GA pilot complaint about ATCT local controller handling at aus.

Attributes
ACN	109787
Time
Date	198904
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : aus
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 1600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : aus
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 64 flight time total : 650
ASRS Report	109787
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

When we reported, 'ready for takeoff, 35,' we were initially issued a 'hold short.' this was followed almost immediately with a 'cleared for immediate takeoff, runway 35.' this was acknowledged and we took off. Climbing through 1600', tower called with a 'taxi into position and hold.' somewhat bemused, I replied, 'we were climbing through 1600'.' tower responded, 'uh, roger, squawk XXXX.' I replied, 'we're squawking XXXX.' tower replied, 'heading 315, contact departure.' I replied, 'we're heading 315, see you later.' it was amusing at the time and we were in VMC, but we could just as easily have been in IMC (ceiling 2700') and we may not have had adequate IFR sep. (We had a local IFR clearance to VFR-on-top, initial heading was 315 degrees.) this may be indicative of a breakdown in training or management at aus ATC as I've had a # of 'missed handoffs' lately. Tower didn't hand us off to approach or vice versa.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA PLT COMPLAINT ABOUT ATCT LCL CTLR HANDLING AT AUS.

Narrative: WHEN WE RPTED, 'READY FOR TKOF, 35,' WE WERE INITIALLY ISSUED A 'HOLD SHORT.' THIS WAS FOLLOWED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY WITH A 'CLRED FOR IMMEDIATE TKOF, RWY 35.' THIS WAS ACKNOWLEDGED AND WE TOOK OFF. CLBING THROUGH 1600', TWR CALLED WITH A 'TAXI INTO POS AND HOLD.' SOMEWHAT BEMUSED, I REPLIED, 'WE WERE CLBING THROUGH 1600'.' TWR RESPONDED, 'UH, ROGER, SQUAWK XXXX.' I REPLIED, 'WE'RE SQUAWKING XXXX.' TWR REPLIED, 'HDG 315, CONTACT DEP.' I REPLIED, 'WE'RE HDG 315, SEE YOU LATER.' IT WAS AMUSING AT THE TIME AND WE WERE IN VMC, BUT WE COULD JUST AS EASILY HAVE BEEN IN IMC (CEILING 2700') AND WE MAY NOT HAVE HAD ADEQUATE IFR SEP. (WE HAD A LCL IFR CLRNC TO VFR-ON-TOP, INITIAL HDG WAS 315 DEGS.) THIS MAY BE INDICATIVE OF A BREAKDOWN IN TRNING OR MGMNT AT AUS ATC AS I'VE HAD A # OF 'MISSED HDOFS' LATELY. TWR DIDN'T HAND US OFF TO APCH OR VICE VERSA.

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.