ZNY CTLR UTILIZES NONSTANDARD PHRASEOLOGY; AND THE ACR FLC INTERP XMISSION AS A HEADING CHANGE INSTEAD OF INTENDED SPD ASSIGNMENT.

Narrative

WHILE ENRTE FROM NEWARK (EWR) TO DULLES (IAD) ON V143; PROCEEDING TO THE ROBRT INTXN; WE WERE GIVEN AN INITIAL INSTRUCTION TO HEAD 275 DEGS; VECTORS FOR SPACING BY CTR. WE COMPLIED. SHORTLY THEREAFTER; HE CALLED US AGAIN SAYING 'ACR X; 200 DEGS ON THE NOSE PLEASE.' IMMEDIATELY I RESPONDED AND SAID; 'HDG 200 DEGS FOR ACR X' TO WHICH MY CAPT ALSO CONFIRMED THE HEADING AS I SET UP THE HEADING INDICATOR. THEN AFTER A MIN OR SO; CTR COMES ON AGAIN SAYING '275 DEGS ON THE HEADING' AND QUERIES OUR DIRECTION. I TOLD HIM THAT HE INITIALLY GAVE US A 275 DEG HDG; THEN CHANGED IT TO 200 DEGS. HE SAID HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING; AND INSTEAD TOLD US TO NOW HEAD 275 DEGS AND SPD RESTR TO 200 KTS. WE COMPLIED; HOWEVER; THE CAPT AND I DISCUSSED AFTER THE XMISSION THAT WE BOTH HEARD '...200 DEGS ON THE NOSE...' PREVIOUSLY; AND THAT SUCH A STATEMENT WAS INTERPRETED TO HEAD 200 DEGS; NOT SLOW DOWN. MAYBE NEXT TIME; RADIO AMBIGUITY COULD BE BETTER AVOIDED IF WE DIDN'T USE SUCH TERMS AS 'ON THE NOSE...' OR OTHER SUCH PHRASEOLOGY. I ALSO THINK THAT THE HIGH VOLUME OF TFC AT THAT TIME CONTRIBUTED TO THIS.