Flight crew at final altitude FL270 complied with a new clearance to climb to FL290.

Attributes
ACN	546780
Time
Date	200203
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : arg.vortac
State Reference	AR
Altitude	msl single value : 27000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	546780
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

This incident occurred while acting as sic and PF. We had accepted FL270 as a final cruise altitude due to turbulence reported at higher altitudes on our flight from lit-stl. Shortly thereafter, we were cleared to climb to FL290. Somewhat surprised at receiving a new clearance, I began a climb to FL290. We received an RA with an aircraft at approximately 12 O'clock position and turned right (20 degrees) to resolve the conflict. The controller then reclred us to maintain FL270 which we complied with. There was confusion on the part of the controller with air carrier xaxx and air carrier xbxx, who was also on the frequency unknown to us. This confusion of flight numbers throughout the sequence of events led to the loss of traffic separation. At one point the controller remarked to the effect 'this is on me.' there was no further discussion of the situation with the controller.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC AT FINAL ALT FL270 COMPLIED WITH A NEW CLRNC TO CLB TO FL290.

Narrative: THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE ACTING AS SIC AND PF. WE HAD ACCEPTED FL270 AS A FINAL CRUISE ALT DUE TO TURB RPTED AT HIGHER ALTS ON OUR FLT FROM LIT-STL. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE WERE CLRED TO CLB TO FL290. SOMEWHAT SURPRISED AT RECEIVING A NEW CLRNC, I BEGAN A CLB TO FL290. WE RECEIVED AN RA WITH AN ACFT AT APPROX 12 O'CLOCK POS AND TURNED R (20 DEGS) TO RESOLVE THE CONFLICT. THE CTLR THEN RECLRED US TO MAINTAIN FL270 WHICH WE COMPLIED WITH. THERE WAS CONFUSION ON THE PART OF THE CTLR WITH ACR XAXX AND ACR XBXX, WHO WAS ALSO ON THE FREQ UNKNOWN TO US. THIS CONFUSION OF FLT NUMBERS THROUGHOUT THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS LED TO THE LOSS OF TFC SEPARATION. AT ONE POINT THE CTLR REMARKED TO THE EFFECT 'THIS IS ON ME.' THERE WAS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THE SIT WITH THE CTLR.

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.