Narrative:

After departure from cvg, during climb to cruise altitude, ATC (ZID) assigned a heading. While still on that heading, with aircraft level at FL230, ATC assigned 'maintain present heading, climb maintain FL310.' the first officer (PNF) responded and put the altitude in the altitude window. With the autoplt engaged, I (PF) should have put the assigned altitude in the window. No action was taken to initiate the climb. Shortly thereafter ATC again assigned, 'climb maintain FL310.' I noticed FL310 was already in the window and I initiated the climb. ATC did not mention any traffic conflict and sounded normal (did not sound concerned). I am not certain how much time passed between clrncs. Factors: 1) inexperience. I am relatively new captain (less than 200 hours), second month. The first officer was only 3 months in his first right seat with the company, and new to FMS aircraft. 2) fatigue. I had arrived home past midnight the previous evening after completing a 4 day trip without much sleep opportunity, then got called out on reserve for this trip. 3) first flight with the other crew member. 4) FMS on MD88 does not initiate automatic climb with new altitude in the window. My previous aircraft (B767) did. Interruption of normal habit patterns probably caused the event (PF puts altitudes in window with the autoplt engaged), combined with fatigue. More closely monitor situation with less experienced crew members.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD88 ACFT IN CRUISE WAS GIVEN CLRNC TO CLB AND FLC DIDN'T START CLB UNTIL QUESTIONED BY CTLR.

Narrative: AFTER DEP FROM CVG, DURING CLB TO CRUISE ALT, ATC (ZID) ASSIGNED A HEADING. WHILE STILL ON THAT HEADING, WITH ACFT LEVEL AT FL230, ATC ASSIGNED 'MAINTAIN PRESENT HEADING, CLB MAINTAIN FL310.' THE FO (PNF) RESPONDED AND PUT THE ALT IN THE ALT WINDOW. WITH THE AUTOPLT ENGAGED, I (PF) SHOULD HAVE PUT THE ASSIGNED ALT IN THE WINDOW. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN TO INITIATE THE CLB. SHORTLY THEREAFTER ATC AGAIN ASSIGNED, 'CLB MAINTAIN FL310.' I NOTICED FL310 WAS ALREADY IN THE WINDOW AND I INITIATED THE CLB. ATC DID NOT MENTION ANY TFC CONFLICT AND SOUNDED NORMAL (DID NOT SOUND CONCERNED). I AM NOT CERTAIN HOW MUCH TIME PASSED BTWN CLRNCS. FACTORS: 1) INEXPERIENCE. I AM RELATIVELY NEW CAPT (LESS THAN 200 HRS), SECOND MONTH. THE FO WAS ONLY 3 MONTHS IN HIS FIRST R SEAT WITH THE COMPANY, AND NEW TO FMS ACFT. 2) FATIGUE. I HAD ARRIVED HOME PAST MIDNIGHT THE PREVIOUS EVENING AFTER COMPLETING A 4 DAY TRIP WITHOUT MUCH SLEEP OPPORTUNITY, THEN GOT CALLED OUT ON RESERVE FOR THIS TRIP. 3) FIRST FLT WITH THE OTHER CREW MEMBER. 4) FMS ON MD88 DOES NOT INITIATE AUTOMATIC CLB WITH NEW ALT IN THE WINDOW. MY PREVIOUS ACFT (B767) DID. INTERRUPTION OF NORMAL HABIT PATTERNS PROBABLY CAUSED THE EVENT (PF PUTS ALTS IN WINDOW WITH THE AUTOPLT ENGAGED), COMBINED WITH FATIGUE. MORE CLOSELY MONITOR SIT WITH LESS EXPERIENCED CREW MEMBERS.

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.