Flight crew of medium large transport ILS unable to comply with expedited climb clearance due to lack of aircraft performance. Vectoring and altitude assignments in the wake of this led to an ARTCC ARTCC interfacility coordination problem and a potential conflict.

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Attributes
ACN	144793
Time
Date	199005
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
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 : 220 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	144793
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation Inter Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

I was flying as captain on flight (clt-pit). After climbing to FL290, we were cleared to climb to FL330 by ZTL. Shortly after initiating the climb, atl requested we be at FL330 in 2 mins. I stated we could not comply. They then said, 'do the best you can.' as we were climbing through FL310, atl said to turn right to 090 degrees (we were heading 360 degrees) and stop climb at FL310. They stated it was ZDC's request and then gave us a frequency change to ZDC. When contacting ZDC, they requested we tighten up our turn. After rolling out on 090 degrees we were then told to descend to FL290, and upon reaching, we were cleared back on course, direct elkins VOR (360 degrees). It seems to me ZTL erred in clearing us to FL330, and when they or ZDC determined we couldn't reach FL330 in time, there was a potential conflict and they turned us and stopped our climb. It was either good controling, bad judgement or both.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF MLG ILS UNABLE TO COMPLY WITH EXPEDITED CLIMB CLRNC DUE TO LACK OF ACFT PERFORMANCE. VECTORING AND ALT ASSIGNMENTS IN THE WAKE OF THIS LED TO AN ARTCC ARTCC INTERFAC COORD PROBLEM AND A POTENTIAL CONFLICT.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING AS CAPT ON FLT (CLT-PIT). AFTER CLBING TO FL290, WE WERE CLRED TO CLB TO FL330 BY ZTL. SHORTLY AFTER INITIATING THE CLB, ATL REQUESTED WE BE AT FL330 IN 2 MINS. I STATED WE COULD NOT COMPLY. THEY THEN SAID, 'DO THE BEST YOU CAN.' AS WE WERE CLBING THROUGH FL310, ATL SAID TO TURN RIGHT TO 090 DEGS (WE WERE HDG 360 DEGS) AND STOP CLB AT FL310. THEY STATED IT WAS ZDC'S REQUEST AND THEN GAVE US A FREQ CHANGE TO ZDC. WHEN CONTACTING ZDC, THEY REQUESTED WE TIGHTEN UP OUR TURN. AFTER ROLLING OUT ON 090 DEGS WE WERE THEN TOLD TO DSND TO FL290, AND UPON REACHING, WE WERE CLRED BACK ON COURSE, DIRECT ELKINS VOR (360 DEGS). IT SEEMS TO ME ZTL ERRED IN CLRING US TO FL330, AND WHEN THEY OR ZDC DETERMINED WE COULDN'T REACH FL330 IN TIME, THERE WAS A POTENTIAL CONFLICT AND THEY TURNED US AND STOPPED OUR CLB. IT WAS EITHER GOOD CTLING, BAD JUDGEMENT OR BOTH.

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.