Narrative:

IFR plan ATC dfw departure control held us down at 3000' MSL beneath the TCA until 18 DME before climb us to 4000' MSL, which is still beneath the TCA. At 19 DME, climbing out of 3200' MSL, I spotted a single engine small aircraft directly ahead, same direction of flight, and approximately 200-300' below. I increased rate of climb and passed approximately 500-700' above the small aircraft. Airspace below the TCA, and frequency 118.1, both were very congested. Opinion: we, as an IFR scheduled air carrier, are departed beneath the TCA at 3000 or 4000' MSL at dfw. We should be allowed to depart in the TCA. Traffic 'unk VFR' beneath the TCA is very heavy around the dfw area.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR-LTT KEPT BELOW FLOOR OF TCA BY ATC INCURRED NMAC WITH GA-SMA. OPERATIONAL DEVIATION.

Narrative: IFR PLAN ATC DFW DEP CTL HELD US DOWN AT 3000' MSL BENEATH THE TCA UNTIL 18 DME BEFORE CLB US TO 4000' MSL, WHICH IS STILL BENEATH THE TCA. AT 19 DME, CLBING OUT OF 3200' MSL, I SPOTTED A SINGLE ENG SMA DIRECTLY AHEAD, SAME DIRECTION OF FLT, AND APPROX 200-300' BELOW. I INCREASED RATE OF CLB AND PASSED APPROX 500-700' ABOVE THE SMA. AIRSPACE BELOW THE TCA, AND FREQ 118.1, BOTH WERE VERY CONGESTED. OPINION: WE, AS AN IFR SCHEDULED ACR, ARE DEPARTED BENEATH THE TCA AT 3000 OR 4000' MSL AT DFW. WE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DEPART IN THE TCA. TFC 'UNK VFR' BENEATH THE TCA IS VERY HEAVY AROUND THE DFW AREA.

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.