MD88 FLT CREW ACCEPTS ATC CLRNC TO CLB FROM FL310 TO FL360 IN TWO AND ONE HALF MINS. RESULTANT LOSS OF AIRSPD RESULTS IN INABILITY TO MAINTAIN ALT AND A TCAS TA.

Narrative

IN CRUISE AT FL310 WE ACCEPTED ATC REQUEST TO FL370. ATC ADVISED US TO REACH FL360 IN 2 1/2 MINS. THE FMC CONFIRMED FL370 WAS ACCEPTABLE. CLEAN SPD SHOW 225 KTS. THE ACFT REACHED FL360 AT APPROX 225 KTS. WITH THE ACFT LEVELED OFF; THE AIRSPD CONTINUED TO DROP TO APPROX 215 KTS AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. AT THAT TIME WE NOTICED VIBRATION IN THE CTL COLUMN. WITH THE PWR AT FULL CLB PWR THE AUTOPLT WAS DISENGAGED AND WE ASKED ATC FOR FL350. ATC INFORMED US TO WAIT 20 SECONDS DUE TO CONFLICTING TFC. WHILE TRYING TO MAINTAIN AIRSPD WE LOST APPROX 300 FT OF ALT AND RECEIVED A TCAS TA. SEPARATION SHOWED 10 MI AND 700 FT VERT. ATC THEN RECLRED US TO FL350. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 708414: WHILE IN CRUISE AT FL310; WE ACCEPTED ATC REQUEST TO CLB TO FL360. AFTER CHKING FMC TO VERIFY FL360 WAS ATTAINABLE; ATC ASKED US TO REACH FL360 WITHIN 2 1/2 MINS AND THEN RECLRED US TO FL370. WE VERIFIED OUR CLEAN SPD OF 225 KTS AND PROCEEDED TO CLB. AT APPROX FL350 AS SPD WAS DECREASING TOWARDS 225 KTS; CLB RATE WAS REDUCED UNTIL AT FL360. THE ACFT SLOWED TO APPROX 215 KTS AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CTL COLUMN EXHIBITED VIBRATION AND IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE AT FULL CLB PWR; THE AUTOPLT WAS DISENGAGED AND A REQUEST MADE FOR CLRNC DOWN TO FL350. ATC INFORMED WE NEEDED TO WAIT 20 SECONDS; DUE TO CONFLICTING TFC. WE LOST 300 FT OF ALT WHILE TRYING TO SPD UP AND RECEIVED A TCAS TA FOR ANOTHER ACFT THAT INDICATED 700 FT VERT AND APPROX 10 MI HORIZ CLRNC. ATC THEN RECLRED US TO FL350.