Part 135 operation aircraft climbs above assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	185759
Time
Date	199108
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : las
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : las tower : lnk
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure other departure sid : sid
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 1000 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	185759
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We have charlie departure (company policy) with ATC. Controller gave me 3500 ft until boulder VORTAC which he gave me 4000 past boulder 4500 then 5000 charlie departure. Company policy is different but there was other traffic out of TCA about 5 mi east of TCA, usually cleared off squawk 1200. But he kept me and I climbed to 5500 like we are supposed to at hoover dam. I need the attitude to get over wilson's riddle. Talked to company already .ok. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information. Reporter states there is a LOA with ATC and all of the tour flight companies in which they fly the 'charlie departure.' it is not a published procedure but enables ATC to know what route the aircraft will use. This day departure controller gave step climb instructions and after leaving TCA reporter climbed to usual 5500 ft. Needed the altitude due to 'hot and heavy', full load of passenger.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PART 135 OP ACFT CLBS ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: WE HAVE CHARLIE DEP (COMPANY POLICY) WITH ATC. CTLR GAVE ME 3500 FT UNTIL BOULDER VORTAC WHICH HE GAVE ME 4000 PAST BOULDER 4500 THEN 5000 CHARLIE DEP. COMPANY POLICY IS DIFFERENT BUT THERE WAS OTHER TFC OUT OF TCA ABOUT 5 MI E OF TCA, USUALLY CLRED OFF SQUAWK 1200. BUT HE KEPT ME AND I CLBED TO 5500 LIKE WE ARE SUPPOSED TO AT HOOVER DAM. I NEED THE ATTITUDE TO GET OVER WILSON'S RIDDLE. TALKED TO COMPANY ALREADY .OK. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO. RPTR STATES THERE IS A LOA WITH ATC AND ALL OF THE TOUR FLT COMPANIES IN WHICH THEY FLY THE 'CHARLIE DEP.' IT IS NOT A PUBLISHED PROC BUT ENABLES ATC TO KNOW WHAT RTE THE ACFT WILL USE. THIS DAY DEP CTLR GAVE STEP CLB INSTRUCTIONS AND AFTER LEAVING TCA RPTR CLBED TO USUAL 5500 FT. NEEDED THE ALT DUE TO 'HOT AND HVY', FULL LOAD OF PAX.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.