Narrative:

First officer was flying. No autoplt was in use. We were leveling at 10000' and handed off to center. On initial contact center said to expect higher in 1-2 mi. After readback I noticed altimeter reading 10700' and first officer setting 12000' in altitude reminder. I told him that was wrong and to return to 10000', and also told the center. Second officer agreed with first officer. Center told us to remain at 11000', as there was no conflict. Both first officer and second officer thought they heard a climb clearance to 12000' due to controller's phraseology of '1-2' mi. Another serious problem exists with large transport in the fact that when 1 microphone is keyed, it blanks out the other receiver; i.e., second officer off talking to company and center calling at same time.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION. EXCURSION FROM ASSIGNED. ATC PHRASEOLOGY.

Narrative: F/O WAS FLYING. NO AUTOPLT WAS IN USE. WE WERE LEVELING AT 10000' AND HANDED OFF TO CENTER. ON INITIAL CONTACT CENTER SAID TO EXPECT HIGHER IN 1-2 MI. AFTER READBACK I NOTICED ALTIMETER READING 10700' AND F/O SETTING 12000' IN ALT REMINDER. I TOLD HIM THAT WAS WRONG AND TO RETURN TO 10000', AND ALSO TOLD THE CENTER. S/O AGREED WITH F/O. CENTER TOLD US TO REMAIN AT 11000', AS THERE WAS NO CONFLICT. BOTH F/O AND S/O THOUGHT THEY HEARD A CLB CLRNC TO 12000' DUE TO CTLR'S PHRASEOLOGY OF '1-2' MI. ANOTHER SERIOUS PROB EXISTS WITH LGT IN THE FACT THAT WHEN 1 MIC IS KEYED, IT BLANKS OUT THE OTHER RECEIVER; I.E., S/O OFF TALKING TO COMPANY AND CENTER CALLING AT SAME TIME.

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.