PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga/6X
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 67.6; Flight Crew Total 302.4; Flight Crew Type 255.1
Other / Unknown; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Weather
Upon departure I requested VFR flight following. I got up to a cruising altitude of 15;500 FT. After a short time I realized that to get above the clouds ahead I would need to go higher and informed ATC. At 17;500 FT when the cloud tops were higher still; I made a 90 degree turn to consider a return to an airport behind me; however it appeared that the clouds had filled in the space. There were icing conditions and I wanted to avoid gathering ice and could clearly see the blue sky ahead. I maintained VFR and requested a temporary higher altitude and permission to enter Class A airspace from ATC; first for FL195 then FL215 and FL225 and was able to maintain visual above the cloud layer. I remained in Class A airspace for about 15 minutes and then the tops began to drop. Then the clouds became broken and I notified ATC of my intention to descend and began my descent to the destination airport. Landed safely. I received PIREPs from ATC that were helpful. I am equipped with satellite and radar on the plane. I considered staying at a low altitude at the beginning of the flight; however was concerned about icing and believed that the tops were lower than the Class A airspace.
PA32 pilot on a VFR flight obtained ATC permission to climb into Class A airspace to avoid cloud tops and icing conditions.