A B737-700 crew accepted a climb from FL360 to FL400 to be level in 2 1/2 minutes but when ATC disco...

Narrative:

We were asked if we could make 40;000 ft within 2 1/2 minutes (from 36;000 ft). We responded to the affirmative and were subsequently cleared to 40;000 ft with the restriction of 2 1/2 minutes. When it became apparent to the controller that we could not meet the restriction he vectored us off course. The lesson here is simply this: if you cannot easily make the restriction do not accept it. It is too risky. I should not have accepted the clearance. The difference between 36;000 ft and 40;000 ft in terms of fuel use is insignificant and posed a risk that was too great for the benefit derived. In the future; I will decline clearance to a higher altitude from a high altitude unless it is painfully obvious that we can make it. I think the company should give additional high altitude performance training to crews and suggest that perhaps the risk is high compared to the reward when tasked with high altitude changes in altitude when there is a time limit involved that is close to performance limits as it was with our situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-700 Crew accepted a climb from FL360 to FL400 to be level in 2 1/2 minutes but when ATC discovered that restriction would not be met vectored the aircraft off route.

Narrative: We were asked if we could make 40;000 FT within 2 1/2 minutes (from 36;000 FT). We responded to the affirmative and were subsequently cleared to 40;000 FT with the restriction of 2 1/2 minutes. When it became apparent to the Controller that we could not meet the restriction he vectored us off course. The lesson here is simply this: If you cannot easily make the restriction do not accept it. It is too risky. I should not have accepted the clearance. The difference between 36;000 FT and 40;000 FT in terms of fuel use is insignificant and posed a risk that was too great for the benefit derived. In the future; I will decline clearance to a higher altitude from a high altitude unless it is painfully obvious that we can make it. I think the Company should give additional high altitude performance training to Crews and suggest that perhaps the risk is high compared to the reward when tasked with high altitude changes in altitude when there is a time limit involved that is close to performance limits as it was with our situation.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1006454
Time
Date	201204
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	First Officer
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 450
Person 2
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Altitude Undershoot Deviation - Procedural Clearance

A B737-700 crew accepted a climb from FL360 to FL400 to be level in 2 1/2 minutes but when ATC discovered that restriction would not be met vectored the aircraft off route.