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ZBW controller experienced operational error at approximately FL280 when requested clearance for altitude was mistaken for heading request.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 706085 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200608 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : hnk.vor |
| State Reference | NY |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 29000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Weather Elements | Rain Thunderstorm |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zbw.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zbw.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Regional Jet CL65 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller radar : 21 |
| ASRS Report | 706085 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance Weather |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Operational Error |
Narrative:
WX in southern half of sector; majority of aircraft were deviating. The sector to the southeast had just closed the door on jfk arrs over ign. Aircraft #2 was rerouted via pvd at FL290 and xferred to the sector to the east. Aircraft #1 checked on at FL280 and I understood him to be requesting a heading of 300 degrees as many previous aircraft had; due to the WX just ahead of him. Moment later; after making a few xmissions; I noticed aircraft #1 altitude readout of FL283. Aircraft #2 was at 9 O'clock position; and 3 mi. I asked aircraft #1 to verify level FL280 and he responded to the negative. I descended aircraft #1 immediately to FL280 and turned him to a 300 degree heading. Part of the causal factors was that aircraft #1 never used standard phraseology for flight level in his xmissions and I believe this led to the misunderstanding.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZBW CTLR EXPERIENCED OPERROR AT APPROX FL280 WHEN REQUESTED CLRNC FOR ALT WAS MISTAKEN FOR HDG REQUEST.
Narrative: WX IN SOUTHERN HALF OF SECTOR; MAJORITY OF ACFT WERE DEVIATING. THE SECTOR TO THE SE HAD JUST CLOSED THE DOOR ON JFK ARRS OVER IGN. ACFT #2 WAS REROUTED VIA PVD AT FL290 AND XFERRED TO THE SECTOR TO THE E. ACFT #1 CHKED ON AT FL280 AND I UNDERSTOOD HIM TO BE REQUESTING A HDG OF 300 DEGS AS MANY PREVIOUS ACFT HAD; DUE TO THE WX JUST AHEAD OF HIM. MOMENT LATER; AFTER MAKING A FEW XMISSIONS; I NOTICED ACFT #1 ALT READOUT OF FL283. ACFT #2 WAS AT 9 O'CLOCK POS; AND 3 MI. I ASKED ACFT #1 TO VERIFY LEVEL FL280 AND HE RESPONDED TO THE NEGATIVE. I DSNDED ACFT #1 IMMEDIATELY TO FL280 AND TURNED HIM TO A 300 DEG HDG. PART OF THE CAUSAL FACTORS WAS THAT ACFT #1 NEVER USED STANDARD PHRASEOLOGY FOR FLT LEVEL IN HIS XMISSIONS AND I BELIEVE THIS LED TO THE MISUNDERSTANDING.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.