Nonstandard phraseology by ATC leads to confusion regarding hold by B727 at mxe.

Attributes
ACN	440334
Time
Date	199906
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : mxe.vor
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl single value : 27000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : holding
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	440334
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : ns other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

During departure from phl, we were flying direct to mxe VOR, in our climb. Our destination of atl had some airspace problems, therefore we were told to expect holding near mxe VOR. All 3 of us were ready when the departure controller read us the holding instructions. The controller was using some nonstandard terminology and all 3 of us were unclr as to where to hold (controller had mentioned mxe 278 degree radial and 10 DME fix). The captain asked, 'what is the holding fix?' the controller answered, 'mxe VOR.' controller said 'hold west mxe 278 degree radial, left turns.' as I crossed VOR and turned right on a teardrop entry, the controller called back and said we were on the wrong side of VOR and gave us vectors the rest of the time in his airspace.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NONSTANDARD PHRASEOLOGY BY ATC LEADS TO CONFUSION REGARDING HOLD BY B727 AT MXE.

Narrative: DURING DEP FROM PHL, WE WERE FLYING DIRECT TO MXE VOR, IN OUR CLB. OUR DEST OF ATL HAD SOME AIRSPACE PROBS, THEREFORE WE WERE TOLD TO EXPECT HOLDING NEAR MXE VOR. ALL 3 OF US WERE READY WHEN THE DEP CTLR READ US THE HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS. THE CTLR WAS USING SOME NONSTANDARD TERMINOLOGY AND ALL 3 OF US WERE UNCLR AS TO WHERE TO HOLD (CTLR HAD MENTIONED MXE 278 DEG RADIAL AND 10 DME FIX). THE CAPT ASKED, 'WHAT IS THE HOLDING FIX?' THE CTLR ANSWERED, 'MXE VOR.' CTLR SAID 'HOLD W MXE 278 DEG RADIAL, L TURNS.' AS I CROSSED VOR AND TURNED R ON A TEARDROP ENTRY, THE CTLR CALLED BACK AND SAID WE WERE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF VOR AND GAVE US VECTORS THE REST OF THE TIME IN HIS AIRSPACE.

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.