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A departing small transport on an IFR flight plan was inadvertently instructed to maintain VFR on initial contact with ATC.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 117337 |
| Time | |
| Date | 198907 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : rwn |
| State Reference | IN |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 7500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Mixed |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zau |
| Operator | general aviation : corporate |
| Make Model Name | Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 8200 flight time type : 150 |
| ASRS Report | 117337 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : instrument |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
We received our clearance (IFR) on the ground from terra haute FSS. Our clearance was direct to the winamac NDB at 3000', which we complied with. We established radio communications with ZAU leveling at 3000' and crossing the winamac NDB. Chicago center told us to maintain VFR. We elected to climb to 7500' VFR since we would have a problem maintaining VFR at 3000'. Shortly before reaching 7500', center asked us if our clearance (IFR) wasn't to climb to 3000'. We responded in the affirmative, but reminded them of their clearance to maintain VFR. At this point we were cleared to maintain 8000' and were told by ZAU a mixup had occurred on their part. In today's environment of mandatory enforcement by the FAA, these 'mixups' can certainly elevate the blood pressure of crew members. I hope ATC realizes most crew members are very concerned about retaining their licenses (and their livelihood).
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A DEPARTING SMT ON AN IFR FLT PLAN WAS INADVERTENTLY INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN VFR ON INITIAL CONTACT WITH ATC.
Narrative: WE RECEIVED OUR CLRNC (IFR) ON THE GND FROM TERRA HAUTE FSS. OUR CLRNC WAS DIRECT TO THE WINAMAC NDB AT 3000', WHICH WE COMPLIED WITH. WE ESTABLISHED RADIO COMS WITH ZAU LEVELING AT 3000' AND XING THE WINAMAC NDB. CHICAGO CENTER TOLD US TO MAINTAIN VFR. WE ELECTED TO CLIMB TO 7500' VFR SINCE WE WOULD HAVE A PROBLEM MAINTAINING VFR AT 3000'. SHORTLY BEFORE REACHING 7500', CENTER ASKED US IF OUR CLRNC (IFR) WASN'T TO CLIMB TO 3000'. WE RESPONDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, BUT REMINDED THEM OF THEIR CLRNC TO MAINTAIN VFR. AT THIS POINT WE WERE CLRED TO MAINTAIN 8000' AND WERE TOLD BY ZAU A MIXUP HAD OCCURRED ON THEIR PART. IN TODAY'S ENVIRONMENT OF MANDATORY ENFORCEMENT BY THE FAA, THESE 'MIXUPS' CAN CERTAINLY ELEVATE THE BLOOD PRESSURE OF CREW MEMBERS. I HOPE ATC REALIZES MOST CREW MEMBERS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT RETAINING THEIR LICENSES (AND THEIR LIVELIHOOD).
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.