASSIGNED. THE CTLR THEN ASKED, 'ACR X WHERE ARE YOU GOING TODAY -- PHX?' PNF REPLIED, 'AFFIRMATIVE' AND THE CTLR ASSIGNED A 270 DEG HDG WITH 7000 FT ALT ASSIGNED. AS WE PASSED THROUGH APPROX 6700 FT, THE CTLR REPLIED, 'TURN TO A 290 DEG HDG AND YOU WERE ASSIGNED 5000 FT.' THE ALT WAS CONFIRMED AS 7000 FT BY BOTH PLTS. AT NO TIME IN THE COCKPIT WAS THERE A QUESTION OF WHAT WAS ASSIGNED AND WE THEREFORE QUESTIONED THE CTLR. THE CTLR ASSIGNED A 270 DEG HDG AND INSISTED HE WAS CORRECT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 439779: PASSING THROUGH 6700 FT, CTLR SAID TO 'TURN TO HDG 290 DEGS, YOU WERE CLRED TO 5000 FT.' I RESPONDED, 'SIR, YOU HAVE US 7000 FT.' HE SAID, 'NO, YOU WERE ASSIGNED 5000 FT, TURN HDG 270 DEGS.' END OF DISCUSSION! CREW WAS AWARE OF ALT ASSIGNED AT ALL TIMES. WE VEHEMENTLY AGREE ON THIS MATTER. NO DEV ON OUR PART. HEARBACK/READBACK DISAGREEMENT. PLT/CTLR MULTIPLE CLRNCS.

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.