FLC COORD DIFFICULTY IN SETTING UP ACFT NAV SYS TO MEET XING RESTR. ATC INTERVENED QUESTIONING THEIR ALT WHEN THEY HAD CLBED 700 FT OFF ALT. CAPT NEW TO ACFT AND UNFAMILIAR WITH SYS. RPTR; FO (PF); WAS DISTR AT THE TIME.

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WE WERE ON A SHORT FLT FROM BKX; SD; TO MSD; MN; IN A SABRELINER 60. THE CAPT I WAS FLYING WITH WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE 60 MODEL. HE FLIES A SABRE 40. IN ADDITION HE WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE RADIO/NAV EQUIP. I; SIC; WAS FLYING FROM R SEAT. I HAND FLEW ACFT TO 23000 FT AND WAS JUST LEVELING OFF WHEN CTR GAVE US A XING RESTR ON THE ARR INTO MSP. THE CAPT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE INTXN TUNED IN SO WE COULD FIGURE OUT WHEN TO START DOWN. I PUT ON THE AUTOPLT WHICH WORKS OFF HIS SIDE. I SELECTED HDG AND ALT HOLD AND ASKED HIM TO PITCH SYNC SO AS NOT TO GET A JUMP IN PITCH ATTITUDE. THEN TURNED AUTOPLT ON. I WATCHED MY ALTIMETER WHICH WAS AT 23;050 FT REVERSE DIRECTION SLIGHTLY AND STABILIZE; THEN IMMEDIATELY WENT TO TUNE IN INTXN AND GET OUT ARR PLATE; NEITHER OF WHICH CAPT HAD DONE. NEXT THING I KNOW CTR ASKED US TO CHK OUR ALT; HE SHOWED US AT 23700 FT. WE IMMEDIATELY DSNDED TO 23000 FT. EITHER ALT HOLD DIDN'T WORK OR SOMEHOW GOT BUMPED OFF. FACTORS INVOLVED CAPT'S UNFAMILIARITY WITH ACFT AND SIC WORK OVERLOAD ON SHORT FLT.