A330
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Flight Engineer; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150; Flight Crew Total 14000; Flight Crew Type 1285
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory
Human Factors; Procedure
Approaching the fix on the STAR; the controller told us 'Heading 100;' which we queried; but she repeated '100 heading;' so we turned east. The normal STAR would have turned us WEST at this point. Thinking there might have been some flow control issues; we complied. After a few minutes; the controller states 'you have deviated from the arrival; cleared direct [fix];' so we turned direct to that fix. Minutes later she states; 'cleared 100 heading;' and again we queried the instructions; and she states emphatically again; 'heading 100;' so we turn. We noticed departure traffic coming in our direction; and suddenly the controller again states; 'cleared direct [fix]; to resume the arrival.' The controller then states she had cleared us to Flight Level 100; to which we state; 'no; you cleared us to head 100.' At this point we have visual on proximate traffic 1;000 feet below us; so we level off at 14;000 as the TCAS alerts us 'traffic-traffic.' The aircraft is on a turn back to the west; and a few seconds later it gives us a 'TRAFFIC CLIMB' command; which I hand fly away from the threat aircraft complying with the TCAS advisory. The TCAS then announces 'DON'T CLIMB;' then 'CLEAR OF CONFLICT;' all with 5 seconds. Then I stabilize; re-engage the autopilot; and head towards the arrival fix. At this point; we hear [another aircraft] state; 'No; you told XXXX (us) to head 100.' The controllers now swap out because we hear a new voice; and things calm down and seem to be more efficient and organized. I think the [original] Approach Controller confused her terminology; and gave us a Heading; when she meant Altitude or Flight Level; resulting us being placed in the path of departure traffic flow.
A330 First Officer reported Approach Controller confused terminology; which placed the aircraft in the flight path of departing aircraft; creating an RA.