Narrative:

I was on a VFR flight at 11500 ft. The cloud tops below me were rising as my flight progressed; so I elected to begin a slow climb to 13500 ft to remain in VMC and clear of clouds. At 12000 ft; my tcad showed opposing traffic at the same altitude at a range of 8 mi; closing; so I increased my climb rate. Simultaneously; ATC called and warned me that my altitude was not correct for VFR flight -- and asked that I climb to 12500 ft or turn immediate right to avoid conflicting IFR traffic. Because I had just expedited the climb; I was already at 12500 ft by the time I could answer; but the controller sounded upset; justifiably so. I have often been annoyed by VFR traffic at my 'protected' IFR altitude. This was my first taste of a circumstance that might give rise to that situation. In future; I will hurry through IFR altitudes if I must climb or descend VFR; particularly when on or close to VOR's and/or airways; and I will ensure that ATC is aware of my intentions. I'll endure the 'VFR altitude your discretion' comment that often seems to be the result of such a call -- I believe that VFR pilots know that the comment may discourage some from providing this important information.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A VFR SR22 PILOT CLIMBING SLOWLY ON AN AIRWAY WAS ADVISED BY ATC TO EXPEDITE THE CLIMB BECAUSE OF OPPOSITE DIRECTION IFR TRAFFIC.

Narrative: I WAS ON A VFR FLT AT 11500 FT. THE CLOUD TOPS BELOW ME WERE RISING AS MY FLT PROGRESSED; SO I ELECTED TO BEGIN A SLOW CLB TO 13500 FT TO REMAIN IN VMC AND CLR OF CLOUDS. AT 12000 FT; MY TCAD SHOWED OPPOSING TFC AT THE SAME ALT AT A RANGE OF 8 MI; CLOSING; SO I INCREASED MY CLB RATE. SIMULTANEOUSLY; ATC CALLED AND WARNED ME THAT MY ALT WAS NOT CORRECT FOR VFR FLT -- AND ASKED THAT I CLB TO 12500 FT OR TURN IMMEDIATE R TO AVOID CONFLICTING IFR TFC. BECAUSE I HAD JUST EXPEDITED THE CLB; I WAS ALREADY AT 12500 FT BY THE TIME I COULD ANSWER; BUT THE CTLR SOUNDED UPSET; JUSTIFIABLY SO. I HAVE OFTEN BEEN ANNOYED BY VFR TFC AT MY 'PROTECTED' IFR ALT. THIS WAS MY FIRST TASTE OF A CIRCUMSTANCE THAT MIGHT GIVE RISE TO THAT SIT. IN FUTURE; I WILL HURRY THROUGH IFR ALTS IF I MUST CLB OR DSND VFR; PARTICULARLY WHEN ON OR CLOSE TO VOR'S AND/OR AIRWAYS; AND I WILL ENSURE THAT ATC IS AWARE OF MY INTENTIONS. I'LL ENDURE THE 'VFR ALT YOUR DISCRETION' COMMENT THAT OFTEN SEEMS TO BE THE RESULT OF SUCH A CALL -- I BELIEVE THAT VFR PLTS KNOW THAT THE COMMENT MAY DISCOURAGE SOME FROM PROVIDING THIS IMPORTANT INFO.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.