Narrative:

Takeoff clearance was misunderstood by crew. Tower controller's english was not very clear and he used incorrect phraseology which caused an apparent altitude 'bust.' ATC clearance was to 9000 ft, which is normal for them. We were using runway 21. Takeoff clearance was 'cleared for takeoff, runway heading 210 degrees, contact departure.' departure said we were cleared to 2100 ft (as we were passing 3000 ft). Evidently the '21' after 'runway heading' was meant as an amended altitude clearance. If proper phraseology had been used, I am sure we would have either understood or asked for a clarification. Proper phraseology is even more important when speaking to people whose primary language is not english. Pilots should understand this because of trying to give position reports, etc, to so many different people.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR LGT CREW OVERSHOT ITS INITIAL ALT ON DEP IN FOREIGN AIRSPACE.

Narrative: TKOF CLRNC WAS MISUNDERSTOOD BY CREW. TWR CTLR'S ENGLISH WAS NOT VERY CLR AND HE USED INCORRECT PHRASEOLOGY WHICH CAUSED AN APPARENT ALT 'BUST.' ATC CLRNC WAS TO 9000 FT, WHICH IS NORMAL FOR THEM. WE WERE USING RWY 21. TKOF CLRNC WAS 'CLRED FOR TKOF, RWY HDG 210 DEGS, CONTACT DEP.' DEP SAID WE WERE CLRED TO 2100 FT (AS WE WERE PASSING 3000 FT). EVIDENTLY THE '21' AFTER 'RWY HDG' WAS MEANT AS AN AMENDED ALT CLRNC. IF PROPER PHRASEOLOGY HAD BEEN USED, I AM SURE WE WOULD HAVE EITHER UNDERSTOOD OR ASKED FOR A CLARIFICATION. PROPER PHRASEOLOGY IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT WHEN SPEAKING TO PEOPLE WHOSE PRIMARY LANGUAGE IS NOT ENGLISH. PLTS SHOULD UNDERSTAND THIS BECAUSE OF TRYING TO GIVE POS RPTS, ETC, TO SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

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.