Narrative:

While en route to atlanta hartsfield on the macey arrival (atl-041 right), was given descent instructions to cross logen intersection at 14000'. We departed FL240 for 14000'. While passing 21800', atlanta center gave a call to immediately turn 270 degree and climb to FL220. I asked what was the problem, as we complied with the new clearance, but the controller was issuing a turn for another aircraft. After some silence, I asked again 'say conflict for air carrier X' but no controller response. After an approximately 15-20 second pause, the controller turned us back toward the arrival and issued a descent clearance for logen intersection. We asked for center telephone number. The captain discussed the matter with a center supervisor. The supervisor said the tapes would be reviewed. After reviewing the tapes, it appears that the controller issued an altitude amendment clearance to level at FL220. None of our flight crew heard this altitude amendment. The tape reveals no acknowledgement of any amended altitude clearance. By definition, the clearance was not binding. The center supervisor said no aircraft conflicts occurred, but ATC lateral spacing limits were close. The lessons or suggestions from this situation are as follows: continue to stress radio discipline, both aircrew and ATC. ATC must reduce saturated radio frequencys. The workload at times exceeds the controllers ability, particularly on some high density arrival rtes. All clrncs must be acknowledged. If there is doubt, repeat clearance instructions. Continue research on data link clrncs that are printed out on read on screens in aircraft. This would lower the need for radio xmissions and the problems associated with them.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MISSED AMENDED CLRNC TO MAINTAIN FL220.

Narrative: WHILE ENRTE TO ATLANTA HARTSFIELD ON THE MACEY ARR (ATL-041 R), WAS GIVEN DSNT INSTRUCTIONS TO CROSS LOGEN INTXN AT 14000'. WE DEPARTED FL240 FOR 14000'. WHILE PASSING 21800', ATLANTA CTR GAVE A CALL TO IMMEDIATELY TURN 270 DEG AND CLB TO FL220. I ASKED WHAT WAS THE PROB, AS WE COMPLIED WITH THE NEW CLRNC, BUT THE CTLR WAS ISSUING A TURN FOR ANOTHER ACFT. AFTER SOME SILENCE, I ASKED AGAIN 'SAY CONFLICT FOR ACR X' BUT NO CTLR RESPONSE. AFTER AN APPROX 15-20 SEC PAUSE, THE CTLR TURNED US BACK TOWARD THE ARR AND ISSUED A DSNT CLRNC FOR LOGEN INTXN. WE ASKED FOR CTR TELEPHONE NUMBER. THE CAPT DISCUSSED THE MATTER WITH A CTR SUPVR. THE SUPVR SAID THE TAPES WOULD BE REVIEWED. AFTER REVIEWING THE TAPES, IT APPEARS THAT THE CTLR ISSUED AN ALT AMENDMENT CLRNC TO LEVEL AT FL220. NONE OF OUR FLT CREW HEARD THIS ALT AMENDMENT. THE TAPE REVEALS NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ANY AMENDED ALT CLRNC. BY DEFINITION, THE CLRNC WAS NOT BINDING. THE CTR SUPVR SAID NO ACFT CONFLICTS OCCURRED, BUT ATC LATERAL SPACING LIMITS WERE CLOSE. THE LESSONS OR SUGGESTIONS FROM THIS SITUATION ARE AS FOLLOWS: CONTINUE TO STRESS RADIO DISCIPLINE, BOTH AIRCREW AND ATC. ATC MUST REDUCE SATURATED RADIO FREQS. THE WORKLOAD AT TIMES EXCEEDS THE CTLRS ABILITY, PARTICULARLY ON SOME HIGH DENSITY ARR RTES. ALL CLRNCS MUST BE ACKNOWLEDGED. IF THERE IS DOUBT, REPEAT CLRNC INSTRUCTIONS. CONTINUE RESEARCH ON DATA LINK CLRNCS THAT ARE PRINTED OUT ON READ ON SCREENS IN ACFT. THIS WOULD LOWER THE NEED FOR RADIO XMISSIONS AND THE PROBS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.

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.