Gulfstream IV / G350 / G450
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 10000; Flight Crew Type 3500
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
We were...heading 050 and given the clearance; 'Turn 030; join A699.' After acknowledging that clearance the Controller said; 'Make it a 010 heading;' to which the Copilot said; 'Okay; 010 to join.' We then got a frequency change. As the FMS joined A699 I saw a TCAS target about 20 miles or so to our east and was about to say something when the new Controller said; 'Are you on a 010 heading?' The Copilot said; 'We were; but were given a clearance to join the airway on that heading.' The new Controller gave us a turn to 360. After a minute or so he asked again; 'So were you assigned a 010 heading?' The Copilot said; 'We were given a 010 heading to join the airway; but now we are heading 360.' Nothing else was said after that point. When the Controller initially said; 'Make it a 010 heading;' my initial reaction was to ask if he still wanted us to join A699; but since the Copilot said; '010 to join' I thought our instructions were clear. Perhaps the Controller heard what he wanted to hear; as did we. It is the age old lesson again: when in doubt; ask.
After receiving a clearance to fly a heading to intercept an airway; a G4 flight crew interpreted a subsequent heading as an intercept also. Controller advised that the second heading was not an intercept.