Narrative:

On the cqy 4 (cedar creek 4) arrival into dfw, flight was cleared from 11000 ft to 8000 ft, which we read back. Starting descent, ATC advised dfw now landing north and began to vector those aircraft on downwind to the north, heading about 330-360 degrees. Back around for the north runways, airport was turned around during high traffic volume time. As we passed 9000 ft, we were called by approach saying we were supposed to be at 11000 ft and to come to a heading of 330 degrees. At the time of the ATC call we also received a TCASII alert (TA) with an aircraft at 7800 ft and climbing. Captain immediately took manual control of the aircraft and turned to a heading of 330 degrees while climbing to 10000 ft. We advised ATC that we were given 8000 ft and that we were then at 10000 ft heading 330 degrees. No further action or incidents followed. Contributing factors: airport being turned around during high traffic volume time. Controller attempting to turn multiple aircraft around on descent or downwind that were still in his airspace. Due to higher volume of aircraft than normal (and making multiple calls) controller passing instructions without waiting for readbacks from crews.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR COMPLAINED THAT THE LNDG RWYS WERE CHANGED DURING HIGH TFC VOLUME TIME.

Narrative: ON THE CQY 4 (CEDAR CREEK 4) ARR INTO DFW, FLT WAS CLRED FROM 11000 FT TO 8000 FT, WHICH WE READ BACK. STARTING DSCNT, ATC ADVISED DFW NOW LNDG N AND BEGAN TO VECTOR THOSE ACFT ON DOWNWIND TO THE N, HDG ABOUT 330-360 DEGS. BACK AROUND FOR THE N RWYS, ARPT WAS TURNED AROUND DURING HIGH TFC VOLUME TIME. AS WE PASSED 9000 FT, WE WERE CALLED BY APCH SAYING WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE AT 11000 FT AND TO COME TO A HDG OF 330 DEGS. AT THE TIME OF THE ATC CALL WE ALSO RECEIVED A TCASII ALERT (TA) WITH AN ACFT AT 7800 FT AND CLBING. CAPT IMMEDIATELY TOOK MANUAL CTL OF THE ACFT AND TURNED TO A HDG OF 330 DEGS WHILE CLBING TO 10000 FT. WE ADVISED ATC THAT WE WERE GIVEN 8000 FT AND THAT WE WERE THEN AT 10000 FT HDG 330 DEGS. NO FURTHER ACTION OR INCIDENTS FOLLOWED. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: ARPT BEING TURNED AROUND DURING HIGH TFC VOLUME TIME. CTLR ATTEMPTING TO TURN MULTIPLE ACFT AROUND ON DSCNT OR DOWNWIND THAT WERE STILL IN HIS AIRSPACE. DUE TO HIGHER VOLUME OF ACFT THAN NORMAL (AND MAKING MULTIPLE CALLS) CTLR PASSING INSTRUCTIONS WITHOUT WAITING FOR READBACKS FROM CREWS.

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.