B767-300 and 300 ER
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 120; Flight Crew Total 21060; Flight Crew Type 767
Confusion; Human-Machine Interface
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors; Procedure; Equipment / Tooling
While climbing out and talking to Center; we were advised to participate with CPDLC (Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications) clearances through Center. We then acknowledge verbally and with CPDLC. We were given two route clearances in which we complied with via CPDLC with acknowledgments. Shortly after we received another clearance and it was to climb to FL330. We then acknowledge the CPDLC and commenced the climb to FL330. Shortly after reaching FL330; Center asked us to confirm our altitude. We then told him we had complied with his clearance to climb and maintain FL330. He said he only showed FL300 as our clearance. We told him that our CPDLC clearance showed different. It show a clearance to climb to FL330. He then ask us to descend and maintain FL300; so we did. It was then that I took a picture of our ATC clearances on the FMC CPDLC page. The picture clearly shows a clearance to climb and maintain FL330. I have pictures on my phone of the ATC clearance; but there is no way to attach them to this form.
Center sent us a CPDLC (Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications) message directing us to climb to FL330. We responded to message. Center later asked us to confirm assigned altitude. We responded that FL330 was sent to us by CPDLC. Center then asked us to descend to FL300. I have pictures of CPDLC message that shows FL330 was indeed the assigned altitude.
B767-300 flight crew reported a discrepancy between a data-link communication altitude and the altitude ATC required.