An A-320 flight crew forgot about MEL altitude restr and climbs above restricted altitude.

Attributes
ACN	518820
Time
Date	200107
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ilm.airport
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 21000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 181 flight time total : 20913 flight time type : 969
ASRS Report	518820
Events
Anomaly	maintenance problem : non compliance with mel non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Dispatched with an MEL that restr our altitude to FL310. On the ground, we briefed this restr, but approximately 40 mins into the flight, the controller cleared us to FL350. Unfortunately, the first officer and I had momentarily forgotten our altitude restr. Fortunately, the copilot remembered immediately after we leveled off at FL350. I requested descent back to FL310 and we continued the flight without incident was in the future, I will put a little paper placard near my altimeter anytime there is an operational restr. This will remind me of any restr. Another factor in this incident. For some reason the controller didn't receive the new flight plan altitude requested by our dispatch department. Had they received it, we would have never been cleared to a higher altitude.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A-320 FLT CREW FORGOT ABOUT MEL ALT RESTR AND CLBS ABOVE RESTRICTED ALT.

Narrative: DISPATCHED WITH AN MEL THAT RESTR OUR ALT TO FL310. ON THE GND, WE BRIEFED THIS RESTR, BUT APPROX 40 MINS INTO THE FLT, THE CTLR CLRED US TO FL350. UNFORTUNATELY, THE FO AND I HAD MOMENTARILY FORGOTTEN OUR ALT RESTR. FORTUNATELY, THE COPLT REMEMBERED IMMEDIATELY AFTER WE LEVELED OFF AT FL350. I REQUESTED DSCNT BACK TO FL310 AND WE CONTINUED THE FLT WITHOUT INCIDENT WAS IN THE FUTURE, I WILL PUT A LITTLE PAPER PLACARD NEAR MY ALTIMETER ANYTIME THERE IS AN OPERATIONAL RESTR. THIS WILL REMIND ME OF ANY RESTR. ANOTHER FACTOR IN THIS INCIDENT. FOR SOME REASON THE CTLR DIDN'T RECEIVE THE NEW FLT PLAN ALT REQUESTED BY OUR DISPATCH DEPT. HAD THEY RECEIVED IT, WE WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN CLRED TO A HIGHER ALT.

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.