Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 55; Flight Crew Total 2527; Flight Crew Type 434
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
I taxied out to Runway XXR. As I was taxiing; Ground called me and asked me to squawk the correct transponder code. I was annoyed with myself for not having put it in already - the transponder code that was in the box from the previous flight was close enough to the current one that I had failed to catch it in my preflight checks.I was then cleared to take off on XXR. As I was climbing out; the Tower asked me to say altitude. I was climbing up to 1;000 MSL; which was also my final altitude for my VFR flight. I replied that I was passing through 1;000; then corrected myself and said that I was climbing to 1;000 which is what I would maintain. Neither response was correct - Tower had asked me for my then current altitude. Tower didn't query me further and I climbed up to 1;000 and soon left Class B airspace.I had just returned from a 2 1/2 month COVID related leave of absence. I had completed a refresher flight with a company instructor; but this was my first day of operational flying after my return. The incidents with the transponder code and the altitude communication showed me that I was still a bit rusty and not quite up to the standards that I demand of myself as a professional pilot. I have resolved to take it slow and double check my preflights as well as my communications until I feel completely comfortable again.
Pilot reported being rusty after lack of flying due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in communication issues with ATC.