Beechjet 400
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 75; Flight Crew Total 2650; Flight Crew Type 1600
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors
On a flight we were level at 27;000 feet when we received the following transmission from Center. '(Aircraft X) climb and maintain flight level 290; Correction (Different Call Sign)descend and maintain Flight level 280.' Both of us in the cockpit hesitated to initiate the climb and concurred that his 'correction' may be wanting us to disregard his first instruction. There was then 10-15 seconds of radio chatter before we could confirm our climb to 29;000 feet. The Controller confirmed the climb; and we began climbing immediately. Another controller (Trainer/Supervisor?) came on to ask us if we were climbing. We confirmed that we were. The controller then stressed we needed to climb at best rate to 29;000 feet in a given amount of time. We were easily able to comply with that request. I believe the only way to resolve this problem was for the controller to use the term 'Break' in between his two separate commands to two separate aircraft. I believe we did the right thing in delaying our climb; as his phraseology made us believe there was a conflict with the climb. A quick scan of our TCAS showed that as a possibility. Instead; it sounds as though they needed us to climb ASAP. I do not believe any separation issues occurred. We were able to meet the controller's climb requirement well before the timed duration he gave us.
A pilot received confusing instructions from the Center controller. The pilots delayed complying with the instruction until they were able to verify the instruction with the Controller.