Altitude assignment confusion in ZID class a airspace.

Attributes
ACN	472711
Time
Date	200005
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : rod.vortac
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl single value : 28300
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc tower : jfk.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Fokker 100
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : vacating altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	472.711
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
ASRS Report	472710
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllerb other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Inter Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

Events best as I can recall. Departed cle, first officer flying. Cleared by departure to 17000 ft. Contacted ZOB, cleared to FL230, then FL280. Center asked for climb rate of 1500 FPM. Was unable, could do 1000 ft. Center asked us to hurry through FL220, then FL250. Cleared direct pxv out of FL240 for FL250. At some point we were handed off to next controller, along with squawk change and clearance to FL310. Aircraft was in slow climb due to high gross weight and anti-ice. PNF went off frequency to make PA and returned to hear PF talking to ZID. ZID asked if we were level FL280, to which he replied out of FL280 for FL310. No response. Several other aircraft checked in. Finally we asked to confirm altitude. Controller stated no one down here can remember clearing you to FL310. Call regarding possible deviation. Was pretty sure ZOB cleared us to FL310, but now wonder if we got another's clearance. Similar company call signs on frequency that day. In addition, was last leg of a long day, as well as a busy frequency with ord traffic and WX in the area. Followed altitude setting procedures rigorously, but no good if I set it taking someone else's clearance or center handoff isn't completed. Not a great way to end a trip.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT ASSIGNMENT CONFUSION IN ZID CLASS A AIRSPACE.

Narrative: EVENTS BEST AS I CAN RECALL. DEPARTED CLE, FO FLYING. CLRED BY DEP TO 17000 FT. CONTACTED ZOB, CLRED TO FL230, THEN FL280. CTR ASKED FOR CLB RATE OF 1500 FPM. WAS UNABLE, COULD DO 1000 FT. CTR ASKED US TO HURRY THROUGH FL220, THEN FL250. CLRED DIRECT PXV OUT OF FL240 FOR FL250. AT SOME POINT WE WERE HANDED OFF TO NEXT CTLR, ALONG WITH SQUAWK CHANGE AND CLRNC TO FL310. ACFT WAS IN SLOW CLB DUE TO HIGH GROSS WT AND ANTI-ICE. PNF WENT OFF FREQ TO MAKE PA AND RETURNED TO HEAR PF TALKING TO ZID. ZID ASKED IF WE WERE LEVEL FL280, TO WHICH HE REPLIED OUT OF FL280 FOR FL310. NO RESPONSE. SEVERAL OTHER ACFT CHKED IN. FINALLY WE ASKED TO CONFIRM ALT. CTLR STATED NO ONE DOWN HERE CAN REMEMBER CLRING YOU TO FL310. CALL REGARDING POSSIBLE DEV. WAS PRETTY SURE ZOB CLRED US TO FL310, BUT NOW WONDER IF WE GOT ANOTHER'S CLRNC. SIMILAR COMPANY CALL SIGNS ON FREQ THAT DAY. IN ADDITION, WAS LAST LEG OF A LONG DAY, AS WELL AS A BUSY FREQ WITH ORD TFC AND WX IN THE AREA. FOLLOWED ALT SETTING PROCS RIGOROUSLY, BUT NO GOOD IF I SET IT TAKING SOMEONE ELSE'S CLRNC OR CTR HDOF ISN'T COMPLETED. NOT A GREAT WAY TO END A TRIP.

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.