H.264 export from AVCHD source results in slow-motion video; any ideas?

Question

Hello, I'm trying to export a 1080i project with AVCHD footage using the H.264 Bluray profile.  The resulting video looks good, but runs in slow motion.  The starting footage is AVCHD 1440x1080 (1.333).  When I export using the MPEG2 Bluray profile, everything runs fine.  Thank you for any suggestions.

Answer 1

Thanks for your reply.  My source footage consists of MTS files from an AVCHD camcorder.  The files are 1080i anamorphic, so 1440x1080, with an aspect ration of 1.333 and a framerate of 29.97fps.  I used one of the AVCHD sequence templates in Premiere CS5 that matched the video files.
I'm exorting using the H.264 Bluray preset for 1080i.  I tried several of the profiles (1080p, etc), but they all end with the same bad result.  The video plays, but seems to be playing at half speed.  My 15-minute clip takes 30 minutes to play, even though the timline in VLC or WMP reports at 15 minutes.  The audio sounds fine, but stops after 15 minutes (as it should).  It's obviously out of sync, since the video is playing at half speed.
I have read a few other articles indicating it might be an issue with the way Premiere is interpreting the interlaced footage from the MTS files?  This is beyond my area of knowledge.
When I encode using the MPEG-2 Bluray profile, it works fine.  The video playback speed is normal.
My end goal is to edit my MTS files from the camcorder, encode using the H.264 profile, and place in an MKV container for playback on my XBMC-based HTPC.  I'm also considering exporting as a high-bitrate MPEG-2, then using another encoder (HandBrake, etc.) to create the x264 MKV.  Any other recommendations would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.