General aviation pilot voiced concern regarding ATC handling by N90; noting the controller's relucta...

Attributes
ACN	1028222
Time
Date	201208
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	FOK.Airport
State Reference	NY
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20 Flight Crew Total 2000 Flight Crew Type 1800
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types

Narrative:

I've been flying and talking to the ny TRACON for 35 years now out of isp (long island; ny). Over the past couple of years or so I've noticed that the controllers are getting more reluctant to accept pop-up IFR clearances. Two years ago I requested a pop-up IFR clearance because of unexpected IMC and the controller said that I would need to file with flight service. I called the TRACON after landing and the controller said that sometimes pilots request pop-ups when they only want a practice approach and that if I want to get the controllers attention; I should tell the controller that I am about to go IMC. This past weekend another pilot on frequency requested a pop-up because of a broken layer at 1;200 ft and the controller said that they were no longer able to accept pop-ups because 'flight service is now a private company'. I'm not sure what the connection is but I believe safety is being compromised.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: General Aviation pilot voiced concern regarding ATC handling by N90; noting the Controller's reluctance in issuing a pop-up IFR clearance unlike in previous years.

Narrative: I've been flying and talking to the NY TRACON for 35 years now out of ISP (Long Island; NY). Over the past couple of years or so I've noticed that the controllers are getting more reluctant to accept pop-up IFR clearances. Two years ago I requested a pop-up IFR clearance because of unexpected IMC and the Controller said that I would need to file with Flight Service. I called the TRACON after landing and the Controller said that sometimes pilots request pop-ups when they only want a practice approach and that if I want to get the controllers attention; I should tell the controller that I am about to go IMC. This past weekend another pilot on frequency requested a pop-up because of a broken layer at 1;200 FT and the Controller said that they were no longer able to accept pop-ups because 'Flight Service is now a private company'. I'm not sure what the connection is but I believe safety is being compromised.

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.

General aviation pilot voiced concern regarding ATC handling by N90; noting the controller's reluctance in issuing a pop-up IFR clearance unlike in previous years.