Confusion over direction of holding pattern caused by request for change due to thunderstorms.

Attributes
ACN	93326
Time
Date	198808
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ctw airport : pit
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	93326
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were assigned arrival holding for landing at pit. Initial holding altitude was 15000 ft at wiske. When we turned inbound in the pattern we noticed a cumulus buildup in the airspace, and after some discussion, requested a modified pattern to hold northwest of wiske. I meant to say northeast of the fix, so I made a second call requesting northeast holding instead of northwest. The controller cleared us as requested when we were proceeding northeast from wiske, another controller questioned us and stated that we were getting pretty far out of holding. I then replied that the previous controller had cleared us for this airspace, but I also felt uneasy that there was this much confusion, so I requested that he clarify what our clearance was. He then gave us a new holding pattern, which was properly defined as 'northwest of ctw 102/35.' I am still unsure whether the first controller understood and passed on my request and/or clearance. What is learned: I think I will always request complete holding instructions in any future situation such as this to ensure all parties are in agreement. Northwest sounds too much like northeast when things are busy and WX is bad.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CONFUSION OVER DIRECTION OF HOLDING PATTERN CAUSED BY REQUEST FOR CHANGE DUE TO TSTMS.

Narrative: WE WERE ASSIGNED ARR HOLDING FOR LNDG AT PIT. INITIAL HOLDING ALT WAS 15000 FT AT WISKE. WHEN WE TURNED INBND IN THE PATTERN WE NOTICED A CUMULUS BUILDUP IN THE AIRSPACE, AND AFTER SOME DISCUSSION, REQUESTED A MODIFIED PATTERN TO HOLD NW OF WISKE. I MEANT TO SAY NE OF THE FIX, SO I MADE A SECOND CALL REQUESTING NE HOLDING INSTEAD OF NW. THE CTLR CLRED US AS REQUESTED WHEN WE WERE PROCEEDING NE FROM WISKE, ANOTHER CTLR QUESTIONED US AND STATED THAT WE WERE GETTING PRETTY FAR OUT OF HOLDING. I THEN REPLIED THAT THE PREVIOUS CTLR HAD CLRED US FOR THIS AIRSPACE, BUT I ALSO FELT UNEASY THAT THERE WAS THIS MUCH CONFUSION, SO I REQUESTED THAT HE CLARIFY WHAT OUR CLRNC WAS. HE THEN GAVE US A NEW HOLDING PATTERN, WHICH WAS PROPERLY DEFINED AS 'NW OF CTW 102/35.' I AM STILL UNSURE WHETHER THE FIRST CTLR UNDERSTOOD AND PASSED ON MY REQUEST AND/OR CLRNC. WHAT IS LEARNED: I THINK I WILL ALWAYS REQUEST COMPLETE HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS IN ANY FUTURE SIT SUCH AS THIS TO ENSURE ALL PARTIES ARE IN AGREEMENT. NW SOUNDS TOO MUCH LIKE NE WHEN THINGS ARE BUSY AND WX IS BAD.

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