Narrative:

We were departing missoula, mt, en route to haure, mt. We were given an IFR clearance by missoula ground control which specified that we climb on the missoula VOR 152 degree right to 9000', left turn back to the missoula VOR to maintain 12000', then climb and maintain 15000' after crossing the missoula VOR on course V187 to gtf. We accepted the clearance, departed missoula and climbed on the mso VOR right 152 degrees. At 9000' we started our left turn back to the VOR, but then requested and was cleared for a VFR climb to 15000', on course V187. After being told to contact ZLC and contacting them, the controller advised us to maintain 11000'. I told them that I was climbing VFR to 15000'. They said maintain 11000'. I complied. At that point we were heading approximately 030 degrees to intercept V187 to gtf. ZLC was concerned about an airlines flight cleared out of missoula to helena and he had been cleared to 17000'. We were in VFR conditions and were watching for the flight, but never did see him. ZLC was concerned that I did not follow my clearance to return to the missoula VOR, even though I had been cleared for a VFR climb to 15000'. It was my understanding that I did not have to comply with that clearance after having been cleared for the VFR climb to 15000'. The supervisor informed me that was incorrect. I believe that if an aircraft is cleared for a VFR climb, he should not have to follow a time consuming IFR departure procedure, and should be allowed to climb towards his filed route, providing his own terrain sep, and his own sep from other aircraft. ZLC did not inform me of our proximity to the air carrier Y flight. I'm sure that if he was within 3 mi, we would have seen him. I did have a copilot with me on this flight.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMT DEVIATION FROM CLRNC ROUTE.

Narrative: WE WERE DEPARTING MISSOULA, MT, ENRTE TO HAURE, MT. WE WERE GIVEN AN IFR CLRNC BY MISSOULA GND CTL WHICH SPECIFIED THAT WE CLB ON THE MISSOULA VOR 152 DEG R TO 9000', LEFT TURN BACK TO THE MISSOULA VOR TO MAINTAIN 12000', THEN CLB AND MAINTAIN 15000' AFTER XING THE MISSOULA VOR ON COURSE V187 TO GTF. WE ACCEPTED THE CLRNC, DEPARTED MISSOULA AND CLBED ON THE MSO VOR R 152 DEGS. AT 9000' WE STARTED OUR LEFT TURN BACK TO THE VOR, BUT THEN REQUESTED AND WAS CLRED FOR A VFR CLB TO 15000', ON COURSE V187. AFTER BEING TOLD TO CONTACT ZLC AND CONTACTING THEM, THE CTLR ADVISED US TO MAINTAIN 11000'. I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS CLBING VFR TO 15000'. THEY SAID MAINTAIN 11000'. I COMPLIED. AT THAT POINT WE WERE HDG APPROX 030 DEGS TO INTERCEPT V187 TO GTF. ZLC WAS CONCERNED ABOUT AN AIRLINES FLT CLRED OUT OF MISSOULA TO HELENA AND HE HAD BEEN CLRED TO 17000'. WE WERE IN VFR CONDITIONS AND WERE WATCHING FOR THE FLT, BUT NEVER DID SEE HIM. ZLC WAS CONCERNED THAT I DID NOT FOLLOW MY CLRNC TO RETURN TO THE MISSOULA VOR, EVEN THOUGH I HAD BEEN CLRED FOR A VFR CLB TO 15000'. IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT I DID NOT HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THAT CLRNC AFTER HAVING BEEN CLRED FOR THE VFR CLB TO 15000'. THE SUPVR INFORMED ME THAT WAS INCORRECT. I BELIEVE THAT IF AN ACFT IS CLRED FOR A VFR CLB, HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FOLLOW A TIME CONSUMING IFR DEP PROC, AND SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CLB TOWARDS HIS FILED ROUTE, PROVIDING HIS OWN TERRAIN SEP, AND HIS OWN SEP FROM OTHER ACFT. ZLC DID NOT INFORM ME OF OUR PROX TO THE ACR Y FLT. I'M SURE THAT IF HE WAS WITHIN 3 MI, WE WOULD HAVE SEEN HIM. I DID HAVE A COPLT WITH ME ON THIS FLT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.