Flight crew over the south pacific reports inadvertently accepting a clearance to FL380 via cpdlc. T...

Narrative:

At FL370 we received a cpdlc [controller-pilot data link communications] ATC message asking when we could accept a clearance to FL380. I free texted back stating 'now'. Shortly afterwards we received an ATC message. I pushed the ATC prompt on the FMC CDU once as witnessed by the other first officer. The message stated 'wilco'. There was no print or accept prompt and it stated page 1 of 1. After a brief discussion; we decided it was sent in error; and the only way to not have an open log item was to send it; so we did. Sometime later; we received a cpdlc message asking 'when do you expect to be level at FL380; you were cleared 18 minutes ago'. At this time we sent a message back requesting a clearance to FL380. We were then sent a cpdlc clearance stating; 'climb and maintain FL380; report level; 2nd clearance'. Upon reviewing the log; we saw the initial clearance to FL380 at 1524z followed by a wilco. Upon reviewing later climb clearances; we concluded that the cpdlc message jumped ahead 1 page without our input; as if the accept prompt had been pushed on page 1. We never received page 1 in the original clearance to climb and therefore did not push the accept prompt. In retrospect; we should have immediately gone back to review the log and we would have found the clearance. Fatigue was not a factor as I slept solid in the bunk and had a few cups of coffee prior to the event. A maintenance write-up on cpdlc was sent thereafter.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Flight crew over the South Pacific reports inadvertently accepting a clearance to FL380 via CPDLC. The crew is alerted when ATC queries them about their altitude; 18 minutes after the original clearance.

Narrative: At FL370 we received a CPDLC [Controller-pilot data link communications] ATC message asking when we could accept a clearance to FL380. I free texted back stating 'now'. Shortly afterwards we received an ATC message. I pushed the ATC prompt on the FMC CDU once as witnessed by the other first officer. The message stated 'WILCO'. There was no print or accept prompt and it stated page 1 of 1. After a brief discussion; we decided it was sent in error; and the only way to not have an open log item was to send it; so we did. Sometime later; we received a CPDLC message asking 'when do you expect to be level at FL380; you were cleared 18 minutes ago'. At this time we sent a message back requesting a clearance to FL380. We were then sent a CPDLC clearance stating; 'climb and maintain FL380; report level; 2nd clearance'. Upon reviewing the log; we saw the initial clearance to FL380 at 1524z followed by a WILCO. Upon reviewing later climb clearances; we concluded that the CPDLC message jumped ahead 1 page without our input; as if the accept prompt had been pushed on page 1. We never received page 1 in the original clearance to climb and therefore did not push the accept prompt. In retrospect; we should have immediately gone back to review the log and we would have found the clearance. Fatigue was not a factor as I slept solid in the bunk and had a few cups of coffee prior to the event. A maintenance write-up on CPDLC was sent thereafter.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	938793
Time
Date	201103
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	NFFF.ARTCC
State Reference	FO
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B747-400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Component
Aircraft Component	Data Transmission and Automatic Calling
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 250 Flight Crew Total 15600 Flight Crew Type 1000
Person 2
Function	Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 140 Flight Crew Total 19000 Flight Crew Type 9000
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Flight crew over the south pacific reports inadvertently accepting a clearance to FL380 via cpdlc. The crew is alerted when ATC queries them about their altitude; 18 minutes after the original clearance.