ZDC controller described a loss of separation event listing the current required phraseology related...

Narrative:

Crj-200 was climbing westbound. He was at FL340 when I inquired what his estimated time to reach FL380 would be. He said a little more than 4 minutes. His traffic was a point out from ZID; an A320 at FL370. I issued crj-200 a climb to FL380 and monitored his progress. When he was at FL360; I issued a rate of climb of 1;000 FPM. He acknowledged my request. At FL375; crj-200 indicates he is not longer able to keep the 1;000 FPM. I acknowledge and ask what can he do on climb and do not get an answer; then I ask again if he is climbing at all; he stated; 'we are getting our speed up;' I then ask him to turn 40 degrees left for traffic and climb to FL380. I then called ZID to inform them what was happening. I had a j-ring on crj-200; and before losing separation; I witnessed FL380 in my data block. I then re-cleared the crj-200 to hnn and shipped him to ZID. Sequence traffic at altitude and leave crj-200 at FL360 and let ZID climb him. I know there was a work group investigating the phraseology linked to timed climbs to make it more useful and understandable for controllers and pilots. Something to the effect of 'climb to reach FL380 in 4 minutes of less' with no time stamp requirement would be nice.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZDC Controller described a loss of separation event listing the current required phraseology related to climb instructions as as contributing to this event and recommending changes to the current procedure.

Narrative: CRJ-200 was climbing westbound. He was at FL340 when I inquired what his estimated time to reach FL380 would be. He said a little more than 4 minutes. His traffic was a point out from ZID; an A320 at FL370. I issued CRJ-200 a climb to FL380 and monitored his progress. When he was at FL360; I issued a rate of climb of 1;000 FPM. He acknowledged my request. At FL375; CRJ-200 indicates he is not longer able to keep the 1;000 FPM. I acknowledge and ask what can he do on climb and do not get an answer; then I ask again if he is climbing at all; he stated; 'We are getting our speed up;' I then ask him to turn 40 degrees left for traffic and climb to FL380. I then called ZID to inform them what was happening. I had a j-ring on CRJ-200; and before losing separation; I witnessed FL380 in my data block. I then re-cleared the CRJ-200 to HNN and shipped him to ZID. Sequence traffic at altitude and leave CRJ-200 at FL360 and let ZID climb him. I know there was a work group investigating the phraseology linked to timed climbs to make it more useful and understandable for controllers and pilots. Something to the effect of 'climb to reach FL380 in 4 minutes of less' with no time stamp requirement would be nice.

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	1046555
Time
Date	201211
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZDC.ARTCC
State Reference	VA
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Regional Jet 700 ER/LR (CRJ700)
Flight Phase	Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Developmental
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

ZDC controller described a loss of separation event listing the current required phraseology related to climb instructions as as contributing to this event and recommending changes to the current procedure.