Bell-222 pilot was denied SVFR clearance to a non-towered airport in class east surface airspace. Ap...

Narrative:

ZZZ is a non-towered class east surface area airport. Weather was IMC at the field with 2 miles visibility in blowing dust. I called approach and reported the field was IFR and requested a SVFR clearance for entry to land. I was told; 'no; we don't do that. The field is non-controlled.' I queried the controller about the class east surface area and IMC; and was denied a clearance again. I then ask for IFR handling and was told 'no.' I thought I was quite clear about this IFR request but perhaps I was not - or it didn't come out as clear as I had thought. Regardless; in my mind I was not going to be granted the requested clearance to enter controlled airspace and land due to an interpretation of class east surface areas. For 30 years I have been taught this operational application of the fars - dating back to the old control zones. I have actually worked this procedure in georgia; alabama; oregon; south carolina; and alaska. I went in and landed at ZZZ after reluctantly telling the controller my intentions. Visibility was about 1/2 when I found the approach end of the runway. Before entering the bldu (blind landing development unit); there was a small jet in a wide left downwind and another EMS helicopter transiting the west surface area to the north. Apparently; whether IFR or VFR; no separation was going to be available in this controlled airspace. I had not encountered this before and was greatly confused. I called approach on the phone and got the 'no SVFR' response. I called the FSDO to get educated on the changes and the representative said he needed to research it and would get back. I also called my director of operations to get updated on the correct procedure and this was a surprise to [the director] as well. I am still confused as to the correct procedure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Bell-222 pilot was denied SVFR clearance to a non-towered airport in Class E Surface airspace. Approach Control denied a subsequent request by the pilot for IFR clearance to the airport apparently due to confusion over the request for 'IFR handling.' Pilot landed visually in IMC.

Narrative: ZZZ is a non-towered Class E Surface Area airport. Weather was IMC at the field with 2 miles visibility in blowing dust. I called Approach and reported the field was IFR and requested a SVFR clearance for entry to land. I was told; 'No; we don't do that. The field is non-controlled.' I queried the controller about the Class E Surface Area and IMC; and was denied a clearance again. I then ask for IFR handling and was told 'No.' I thought I was quite clear about this IFR request but perhaps I was not - or it didn't come out as clear as I had thought. Regardless; in my mind I was not going to be granted the requested clearance to enter controlled airspace and land due to an interpretation of Class E Surface Areas. For 30 years I have been taught this operational application of the FARs - dating back to the old Control Zones. I have actually worked this procedure in Georgia; Alabama; Oregon; South Carolina; and Alaska. I went in and landed at ZZZ after reluctantly telling the Controller my intentions. Visibility was about 1/2 when I found the approach end of the runway. Before entering the BLDU (Blind Landing Development Unit); there was a small jet in a wide left downwind and another EMS helicopter transiting the west surface area to the north. Apparently; whether IFR or VFR; no separation was going to be available in this controlled airspace. I had not encountered this before and was greatly confused. I called Approach on the phone and got the 'no SVFR' response. I called the FSDO to get educated on the changes and the representative said he needed to research it and would get back. I also called my Director of Operations to get updated on the correct procedure and this was a surprise to [the Director] as well. I am still confused as to the correct procedure.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.

Attributes
ACN	1013217
Time
Date	201205
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Bell Helicopter 222
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30 Flight Crew Total 5500 Flight Crew Type 400
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence

Bell-222 pilot was denied SVFR clearance to a non-towered airport in class east surface airspace. Approach control denied a subsequent request by the pilot for IFR clearance to the airport apparently due to confusion over the request for 'IFR handling.' pilot landed visually in IMC.