ARTCC radar controller questions the assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	99428
Time
Date	198812
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : kbv
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : txkf
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : atlantic enroute : other oceanic
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	99428
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

We filed cruise altitude of FL330. Cleared to maintain 9000, expect FL370. Bos center cleared us to FL310 prior to ack. While over ack, making turn on J97, bos center cleared us to FL330. This was read back and acknowledged received. Prior to slatn, bos center reported 'radar contact lost, report slatn 133.45 mh if able, if unable pass slatn progress to commercial radio.' slatn progress was given to bos center on 133.45 mh (XA48Z, FL330). Eltin progress was given bda control (XB19Z, FL330). A short time later, bda control reported a 'curiosity' by ny center as to who had cleared us to FL330. We responded 'bos center' and requested further information. Bda control said ny center had denied FL330 for our flight and had passed this to bos center. It seems that there was a communications failure somewhere between ny center and flight on this day.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARTCC RADAR CTLR QUESTIONS THE ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: WE FILED CRUISE ALT OF FL330. CLRED TO MAINTAIN 9000, EXPECT FL370. BOS CENTER CLRED US TO FL310 PRIOR TO ACK. WHILE OVER ACK, MAKING TURN ON J97, BOS CENTER CLRED US TO FL330. THIS WAS READ BACK AND ACKNOWLEDGED RECEIVED. PRIOR TO slatn, BOS CENTER REPORTED 'RADAR CONTACT LOST, REPORT slatn 133.45 MH IF ABLE, IF UNABLE PASS slatn PROGRESS TO COMMERCIAL RADIO.' slatn PROGRESS WAS GIVEN TO BOS CENTER ON 133.45 MH (XA48Z, FL330). ELTIN PROGRESS WAS GIVEN BDA CTL (XB19Z, FL330). A SHORT TIME LATER, BDA CTL REPORTED A 'CURIOSITY' BY NY CENTER AS TO WHO HAD CLRED US TO FL330. WE RESPONDED 'BOS CENTER' AND REQUESTED FURTHER INFO. BDA CTL SAID NY CENTER HAD DENIED FL330 FOR OUR FLT AND HAD PASSED THIS TO BOS CENTER. IT SEEMS THAT THERE WAS A COMMUNICATIONS FAILURE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN NY CENTER AND FLT ON THIS DAY.

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.