FLC MISUNDERSTOOD 280 FOR FL280 INSTEAD OF HDG.

Narrative

WHILE BEGINNING TO LEVEL OFF AT 15000 FT MSL; FO HAND FLYING THE ACFT ON AN ASSIGNED 270 DEG HDG AND 250 KTS; ZNY GAVE A CLRNC TO FL280 AND INTERCEPT J6. CAPT SET ALT WINDOW TO FL280 (WE BOTH POINTED AND STATED 280) AND SET UP FMS TO INTERCEPT J6 AT PARKE. CAPT ALSO READ BACK TO ATC; 'CLBING TO FL280 AND J6.' PASSING 17000 FT; ZNY TOLD US TO LEVEL AT 17000 FT; THEN STATED THAT OUR CLRNC HAD ACTUALLY BEEN TO 'FLY HDG 280 DEGS AND INTERCEPT J6.' THIS EVENT WAS CAUSED BY MISCOM/MISUNDERSTANDING. THE ZNY CTLR MAY HAVE MISSPOKEN HIS INSTRUCTIONS AND/OR THE CAPT AND FO OF ACR X MISUNDERSTOOD/HEARD HIS WORDS. I CAN SAY THAT THE COCKPIT WAS QUIET (NO CONVERSATION) DUE TO THE WORKLOAD IN THE NEW YORK AREA. THE HEADSETS WERE ON; JUMP SEATER ON BOARD WITH FO'S SPEAKER UP. BOTTOM LINE: THERE IS NO COM UNTIL THERE IS UNDERSTANDING. IF THE CAPT'S READBACK WAS DIFFERENT THAN THE CTLR'S INTENTIONS; THEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED RIGHT THEN. AIM STANDARD TERMINOLOGY MUST BE USED; IE; 'LEAVING ALT AND CLBING TO ALT.' CTLR SHOULD HAVE CORRECTED SIT SOONER. CTLRS SHOULD ONLY BE REQUIRED TO WORK 1 FREQ. READBACKS ARE IMPORTANT AND THEY SHOULD BE LISTENED TO! ALSO; IF YOU ARE JUMP SEATING -- PAY ATTN AND HELP OUT IF YOU CAN.