CL60 captain requested, and ARTCC controller granted, climb to higher altitude for less turbulence. However, first officer flying started descent instead of climbing believing that they were cleared to a lower altitude.

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Attributes
ACN	531380
Time
Date	200111
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : cyul.vor
State Reference	PQ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28400 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : czul.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Challenger CL600
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	531380
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I had requested FL350 for turbulence. While I was making a PA to passenger and turning on seatbelt sign, first officer was told to climb to FL350. He thought the controller said FL250, and began a descent. I recovered at FL284 at same time controller began to query us. First officer's first language is not english, and even though I had talked to him prior to making the PA about the request for the climb, he became confused. He is a good pilot. Something just got lost in the translation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CL60 CAPT REQUESTED, AND ARTCC CTLR GRANTED, CLB TO HIGHER ALT FOR LESS TURB. HOWEVER, FO FLYING STARTED DSCNT INSTEAD OF CLBING BELIEVING THAT THEY WERE CLRED TO A LOWER ALT.

Narrative: I HAD REQUESTED FL350 FOR TURB. WHILE I WAS MAKING A PA TO PAX AND TURNING ON SEATBELT SIGN, FO WAS TOLD TO CLB TO FL350. HE THOUGHT THE CTLR SAID FL250, AND BEGAN A DSCNT. I RECOVERED AT FL284 AT SAME TIME CTLR BEGAN TO QUERY US. FO'S FIRST LANGUAGE IS NOT ENGLISH, AND EVEN THOUGH I HAD TALKED TO HIM PRIOR TO MAKING THE PA ABOUT THE REQUEST FOR THE CLB, HE BECAME CONFUSED. HE IS A GOOD PLT. SOMETHING JUST GOT LOST IN THE TRANSLATION.

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.