Oceanic track deviation by air carrier widebody transport.

Attributes
ACN	87579
Time
Date	198805
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hnl
State Reference	HI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 4 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : pacific enroute : other oceanic
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 232 flight time total : 18238 flight time type : 3252
ASRS Report	87579
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

En route from seoul to los angeles. I was captain. We were at 29000' and were advised not to expect higher due to traffic. We had a potential fuel problem if unable to get higher altitude. We then requested new routing on the condition we could get higher altitude (35000'). ATC read new clearance we had requested but no altitude change. We replied that we wanted FL350. We were later told by company 29000' would be ok for rest of flight and we cancelled our request for new routing. It seems ATC thought we had accepted the new clearance with no altitude change. We did not understand that we accepted a new clearance (routing). In the future I will try to be more definite in refusing a clearance. About 2-3 mins after the above message we gave our position report and estimated our next chkpoint per our original flight plan.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: OCEANIC TRACK DEVIATION BY ACR WDB.

Narrative: ENRTE FROM SEOUL TO LOS ANGELES. I WAS CAPT. WE WERE AT 29000' AND WERE ADVISED NOT TO EXPECT HIGHER DUE TO TFC. WE HAD A POTENTIAL FUEL PROB IF UNABLE TO GET HIGHER ALT. WE THEN REQUESTED NEW ROUTING ON THE CONDITION WE COULD GET HIGHER ALT (35000'). ATC READ NEW CLRNC WE HAD REQUESTED BUT NO ALT CHANGE. WE REPLIED THAT WE WANTED FL350. WE WERE LATER TOLD BY COMPANY 29000' WOULD BE OK FOR REST OF FLT AND WE CANCELLED OUR REQUEST FOR NEW ROUTING. IT SEEMS ATC THOUGHT WE HAD ACCEPTED THE NEW CLRNC WITH NO ALT CHANGE. WE DID NOT UNDERSTAND THAT WE ACCEPTED A NEW CLRNC (ROUTING). IN THE FUTURE I WILL TRY TO BE MORE DEFINITE IN REFUSING A CLRNC. ABOUT 2-3 MINS AFTER THE ABOVE MESSAGE WE GAVE OUR POS RPT AND ESTIMATED OUR NEXT CHKPOINT PER OUR ORIGINAL FLT PLAN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.