Date: 202002
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: E10.TRACON, CA
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: 12
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: UAV - Unpiloted Aerial Vehicle
Operator: Military
Operating under: Other Military
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Training
Flight phase: Climb
Airspace: Class E ZLA
ATC / advisory: TRACON JCF
Reporter organization: Military
Reporter function: Pilot Not Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
Second reporter function: Relief Pilot; Pilot Flying
Anomaly: Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Contributing factors: Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: We were enroute to the Restricted Area 12;000 ft. We received a clearance of 'cleared all altitudes ...'. We were almost to Restricted Area and the pilot flying thought it was an immediately effective clearance and commanded a climb toward our desired altitude. I was running the after-takeoff checklist and was in another shelter (not co-located). The pilot flying did not inform me that he had commanded a change to our altitude as is the procedure so that the other shelter knows what commands are being sent. Approach called and announced our off-altitude condition and I immediately realized what had happened. The pilot flying immediately commanded a descent back to the correct altitude.Approach passed a number to call and as the 'Mission Commander' I called. I apologized to the person who identified himself as the 'lead controller' and explained that the pilot flying had not understood the clearance as his experience led him to believe that a future clearance would have had 'upon entering' 'when established in' 'after passing' or something identifying exactly when it became effective. We are both very sorry for the event and have reviewed our procedures both privately and with ALL of our fellow pilots at our weekly pilot meeting. We have also reviewed the requirement for the pilot flying to announce changes to aircraft configuration so that the shelter not flying has the situational awareness needed to know that the aircraft profile has been changed.


Second narrative: Flying RQ-4 aircraft under COA requiring 12;000 ft. in the NAS. Received clearance from Approach that we were cleared all altitudes in the Restricted Area at this time. I was still 2 to 3 miles from the Restricted Area airspace and I incorrectly initiated a climb early. The Controller told me that I initiated too early. I immediately knew he was correct; so I initiated a quick descent until I was in the Restricted Area. The mission continued normally. The Mission Commander spoke on telephone and apologized for us. Approach stated there was no other traffic in area and no conflicts occurred.The Pilot must stay on top of the restrictions. That is not the job of ATC. After 18;000 hours of flying; my brain was triggered by the word 'cleared'. I had been accustomed to hearing the words 'expect' or ''after reaching' 'after passing'. Improved listening and confirmations could have prevented that.


Synopsis: UAV flight crew reported that their misunderstanding of a clearance resulted in an altitude deviation.