An instrument trainee with his CFI climbs to his requested altitude after receiving a clearance 'on course.' CFI debriefs trainee.

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Attributes
ACN	170750
Time
Date	199102
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : iad
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iad tower : new
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 13 flight time total : 980 flight time type : 314
ASRS Report	170750
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	170473
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Requested 2500' altitude VFR southbound toward shannon airport. Departed 1R and cleared to 1500' runway heading. After takeoff instructed by tower to turn to 170 degrees and cleared on course. I turned to 170 degrees and switched to departure frequency as requested and began climb to requested 2500'. Departure controller asked if I was cleared to 2500' and I replied, 'affirmative.' no further conversation on this subject. I thought that 'cleared on course' meant climb to requested altitude. Supplemental information from acn 170473: PIC began climb to 2500'. I reminded him he was not cleared out of 1500'. He replied he thought 'cleared on course' meant he could climb to requested altitude. Departure control did not indicate any conflict. I gave PIC considerable guidance on arsa/TCA clearance procedures. Might be a good idea to tell pilots when clearing on course. Last altitude clearance limit, e.g., 'cleared on course, maintain 1500' until further advised.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN INSTRUMENT TRAINEE WITH HIS CFI CLIMBS TO HIS REQUESTED ALT AFTER RECEIVING A CLRNC 'ON COURSE.' CFI DEBRIEFS TRAINEE.

Narrative: REQUESTED 2500' ALT VFR SBND TOWARD SHANNON ARPT. DEPARTED 1R AND CLRED TO 1500' RWY HDG. AFTER TKOF INSTRUCTED BY TWR TO TURN TO 170 DEGS AND CLRED ON COURSE. I TURNED TO 170 DEGS AND SWITCHED TO DEP FREQ AS REQUESTED AND BEGAN CLB TO REQUESTED 2500'. DEP CTLR ASKED IF I WAS CLRED TO 2500' AND I REPLIED, 'AFFIRMATIVE.' NO FURTHER CONVERSATION ON THIS SUBJECT. I THOUGHT THAT 'CLRED ON COURSE' MEANT CLB TO REQUESTED ALT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 170473: PIC BEGAN CLB TO 2500'. I REMINDED HIM HE WAS NOT CLRED OUT OF 1500'. HE REPLIED HE THOUGHT 'CLRED ON COURSE' MEANT HE COULD CLB TO REQUESTED ALT. DEP CTL DID NOT INDICATE ANY CONFLICT. I GAVE PIC CONSIDERABLE GUIDANCE ON ARSA/TCA CLRNC PROCS. MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO TELL PLTS WHEN CLRING ON COURSE. LAST ALT CLRNC LIMIT, E.G., 'CLRED ON COURSE, MAINTAIN 1500' UNTIL FURTHER ADVISED.'

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.