Narrative:

On climb out out of bwi, clearance was received to climb to 8000 ft on 080 degree heading. After leveling at 8000 ft, clearance to again climb was received. Controller hesitated after receiving readback from first officer and was asked what the problem was. His response indicated he believed he had only cleared us to 7000 ft, not 8000 ft but that it was no problem. Flight to bdl continued with no further difficulties. I believe the controller simply momentarily forgot what altitude he had cleared us to. Traffic was called 'above' us by at least 1000 ft when we were level at 8000 ft so the clearance to 8000 ft provided adequate clearance.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CONFUSION IN ALT ASSIGNMENT.

Narrative: ON CLBOUT OUT OF BWI, CLRNC WAS RECEIVED TO CLB TO 8000 FT ON 080 DEG HDG. AFTER LEVELING AT 8000 FT, CLRNC TO AGAIN CLB WAS RECEIVED. CTLR HESITATED AFTER RECEIVING READBACK FROM FO AND WAS ASKED WHAT THE PROB WAS. HIS RESPONSE INDICATED HE BELIEVED HE HAD ONLY CLRED US TO 7000 FT, NOT 8000 FT BUT THAT IT WAS NO PROB. FLT TO BDL CONTINUED WITH NO FURTHER DIFFICULTIES. I BELIEVE THE CTLR SIMPLY MOMENTARILY FORGOT WHAT ALT HE HAD CLRED US TO. TFC WAS CALLED 'ABOVE' US BY AT LEAST 1000 FT WHEN WE WERE LEVEL AT 8000 FT SO THE CLRNC TO 8000 FT PROVIDED ADEQUATE CLRNC.

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.