Small aircraft on pipeline patrol questions the handling of his aircraft by ATC.

Attributes
ACN	126390
Time
Date	198910
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cak
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1800 msl bound upper : 1800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cak
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	126390
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We departed wadsworth airport and a call to the akron/canton approach controller was made for permission to proceed through the arsa to lake cable on pipeline patrol. The controller ordered us to a heading of 190 degree. At that time, we requested a right-hand orbit in lieu of the 190 heading and received permission to do so. The orbit was held for approximately 25 mins. At approximately XX30 hours, the supervisor came on the air, directed us to proceed on course on pipeline to lake cable. At approximately 3 1/2 mi north of akron/canton airport, the controller abruptly ordered us to turn left to a heading of 330. Continuing northwest on 330 heading approximately 3 or 4 mi, we requested return to pipeline. The controller indicated noncompliance and agreed to allow us to return eastward and resume pipeline patrol to the north. The pipeline route in question is one that is followed every week in the same way and the request that is north and then northwest is used. The controller implied that the pilot was unqualified and did not know where his destination was. We were clearly cleared into the arsa, into the control zone and on course. Although we have flown this same route many times, the controller stated on the air 'that we had not gone anywhere that we had told them.' this is simply not true.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ON PIPELINE PATROL QUESTIONS THE HANDLING OF HIS ACFT BY ATC.

Narrative: WE DEPARTED WADSWORTH ARPT AND A CALL TO THE AKRON/CANTON APCH CTLR WAS MADE FOR PERMISSION TO PROCEED THROUGH THE ARSA TO LAKE CABLE ON PIPELINE PATROL. THE CTLR ORDERED US TO A HDG OF 190 DEG. AT THAT TIME, WE REQUESTED A RIGHT-HAND ORBIT IN LIEU OF THE 190 HDG AND RECEIVED PERMISSION TO DO SO. THE ORBIT WAS HELD FOR APPROX 25 MINS. AT APPROX XX30 HRS, THE SUPVR CAME ON THE AIR, DIRECTED US TO PROCEED ON COURSE ON PIPELINE TO LAKE CABLE. AT APPROX 3 1/2 MI N OF AKRON/CANTON ARPT, THE CTLR ABRUPTLY ORDERED US TO TURN LEFT TO A HDG OF 330. CONTINUING NW ON 330 HDG APPROX 3 OR 4 MI, WE REQUESTED RETURN TO PIPELINE. THE CTLR INDICATED NONCOMPLIANCE AND AGREED TO ALLOW US TO RETURN EASTWARD AND RESUME PIPELINE PATROL TO THE NORTH. THE PIPELINE ROUTE IN QUESTION IS ONE THAT IS FOLLOWED EVERY WEEK IN THE SAME WAY AND THE REQUEST THAT IS NORTH AND THEN NORTHWEST IS USED. THE CTLR IMPLIED THAT THE PLT WAS UNQUALIFIED AND DID NOT KNOW WHERE HIS DEST WAS. WE WERE CLEARLY CLRED INTO THE ARSA, INTO THE CTL ZONE AND ON COURSE. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE FLOWN THIS SAME ROUTE MANY TIMES, THE CTLR STATED ON THE AIR 'THAT WE HAD NOT GONE ANYWHERE THAT WE HAD TOLD THEM.' THIS IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE.

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.