EMB ERJ 170/175 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human-Machine Interface; Confusion
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
Our flight had leveled at 29;000 feet awaiting further climb. After receiving ATC clearance 'climb FL350' I set 35;000 feet in the altitude preselector and verified it with the First Officer. I then selected vertical speed mode and spun the vertical speed wheel to begin the climb. A moment later I felt the aircraft increasing in a descent and immediately spun the vertical speed wheel to stop the descent and indicate a climb. After my input ATC also noticed the mistake and told us he was showing us in a descent. It took the aircraft a few more hundred feet to transition from the descent to a climb. ATC again verified the clearance of 'climb to FL350' which we again acknowledged. From there we climbed the 35;000 feet without further incident. Every input on the Flight Guidance Control Panel should be verified on the Primary Flight Display. Also; using flight level change mode will always cause the aircraft to head in the correct direction towards the altitude set in the preselector.
EMB-170 Captain reports being cleared to FL350 from FL290; setting the new altitude in the FGCP; selecting vertical speed and spinning the vertical speed wheel; but in the wrong direction; resulting in a descent.