B190 crew questioned the ATC cleared altitude in clt class B.

Attributes
ACN	481120
Time
Date	200008
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : clt.airport
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Beech 1900
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	481120
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert atc equipment other atc equipment : 2 aircraft equipment : tcas aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : 1
Resolutory Action	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Company
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

First officer set 10000 ft in altitude window. Read back 10000 ft to controller. Level at 10000 ft for a moment. I asked first officer to question altitude and ask for higher. ATC said clearance was to 'expedite climb to 10000 ft and climb to 12000 ft.' we were not at 10000 ft for very long but it took awhile to radio controller and clarify 12000 ft. No conflict that I was aware of. ATC did a good job. I spoke to first officer about proper readbacks of clrncs. Will monitor more closely.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B190 CREW QUESTIONED THE ATC CLRED ALT IN CLT CLASS B.

Narrative: FO SET 10000 FT IN ALT WINDOW. READ BACK 10000 FT TO CTLR. LEVEL AT 10000 FT FOR A MOMENT. I ASKED FO TO QUESTION ALT AND ASK FOR HIGHER. ATC SAID CLRNC WAS TO 'EXPEDITE CLB TO 10000 FT AND CLB TO 12000 FT.' WE WERE NOT AT 10000 FT FOR VERY LONG BUT IT TOOK AWHILE TO RADIO CTLR AND CLARIFY 12000 FT. NO CONFLICT THAT I WAS AWARE OF. ATC DID A GOOD JOB. I SPOKE TO FO ABOUT PROPER READBACKS OF CLRNCS. WILL MONITOR MORE CLOSELY.

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.