Narrative:

Departed cdg on runway 26R, lgl 8B departure. After contacting radar, we were told to turn left 200 when level at FL240. During the climb through FL220, we were told to climb to FL280. We asked if we were still to turn to 200 degrees (two-zero-zero) when passing FL240, this was confirmed by ATC. Passing FL240 we proceeded to turn heading 200 degrees and continued to climb to FL280. At FL280 we were told to proceed direct to kocos. Once in the turns to kocos, we were told to fly heading 270 degrees. Once on this heading we were questioned why we did not turn to '20 degrees -two-zero' (not '020 degrees -zero-two-zero' as in proper ATC phraseology). In our read backs on at least two separate occasions there was no problem or correction from ATC. The controller then advised us that there was a communication problem between us and claimed we were told heading '20 degrees -two-ZER0' (again, improper ATC phraseology). We advised him that we twice read back 'left turn two-zero-zero' this was the clearance copied by all crew members. During this discussion he informed us that heading 200 degrees put us in conflict with another aircraft (no TCAS advisories). This was clearly a communication problem caused by non-standard ATC phraseology techniques used by the french controller, his negligence in listening to pilot clearance read backs, and speaking his native french to other aircraft's in his sector, removing us from the 'big picture.'

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B767-300 FLIES THE WRONG HDG DURING A LANGUAGE BARRIER PROB WITH ATC DEP PARIS ON THE LGL 8B DEP PROC.

Narrative: DEPARTED CDG ON RWY 26R, LGL 8B DEP. AFTER CONTACTING RADAR, WE WERE TOLD TO TURN LEFT 200 WHEN LEVEL AT FL240. DURING THE CLB THROUGH FL220, WE WERE TOLD TO CLB TO FL280. WE ASKED IF WE WERE STILL TO TURN TO 200 DEGS (TWO-ZERO-ZERO) WHEN PASSING FL240, THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY ATC. PASSING FL240 WE PROCEEDED TO TURN HDG 200 DEGS AND CONTINUED TO CLB TO FL280. AT FL280 WE WERE TOLD TO PROCEED DIRECT TO KOCOS. ONCE IN THE TURNS TO KOCOS, WE WERE TOLD TO FLY HDG 270 DEGS. ONCE ON THIS HDG WE WERE QUESTIONED WHY WE DID NOT TURN TO '20 DEGS -TWO-ZERO' (NOT '020 DEGS -ZERO-TWO-ZERO' AS IN PROPER ATC PHRASEOLOGY). IN OUR READ BACKS ON AT LEAST TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THERE WAS NO PROB OR CORRECTION FROM ATC. THE CTLR THEN ADVISED US THAT THERE WAS A COM PROB BETWEEN US AND CLAIMED WE WERE TOLD HDG '20 DEGS -TWO-ZER0' (AGAIN, IMPROPER ATC PHRASEOLOGY). WE ADVISED HIM THAT WE TWICE READ BACK 'LEFT TURN TWO-ZERO-ZERO' THIS WAS THE CLRNC COPIED BY ALL CREW MEMBERS. DURING THIS DISCUSSION HE INFORMED US THAT HDG 200 DEGS PUT US IN CONFLICT WITH ANOTHER ACFT (NO TCAS ADVISORIES). THIS WAS CLEARLY A COM PROB CAUSED BY NON-STANDARD ATC PHRASEOLOGY TECHNIQUES USED BY THE FRENCH CTLR, HIS NEGLIGENCE IN LISTENING TO PLT CLRNC READ BACKS, AND SPEAKING HIS NATIVE FRENCH TO OTHER ACFT'S IN HIS SECTOR, REMOVING US FROM THE 'BIG PICTURE.'

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.