Narrative:

Flight of 2 departed nmm and training sortie. Cleared into meridian 1 west MOA block altitude 9000-13000 ft MSL. (Normal block altitude 9000 ft-FL230.) neither myself nor the copilot with me remembered hearing the block altitude given, just that we were cleared into one portion of the MOA, but not the rest. Flight climbed to 13000 ft to perform 'G' awareness maneuver prior to performing tactical maneuvering then climbed to 15000 ft (lead) and 16000 ft (wing). Several mins later, ZME came up our tactical frequency and gave us a vector to 360 degrees. This being nonstandard, I questioned the controller about the vector, to which he replied we had 'climbed out of the block altitude' he gave us. The flight immediately descended below 13000 ft and turned to 360 degrees. Several mins later, we were cleared into the entire block. Unknown to us as to whether or not TCASII/GPWS were activated on other aircraft. This flight never had any visual contact with the other aircraft. Lessons learned: acknowledge block altitude, especially if it is nonstandard, and maintain that block. For ARTCC: if a nonstandard clearance is given, make sure the aircraft understands and acknowledges the clearance. Also, state the reason for the restr (ie, VFR or IFR traffic transiting the MOA at 15000 ft on the nmm 300 degree radial, 40 DME).

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A MIL FLC IN A T45 GOSHAWK AND ITS WING ACFT CLB ABOVE ITS ASSIGNED ALT WITHIN THE MOA, NMM, MS.

Narrative: FLT OF 2 DEPARTED NMM AND TRAINING SORTIE. CLRED INTO MERIDIAN 1 W MOA BLOCK ALT 9000-13000 FT MSL. (NORMAL BLOCK ALT 9000 FT-FL230.) NEITHER MYSELF NOR THE COPLT WITH ME REMEMBERED HEARING THE BLOCK ALT GIVEN, JUST THAT WE WERE CLRED INTO ONE PORTION OF THE MOA, BUT NOT THE REST. FLT CLBED TO 13000 FT TO PERFORM 'G' AWARENESS MANEUVER PRIOR TO PERFORMING TACTICAL MANEUVERING THEN CLBED TO 15000 FT (LEAD) AND 16000 FT (WING). SEVERAL MINS LATER, ZME CAME UP OUR TACTICAL FREQ AND GAVE US A VECTOR TO 360 DEGS. THIS BEING NONSTANDARD, I QUESTIONED THE CTLR ABOUT THE VECTOR, TO WHICH HE REPLIED WE HAD 'CLBED OUT OF THE BLOCK ALT' HE GAVE US. THE FLT IMMEDIATELY DSNDED BELOW 13000 FT AND TURNED TO 360 DEGS. SEVERAL MINS LATER, WE WERE CLRED INTO THE ENTIRE BLOCK. UNKNOWN TO US AS TO WHETHER OR NOT TCASII/GPWS WERE ACTIVATED ON OTHER ACFT. THIS FLT NEVER HAD ANY VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE OTHER ACFT. LESSONS LEARNED: ACKNOWLEDGE BLOCK ALT, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS NONSTANDARD, AND MAINTAIN THAT BLOCK. FOR ARTCC: IF A NONSTANDARD CLRNC IS GIVEN, MAKE SURE THE ACFT UNDERSTANDS AND ACKNOWLEDGES THE CLRNC. ALSO, STATE THE REASON FOR THE RESTR (IE, VFR OR IFR TFC TRANSITING THE MOA AT 15000 FT ON THE NMM 300 DEG RADIAL, 40 DME).

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.