DC10 crew had altitude mixup with tower at svmi.

Attributes
ACN	499350
Time
Date	200101
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : svmi.airport
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : svzm.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-10 30F
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure sid : mares 1
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 13300 flight time type : 620
ASRS Report	499350
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Cleared for runway 9 mares 1 SID at svmi, FL350. Since this SID has a leveloff at 4000 ft till advised further climb by ATC, we confirmed our initial altitude as FL350 with tower (118.1) when we received takeoff clearance. We were advised FL350 (by ATC). On handoff to departure control (120.1), controller gave us a 'friendly reminder about 4000 ft leveloff.' we mentioned to controller our conversation with tower, and controller seemed satisfied. Since international procedures, communications, and expectations appear to be different at each international (foreign) airport, I believe that next time we will level off at 4000 ft till departure control advises to continue climb to our cleared altitude.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC10 CREW HAD ALT MIXUP WITH TWR AT SVMI.

Narrative: CLRED FOR RWY 9 MARES 1 SID AT SVMI, FL350. SINCE THIS SID HAS A LEVELOFF AT 4000 FT TILL ADVISED FURTHER CLB BY ATC, WE CONFIRMED OUR INITIAL ALT AS FL350 WITH TWR (118.1) WHEN WE RECEIVED TKOF CLRNC. WE WERE ADVISED FL350 (BY ATC). ON HDOF TO DEP CTL (120.1), CTLR GAVE US A 'FRIENDLY REMINDER ABOUT 4000 FT LEVELOFF.' WE MENTIONED TO CTLR OUR CONVERSATION WITH TWR, AND CTLR SEEMED SATISFIED. SINCE INTL PROCS, COMS, AND EXPECTATIONS APPEAR TO BE DIFFERENT AT EACH INTL (FOREIGN) ARPT, I BELIEVE THAT NEXT TIME WE WILL LEVEL OFF AT 4000 FT TILL DEP CTL ADVISES TO CONTINUE CLB TO OUR CLRED ALT.

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.