Narrative:

We were on vectors for quebec city (cyqb). Controller stated, 'descend and maintain 6000 ft, turn left 15 degrees.' I read this back, started calculating what heading this would be (with a 5 degree discrepancy between left and right heading indicators), and heard the captain reply, '5000 ft, 15 degrees left.' I assumed that I must have misheard the altitude and that the captain had it correct. I did not challenge or verify the altitude. On reaching 5100 ft, ATC advised us to 'climb to 6000 ft for traffic.' I feel that I should have verified the altitude. I also feel that such an event can be avoided through proper CRM techniques. On both the flight into and then out of canada, particularly with regard to the french speaking controller, I (as the PNF and radio operator) had several occurrences where controllers gave me instructions, which I accurately read back, then the controller would give different instructions. For example, prior to the return flight, quebec city clearance gave me a squawk code of 'wxzz.' I read back 'wxzz' and the rest of the clearance which the controller confirmed. Then, upon contacting departure control, I was advised (in a rather condescending tone) to squawk 'wyzz' not 'wxzz.' the language barrier makes things tricky enough without there being an 'attitude barrier.'

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CREW OF AN SMT CHARTER JET ADMITTED POOR CRM WHEN DEVIATING FROM ASSIGNED ALT. FO CITES LANGUAGE BARRIER AS A POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

Narrative: WE WERE ON VECTORS FOR QUEBEC CITY (CYQB). CTLR STATED, 'DSND AND MAINTAIN 6000 FT, TURN L 15 DEGS.' I READ THIS BACK, STARTED CALCULATING WHAT HDG THIS WOULD BE (WITH A 5 DEG DISCREPANCY BTWN L AND R HDG INDICATORS), AND HEARD THE CAPT REPLY, '5000 FT, 15 DEGS L.' I ASSUMED THAT I MUST HAVE MISHEARD THE ALT AND THAT THE CAPT HAD IT CORRECT. I DID NOT CHALLENGE OR VERIFY THE ALT. ON REACHING 5100 FT, ATC ADVISED US TO 'CLB TO 6000 FT FOR TFC.' I FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE VERIFIED THE ALT. I ALSO FEEL THAT SUCH AN EVENT CAN BE AVOIDED THROUGH PROPER CRM TECHNIQUES. ON BOTH THE FLT INTO AND THEN OUT OF CANADA, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO THE FRENCH SPEAKING CTLR, I (AS THE PNF AND RADIO OPERATOR) HAD SEVERAL OCCURRENCES WHERE CTLRS GAVE ME INSTRUCTIONS, WHICH I ACCURATELY READ BACK, THEN THE CTLR WOULD GIVE DIFFERENT INSTRUCTIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, PRIOR TO THE RETURN FLT, QUEBEC CITY CLRNC GAVE ME A SQUAWK CODE OF 'WXZZ.' I READ BACK 'WXZZ' AND THE REST OF THE CLRNC WHICH THE CTLR CONFIRMED. THEN, UPON CONTACTING DEP CTL, I WAS ADVISED (IN A RATHER CONDESCENDING TONE) TO SQUAWK 'WYZZ' NOT 'WXZZ.' THE LANGUAGE BARRIER MAKES THINGS TRICKY ENOUGH WITHOUT THERE BEING AN 'ATTITUDE BARRIER.'

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.