Narrative:

Student instrument long 250 NM cross country. 9g0-ith-syr-9g0 alternate buf. The northeast of new york had popcorn conditions, level 5 in some areas along route. Received vectors from syr approach. With willingness and help, accomplished the NDB runway 28 at syr. On the missed approach procedure en route to roc, along V2, we continuously asked controller if he had any WX. None was reply. We then left frequency for 122.00 for WX brief and PIREP. My student had difficulty holding 6000 ft, updrafts of considerable force. Asking student what should he do, we were trying to make contact with approach. He seemed to be busy. More updraft. Cells in front, finally approach contact. We immediately asked to turn north, climb to 8000 ft. Controller said you are now at 7000 ft 'sure.' he then granted request and we cleared problem area. Advised approach now on V2 at 8000 ft. He shortly handed us off to buf with an added request to call (phone number). I complied. Discussed situation with manager of approach. He seemed to feel it was WX related not pilot error. You never know! I feel that cfii's should give their students actual WX. This prepares them for the real world. A situation like ours was handled properly without a problem. A great confidence builder! Only to be spoiled with some unyielding slow to answer the frequency controller. He should have acted quicker. Mode C was on, we're calling roc approach, finally contact -- altitude excursion. I'll take attitude over altitude any day! I'll continue to give my students challenging but safe flts in actual IMC.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EXCURSION FROM ASSIGNED ALT DUE TO HVY UPDRAFTS BY INST STUDENT ON LONG INST XCOUNTRY.

Narrative: STUDENT INST LONG 250 NM XCOUNTRY. 9G0-ITH-SYR-9G0 ALTERNATE BUF. THE NE OF NEW YORK HAD POPCORN CONDITIONS, LEVEL 5 IN SOME AREAS ALONG RTE. RECEIVED VECTORS FROM SYR APCH. WITH WILLINGNESS AND HELP, ACCOMPLISHED THE NDB RWY 28 AT SYR. ON THE MISSED APCH PROC ENRTE TO ROC, ALONG V2, WE CONTINUOUSLY ASKED CTLR IF HE HAD ANY WX. NONE WAS REPLY. WE THEN LEFT FREQ FOR 122.00 FOR WX BRIEF AND PIREP. MY STUDENT HAD DIFFICULTY HOLDING 6000 FT, UPDRAFTS OF CONSIDERABLE FORCE. ASKING STUDENT WHAT SHOULD HE DO, WE WERE TRYING TO MAKE CONTACT WITH APCH. HE SEEMED TO BE BUSY. MORE UPDRAFT. CELLS IN FRONT, FINALLY APCH CONTACT. WE IMMEDIATELY ASKED TO TURN N, CLB TO 8000 FT. CTLR SAID YOU ARE NOW AT 7000 FT 'SURE.' HE THEN GRANTED REQUEST AND WE CLRED PROB AREA. ADVISED APCH NOW ON V2 AT 8000 FT. HE SHORTLY HANDED US OFF TO BUF WITH AN ADDED REQUEST TO CALL (PHONE NUMBER). I COMPLIED. DISCUSSED SIT WITH MGR OF APCH. HE SEEMED TO FEEL IT WAS WX RELATED NOT PLT ERROR. YOU NEVER KNOW! I FEEL THAT CFII'S SHOULD GIVE THEIR STUDENTS ACTUAL WX. THIS PREPARES THEM FOR THE REAL WORLD. A SIT LIKE OURS WAS HANDLED PROPERLY WITHOUT A PROB. A GREAT CONFIDENCE BUILDER! ONLY TO BE SPOILED WITH SOME UNYIELDING SLOW TO ANSWER THE FREQ CTLR. HE SHOULD HAVE ACTED QUICKER. MODE C WAS ON, WE'RE CALLING ROC APCH, FINALLY CONTACT -- ALT EXCURSION. I'LL TAKE ATTITUDE OVER ALT ANY DAY! I'LL CONTINUE TO GIVE MY STUDENTS CHALLENGING BUT SAFE FLTS IN ACTUAL IMC.

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.