Narrative:

On departure air carrier X, we were cleared to 12000 ft. We were filed for 11000 ft and historically we are always cleared to 10000 ft. Same crew has flown this trip many times. When told 12000 ft on departure everyone looked at one another and questioned why, so once again the captain asked to verify 12000 ft. He was told 12000 ft again. After being level at 12000 ft for 30 seconds the greensboro departure controller asked us why we were not at 10000 ft. We told him he cleared us to 12000 ft numerous times. He disagreed, told us it was no big deal, and had us descend back to 10000 ft. We were not aware if there was a conflict, but from his demeanor we would say no.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B727 FLT CREW AND CTLR DISAGREE ON ASSIGNED ALT AFTER FLT CREW RE-VERIFIED THE ALT.

Narrative: ON DEP ACR X, WE WERE CLRED TO 12000 FT. WE WERE FILED FOR 11000 FT AND HISTORICALLY WE ARE ALWAYS CLRED TO 10000 FT. SAME CREW HAS FLOWN THIS TRIP MANY TIMES. WHEN TOLD 12000 FT ON DEP EVERYONE LOOKED AT ONE ANOTHER AND QUESTIONED WHY, SO ONCE AGAIN THE CAPT ASKED TO VERIFY 12000 FT. HE WAS TOLD 12000 FT AGAIN. AFTER BEING LEVEL AT 12000 FT FOR 30 SECONDS THE GREENSBORO DEP CTLR ASKED US WHY WE WERE NOT AT 10000 FT. WE TOLD HIM HE CLRED US TO 12000 FT NUMEROUS TIMES. HE DISAGREED, TOLD US IT WAS NO BIG DEAL, AND HAD US DSND BACK TO 10000 FT. WE WERE NOT AWARE IF THERE WAS A CONFLICT, BUT FROM HIS DEMEANOR WE WOULD SAY NO.

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.