MD80 crew had altitude clearance disputed in ZME class a airspace.

Attributes
ACN	476230
Time
Date	200006
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bna.airport
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	476230
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 2100
ASRS Report	476485
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance FAA ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

En route to atl, crew believed they had been cleared to descend from FL310 to FL280. After cruising at FL280 for approximately 5 mins, ZME asked what our altitude was. When we replied FL280, there was a long pause. Captain asked center what altitude he needed. Center replied 'that's fine' and gave frequency change. Nothing else was said by center. Crew is unsure if there was an altitude deviation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CREW HAD ALT CLRNC DISPUTED IN ZME CLASS A AIRSPACE.

Narrative: ENRTE TO ATL, CREW BELIEVED THEY HAD BEEN CLRED TO DSND FROM FL310 TO FL280. AFTER CRUISING AT FL280 FOR APPROX 5 MINS, ZME ASKED WHAT OUR ALT WAS. WHEN WE REPLIED FL280, THERE WAS A LONG PAUSE. CAPT ASKED CTR WHAT ALT HE NEEDED. CTR REPLIED 'THAT'S FINE' AND GAVE FREQ CHANGE. NOTHING ELSE WAS SAID BY CTR. CREW IS UNSURE IF THERE WAS AN ALTDEV.

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.