Narrative:

Cruising at FL370. Approaching cloud shelf, no WX returns on radar, no negative ride reports. Had requested climb to FL410 to avoid shelf. ATC frequency congested. Were told 'higher in 2 mins.' light turbulence, followed rapidly by moderate and then 1 severe updraft pushing aircraft up 600 ft to FL376. Total duration from onset of light approximately 30 seconds. 1 passenger hurt when thrown from seat into aisle. He did not have seatbelt on cabin seatbelt lights were on and illuminated. Passenger required treatment at destination. Some types of WX are undetectable and/or unavoidable, but a more reactive and flexible ATC system would help avoid possible hazardous sits. Passenger was only person on board aircraft without seatbelt fastened.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A 2 MIN DELAY IN RECEIVING CLRNC TO AVOID A POSSIBLE TURB AREA ENDS IN AN ENCOUNTER THAT CAUSED A PAX INJURY.

Narrative: CRUISING AT FL370. APCHING CLOUD SHELF, NO WX RETURNS ON RADAR, NO NEGATIVE RIDE RPTS. HAD REQUESTED CLB TO FL410 TO AVOID SHELF. ATC FREQ CONGESTED. WERE TOLD 'HIGHER IN 2 MINS.' LIGHT TURB, FOLLOWED RAPIDLY BY MODERATE AND THEN 1 SEVERE UPDRAFT PUSHING ACFT UP 600 FT TO FL376. TOTAL DURATION FROM ONSET OF LIGHT APPROX 30 SECONDS. 1 PAX HURT WHEN THROWN FROM SEAT INTO AISLE. HE DID NOT HAVE SEATBELT ON CABIN SEATBELT LIGHTS WERE ON AND ILLUMINATED. PAX REQUIRED TREATMENT AT DEST. SOME TYPES OF WX ARE UNDETECTABLE AND/OR UNAVOIDABLE, BUT A MORE REACTIVE AND FLEXIBLE ATC SYS WOULD HELP AVOID POSSIBLE HAZARDOUS SITS. PAX WAS ONLY PERSON ON BOARD ACFT WITHOUT SEATBELT FASTENED.

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.