Narrative:

After leveling at 8100 meters on initial climb out of ZZZ; we were given another climb to 8900 meters. First officer checked the altimeter metric conversion table and we both confirmed 29200 was the correct altitude in ft to set in the window. Once 29.2 was set in the altitude window; 8900 meters was confirmed on the digital standby altimeter. We climbed and leveled off at 29.2. Since we were filed for 31.2 final altitude we thought this was another interim leveloff prior to final cruise altitude assignment. Shortly after leveling at 29.2 the controller called and asked if our altitude was '29.2 or 29.1?' we responded we were level at 29.2. He stated we should be at 29.1. We rogered and said we were descending from 29.2 to 29.1. After leveling at 29.1 the digital standby altimeter showed 8870 meters. No further discussion occurred and a few mins later we were xferred to incheon control. After this radio discussion we checked the china rvsm fl allocation scheme chart and confirmed the ATC assigned rvsm level while heading east for 8900 meters is 29100 ft. This deviation occurred for 2 reasons. First; we did not know 8900 meters was going to be our final altitude. Second; we did not check the rvsm side of the chart to note the discrepancy of 8900 meters being 29.2 on one side and 29.1 on the rvsm side. Additionally it is worth noting the conversation with the chinese controller was about our altitude in ft not meters. This deviation can be prevented by ATC informing us of final altitude assignment or crew asking for clarification. Also it would be helpful to highlight on the altimeter metric conversion table those numerous (7) altitudes that are different by 100 ft on the 2 sides of the chart.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR CREW MISSED THE CHINESE RVSM FEET TO METERS ALTITUDE CONVERSION AND LEVELED OFF 100 FT IN ERROR.

Narrative: AFTER LEVELING AT 8100 METERS ON INITIAL CLBOUT OF ZZZ; WE WERE GIVEN ANOTHER CLB TO 8900 METERS. FO CHKED THE ALTIMETER METRIC CONVERSION TABLE AND WE BOTH CONFIRMED 29200 WAS THE CORRECT ALT IN FT TO SET IN THE WINDOW. ONCE 29.2 WAS SET IN THE ALT WINDOW; 8900 METERS WAS CONFIRMED ON THE DIGITAL STANDBY ALTIMETER. WE CLBED AND LEVELED OFF AT 29.2. SINCE WE WERE FILED FOR 31.2 FINAL ALT WE THOUGHT THIS WAS ANOTHER INTERIM LEVELOFF PRIOR TO FINAL CRUISE ALT ASSIGNMENT. SHORTLY AFTER LEVELING AT 29.2 THE CTLR CALLED AND ASKED IF OUR ALT WAS '29.2 OR 29.1?' WE RESPONDED WE WERE LEVEL AT 29.2. HE STATED WE SHOULD BE AT 29.1. WE ROGERED AND SAID WE WERE DSNDING FROM 29.2 TO 29.1. AFTER LEVELING AT 29.1 THE DIGITAL STANDBY ALTIMETER SHOWED 8870 METERS. NO FURTHER DISCUSSION OCCURRED AND A FEW MINS LATER WE WERE XFERRED TO INCHEON CTL. AFTER THIS RADIO DISCUSSION WE CHKED THE CHINA RVSM FL ALLOCATION SCHEME CHART AND CONFIRMED THE ATC ASSIGNED RVSM LEVEL WHILE HDG E FOR 8900 METERS IS 29100 FT. THIS DEV OCCURRED FOR 2 REASONS. FIRST; WE DID NOT KNOW 8900 METERS WAS GOING TO BE OUR FINAL ALT. SECOND; WE DID NOT CHK THE RVSM SIDE OF THE CHART TO NOTE THE DISCREPANCY OF 8900 METERS BEING 29.2 ON ONE SIDE AND 29.1 ON THE RVSM SIDE. ADDITIONALLY IT IS WORTH NOTING THE CONVERSATION WITH THE CHINESE CTLR WAS ABOUT OUR ALT IN FT NOT METERS. THIS DEV CAN BE PREVENTED BY ATC INFORMING US OF FINAL ALT ASSIGNMENT OR CREW ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION. ALSO IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HIGHLIGHT ON THE ALTIMETER METRIC CONVERSION TABLE THOSE NUMEROUS (7) ALTS THAT ARE DIFFERENT BY 100 FT ON THE 2 SIDES OF THE CHART.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.