Traffic watch aircraft refused clearance to climb to higher altitude in TCA class B airspace.

Attributes
ACN	286575
Time
Date	199410
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mem
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mem
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	286575
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Memphis approach is handling 2 traffic watch aircraft every morning on oct/xx/94 I was working X a C172 and Y also a C172. They were in close proximity to each other so I asked X if he could climb to 2000 ft. (I didn't want to interfere with the traffic watch). He replied that he could not climb above 1500 ft because our training supervisor told me not to climb above 1500 ft. My question is why is our training department telling aircraft what to do? Are they required to disobey ATC instructions because the supervisor gives them an instruction over the phone?

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TFC WATCH ACFT REFUSED CLRNC TO CLB TO HIGHER ALT IN TCA CLASS B AIRSPACE.

Narrative: MEMPHIS APCH IS HANDLING 2 TFC WATCH ACFT EVERY MORNING ON OCT/XX/94 I WAS WORKING X A C172 AND Y ALSO A C172. THEY WERE IN CLOSE PROX TO EACH OTHER SO I ASKED X IF HE COULD CLB TO 2000 FT. (I DIDN'T WANT TO INTERFERE WITH THE TFC WATCH). HE REPLIED THAT HE COULD NOT CLB ABOVE 1500 FT BECAUSE OUR TRAINING SUPVR TOLD ME NOT TO CLB ABOVE 1500 FT. MY QUESTION IS WHY IS OUR TRAINING DEPT TELLING ACFT WHAT TO DO? ARE THEY REQUIRED TO DISOBEY ATC INSTRUCTIONS BECAUSE THE SUPVR GIVES THEM AN INSTRUCTION OVER THE PHONE?

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.