Narrative:

We took off out of btr climbing to 5000 ft and runway heading. Btr ATC then cleared us for higher 10000 ft MSL and a heading of 110 degrees. Meanwhile, btr ATC spoke again. I did not hear what was said -- the sic responded. Btr ATC handed us off to ZHU. The contract pilot had a problem changing the frequency for the communication #2 radio. The sic put the frequency in the transponder and tried to speak. However, he spoke to btr departure again. I noticed what he had done and I helped him. In the meantime, the autoplt was flying the airplane. Altitude select and heading were 'on.' I looked at the altitude and we were going through 10500 ft MSL. I looked over and saw the selector on 12000 ft MSL. So, I asked the sic, 'did they clear us to 12000 ft MSL?' the sic said, 'yes.' so, I asked him again, 'are you sure they said 12000 ft MSL?' again he said, 'yes.' he finally contacted ZHU. They asked what altitude we were assigned. Sic said '12000 ft.' the center said nothing else about the altitude. My corrective action is not to fly with this pilot again. This pilot is more of a hindrance than a help in the cockpit. His radio skills are very poor. My chief pilot has been notified of this situation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WW24 CAPT CONCERNED WITH FO'S COCKPIT OPERATIONAL SKILLS DEPARTING BTR, FAILING IN COM FREQ TUNING AND ALT VERIFICATION.

Narrative: WE TOOK OFF OUT OF BTR CLBING TO 5000 FT AND RWY HDG. BTR ATC THEN CLRED US FOR HIGHER 10000 FT MSL AND A HDG OF 110 DEGS. MEANWHILE, BTR ATC SPOKE AGAIN. I DID NOT HEAR WHAT WAS SAID -- THE SIC RESPONDED. BTR ATC HANDED US OFF TO ZHU. THE CONTRACT PLT HAD A PROB CHANGING THE FREQ FOR THE COM #2 RADIO. THE SIC PUT THE FREQ IN THE XPONDER AND TRIED TO SPEAK. HOWEVER, HE SPOKE TO BTR DEP AGAIN. I NOTICED WHAT HE HAD DONE AND I HELPED HIM. IN THE MEANTIME, THE AUTOPLT WAS FLYING THE AIRPLANE. ALT SELECT AND HDG WERE 'ON.' I LOOKED AT THE ALT AND WE WERE GOING THROUGH 10500 FT MSL. I LOOKED OVER AND SAW THE SELECTOR ON 12000 FT MSL. SO, I ASKED THE SIC, 'DID THEY CLR US TO 12000 FT MSL?' THE SIC SAID, 'YES.' SO, I ASKED HIM AGAIN, 'ARE YOU SURE THEY SAID 12000 FT MSL?' AGAIN HE SAID, 'YES.' HE FINALLY CONTACTED ZHU. THEY ASKED WHAT ALT WE WERE ASSIGNED. SIC SAID '12000 FT.' THE CTR SAID NOTHING ELSE ABOUT THE ALT. MY CORRECTIVE ACTION IS NOT TO FLY WITH THIS PLT AGAIN. THIS PLT IS MORE OF A HINDRANCE THAN A HELP IN THE COCKPIT. HIS RADIO SKILLS ARE VERY POOR. MY CHIEF PLT HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS SIT.

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.