Narrative:

While en route from newark (ewr) to dulles (iad) on V143, proceeding to the robrt intersection, we were given an initial instruction to head 275 degrees, vectors for spacing by center. We complied. Shortly thereafter, he called us again saying 'air carrier X, 200 degrees on the nose please.' immediately I responded and said, 'heading 200 degrees for air carrier X' to which my captain also confirmed the heading as I set up the heading indicator. Then after a min or so, center comes on again saying '275 degrees on the heading' and queries our direction. I told him that he initially gave us a 275 degree heading, then changed it to 200 degrees. He said he didn't say anything, and instead told us to now head 275 degrees and speed restr to 200 KTS. We complied, however, the captain and I discussed after the transmission that we both heard '...200 degrees on the nose...' previously, and that such a statement was interpreted to head 200 degrees, not slow down. Maybe next time, radio ambiguity could be better avoided if we didn't use such terms as 'on the nose...' or other such phraseology. I also think that the high volume of traffic at that time contributed to this.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZNY CTLR UTILIZES NONSTANDARD PHRASEOLOGY, AND THE ACR FLC INTERP XMISSION AS A HEADING CHANGE INSTEAD OF INTENDED SPD ASSIGNMENT.

Narrative: WHILE ENRTE FROM NEWARK (EWR) TO DULLES (IAD) ON V143, PROCEEDING TO THE ROBRT INTXN, WE WERE GIVEN AN INITIAL INSTRUCTION TO HEAD 275 DEGS, VECTORS FOR SPACING BY CTR. WE COMPLIED. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, HE CALLED US AGAIN SAYING 'ACR X, 200 DEGS ON THE NOSE PLEASE.' IMMEDIATELY I RESPONDED AND SAID, 'HDG 200 DEGS FOR ACR X' TO WHICH MY CAPT ALSO CONFIRMED THE HEADING AS I SET UP THE HEADING INDICATOR. THEN AFTER A MIN OR SO, CTR COMES ON AGAIN SAYING '275 DEGS ON THE HEADING' AND QUERIES OUR DIRECTION. I TOLD HIM THAT HE INITIALLY GAVE US A 275 DEG HDG, THEN CHANGED IT TO 200 DEGS. HE SAID HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING, AND INSTEAD TOLD US TO NOW HEAD 275 DEGS AND SPD RESTR TO 200 KTS. WE COMPLIED, HOWEVER, THE CAPT AND I DISCUSSED AFTER THE XMISSION THAT WE BOTH HEARD '...200 DEGS ON THE NOSE...' PREVIOUSLY, AND THAT SUCH A STATEMENT WAS INTERPRETED TO HEAD 200 DEGS, NOT SLOW DOWN. MAYBE NEXT TIME, RADIO AMBIGUITY COULD BE BETTER AVOIDED IF WE DIDN'T USE SUCH TERMS AS 'ON THE NOSE...' OR OTHER SUCH PHRASEOLOGY. I ALSO THINK THAT THE HIGH VOLUME OF TFC AT THAT TIME CONTRIBUTED TO THIS.

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.