Narrative:

Flight from sbp, ca, to sjc, ca. Cleared to climb to 14000 ft by ZLA 119.05, switched to ZOA. Was climbing through 14500 ft when questioned by ZOA, then cleared to 16000 ft. Our normal cruising altitude on this route is 16000 ft. Our filed altitude was 16000 ft, and our initial 'expect clearance' altitude was 16000 ft. Both copilot and myself were thinking 16000 ft so neither him or I felt anything was wrong until pointed out by ZOA. Our company normal procedures require a 1000 ft call before level off by PNF. However we thought we were cleared to 16000 ft and no callout was made. Aircraft altitude alert system is small and not very well lit. Also there is no aural or visual warning with this unit. Duty time was approximately 8 hours into a 10 hour day.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AIR AMBULANCE HAS ALTDEV ON CLBOUT.

Narrative: FLT FROM SBP, CA, TO SJC, CA. CLRED TO CLB TO 14000 FT BY ZLA 119.05, SWITCHED TO ZOA. WAS CLBING THROUGH 14500 FT WHEN QUESTIONED BY ZOA, THEN CLRED TO 16000 FT. OUR NORMAL CRUISING ALT ON THIS RTE IS 16000 FT. OUR FILED ALT WAS 16000 FT, AND OUR INITIAL 'EXPECT CLRNC' ALT WAS 16000 FT. BOTH COPLT AND MYSELF WERE THINKING 16000 FT SO NEITHER HIM OR I FELT ANYTHING WAS WRONG UNTIL POINTED OUT BY ZOA. OUR COMPANY NORMAL PROCS REQUIRE A 1000 FT CALL BEFORE LEVEL OFF BY PNF. HOWEVER WE THOUGHT WE WERE CLRED TO 16000 FT AND NO CALLOUT WAS MADE. ACFT ALT ALERT SYS IS SMALL AND NOT VERY WELL LIT. ALSO THERE IS NO AURAL OR VISUAL WARNING WITH THIS UNIT. DUTY TIME WAS APPROX 8 HRS INTO A 10 HR DAY.

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.