Narrative:

After departing albany, ny, with a clearance for the albany 3 departure to maintain 3000 ft, we were told to contact departure. After checking in with departure, we were given a vector to join the airway. Being the PNF, I read back the clearance. About 4-5 mi from the airport, the captain and I discussed why we had not been given a climb. The captain said we were not given a climb by departure and I agreed we were only given the left turn to join the airway. For the next 4 or 5 mi I attempted to call alb departure to ask for a higher altitude, but due to frequency congestion it took 3 attempts. I asked the controller for higher and he said 'I see you level at 3000 ft, climb and maintain 9000 ft, I gave you 9000 ft.' I read back the 9000 ft clearance and we initiated the climb. During the climb, I questioned myself about the original clearance from the departure controller. I don't recall him giving us the 9000 ft climb clearance when he gave us the turn to join the airway. I cannot be sure if the controller assigned 9000 ft on the initial call to departure, or if I read it back, or if I read it back and don't recall. The captain said we never received the climb clearance. I just can't be sure. The main factor for my confusion may have been fatigue. When I say fatigue it may not be in the traditional sense. My day began at XA50 with 2 deadhead legs to alb. Once in alb we sat about 3 hours 15 mins until our XI25 departure. This 7 hour 25 mins of non activity may have led to me being less than 100% alert. I use the word fatigue to best describe it although I did not feel tired or poorly rested.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AFTER DEPARTING ALB AND BEING HANDED OFF TO DEP CTL WITHOUT A CLB CLRNC ABOVE THE INITIAL 3000 FT, A CREW BECOMES CONCERNED. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO MAKE CONTACT ON A CONGESTED FREQ THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL AND ARE TOLD THEY HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY ISSUED A CLB TO 9000 FT. THE CREW HAD NO RECALL OF THE PREVIOUS CLRNC.

Narrative: AFTER DEPARTING ALBANY, NY, WITH A CLRNC FOR THE ALBANY 3 DEP TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT, WE WERE TOLD TO CONTACT DEP. AFTER CHKING IN WITH DEP, WE WERE GIVEN A VECTOR TO JOIN THE AIRWAY. BEING THE PNF, I READ BACK THE CLRNC. ABOUT 4-5 MI FROM THE ARPT, THE CAPT AND I DISCUSSED WHY WE HAD NOT BEEN GIVEN A CLB. THE CAPT SAID WE WERE NOT GIVEN A CLB BY DEP AND I AGREED WE WERE ONLY GIVEN THE L TURN TO JOIN THE AIRWAY. FOR THE NEXT 4 OR 5 MI I ATTEMPTED TO CALL ALB DEP TO ASK FOR A HIGHER ALT, BUT DUE TO FREQ CONGESTION IT TOOK 3 ATTEMPTS. I ASKED THE CTLR FOR HIGHER AND HE SAID 'I SEE YOU LEVEL AT 3000 FT, CLB AND MAINTAIN 9000 FT, I GAVE YOU 9000 FT.' I READ BACK THE 9000 FT CLRNC AND WE INITIATED THE CLB. DURING THE CLB, I QUESTIONED MYSELF ABOUT THE ORIGINAL CLRNC FROM THE DEP CTLR. I DON'T RECALL HIM GIVING US THE 9000 FT CLB CLRNC WHEN HE GAVE US THE TURN TO JOIN THE AIRWAY. I CANNOT BE SURE IF THE CTLR ASSIGNED 9000 FT ON THE INITIAL CALL TO DEP, OR IF I READ IT BACK, OR IF I READ IT BACK AND DON'T RECALL. THE CAPT SAID WE NEVER RECEIVED THE CLB CLRNC. I JUST CAN'T BE SURE. THE MAIN FACTOR FOR MY CONFUSION MAY HAVE BEEN FATIGUE. WHEN I SAY FATIGUE IT MAY NOT BE IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE. MY DAY BEGAN AT XA50 WITH 2 DEADHEAD LEGS TO ALB. ONCE IN ALB WE SAT ABOUT 3 HRS 15 MINS UNTIL OUR XI25 DEP. THIS 7 HR 25 MINS OF NON ACTIVITY MAY HAVE LED TO ME BEING LESS THAN 100% ALERT. I USE THE WORD FATIGUE TO BEST DESCRIBE IT ALTHOUGH I DID NOT FEEL TIRED OR POORLY RESTED.

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.