EMB170 flight crew has an altitude excursion during departure from orf.

Attributes
ACN	712037
Time
Date	200609
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zdc.artcc
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 34000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 170/175 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 205 flight time total : 3401 flight time type : 992
ASRS Report	712037
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

We were level at FL340 south of mol VOR after departing orf on a 360 degree heading. First officer was the PF. I checked on with ZDC and reported 'FL340 and 360 degree heading.' the controller said 'roger make it 350 now.' my first officer started to climb and got through FL343 when ATC queried. We stated that FL350 was our last assigned. He stated 'negative; maintain FL340 and left to 350 degree heading.' we immediately descended to FL340. We were told to call center when landing. When I called the number the center supervisor apologized and said his controller didn't use proper phraseology. Instead of 'climb and maintain' or 'turn left' he simply just stated 'make it 350.' he stated he wasn't filing anything and to just verify in the future if ATC uses incorrect phraseology.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMB170 FLT CREW HAS AN ALT EXCURSION DURING DEP FROM ORF.

Narrative: WE WERE LEVEL AT FL340 S OF MOL VOR AFTER DEPARTING ORF ON A 360 DEG HDG. FO WAS THE PF. I CHKED ON WITH ZDC AND RPTED 'FL340 AND 360 DEG HDG.' THE CTLR SAID 'ROGER MAKE IT 350 NOW.' MY FO STARTED TO CLB AND GOT THROUGH FL343 WHEN ATC QUERIED. WE STATED THAT FL350 WAS OUR LAST ASSIGNED. HE STATED 'NEGATIVE; MAINTAIN FL340 AND L TO 350 DEG HDG.' WE IMMEDIATELY DSNDED TO FL340. WE WERE TOLD TO CALL CTR WHEN LNDG. WHEN I CALLED THE NUMBER THE CTR SUPVR APOLOGIZED AND SAID HIS CTLR DIDN'T USE PROPER PHRASEOLOGY. INSTEAD OF 'CLB AND MAINTAIN' OR 'TURN L' HE SIMPLY JUST STATED 'MAKE IT 350.' HE STATED HE WASN'T FILING ANYTHING AND TO JUST VERIFY IN THE FUTURE IF ATC USES INCORRECT PHRASEOLOGY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.