<< >> NASA ASRS Report 862900, November 2009

A B777 flight crew failed to note that tokyo control's transmission was advising them to standby for their requested flight level change and instead began the climb without a clearance.

Attributes
ACN	862900
Time
Date	200911
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	RJTG.ARTCC
State Reference	FO
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B777 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	FMS/FMC
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Flight Engineer Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 240 Flight Crew Total 18000 Flight Crew Type 3500
Person 2
Function	Pilot Not Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30 Flight Crew Total 12062 Flight Crew Type 216
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Clearance

Narrative:

I was the pilot flying. We were in cruise at FL310 under tokyo control in day VFR conditions. The captain requested a climb to FL330. I understood the controller to say 'cleared FL330.' I selected FL330 in the altitude window and stated 'climb FL330' and pointed at the new altitude. Passing through 32;200 ft tokyo called and said '(flight #) maintain FL310.' I began an immediate descent back to FL310. Prior to reaching FL310 tokyo called us back and cleared us to FL330. There were a number of contributing factors; the biggest being hard to understand controller's english. While I thought she said 'cleared FL330' the captain understood her to say 'coordinating FL330.' there was also a lack of crew coordination; because even though I announced and pointed at the new altitude I am not sure if I got confirmation from the captain. At this same time I was on the interphone with the cabin which was probably an added distraction.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B777 flight crew failed to note that Tokyo Control's transmission was advising them to standby for their requested Flight Level change and instead began the climb without a clearance.

Narrative: I was the pilot flying. We were in cruise at FL310 under Tokyo Control in day VFR conditions. The Captain requested a climb to FL330. I understood the Controller to say 'cleared FL330.' I selected FL330 in the altitude window and stated 'climb FL330' and pointed at the new altitude. Passing through 32;200 FT Tokyo called and said '(Flight #) maintain FL310.' I began an immediate descent back to FL310. Prior to reaching FL310 Tokyo called us back and cleared us to FL330. There were a number of contributing factors; the biggest being hard to understand Controller's English. While I thought she said 'cleared FL330' the Captain understood her to say 'coordinating FL330.' There was also a lack of crew coordination; because even though I announced and pointed at the new altitude I am not sure if I got confirmation from the Captain. At this same time I was on the interphone with the cabin which was probably an added distraction.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.