Narrative:

At approximately XA15 we landed at abi. When approximately 40 mi out, I got ATIS and called approach control (dyess AFB -- abi was closed for the night). When I contacted approach control (as advised by ATIS) and gave a report of position and intentions, the controller seemed to be having a brain function problem right off. He snapped back are you in the arsa? I replied politely no and once again gave a position report. Eventually, he figured out where I was after giving me a squawk code. That took place I estimate around XA50 pm 11/thu/89. When leaving abi at about XB40 on same date, I advised of our takeoff and intentions on tower (CTAF) frequency. As soon as possible after airborne I contacted dyess AFB on the appropriate departure frequency. When I did so, the controller asked if I was in the arsa. I replied yes (referring to the abi arsa, not dyess AFB arsa). Remember the abi tower is closed and outside of the dyess AFB 5 NM area and is therefore a temporary inoperative arsa. In addition, remember from above, I contacted dyess AFB departure as soon as possible after departure as is required by FARS if in the 5 NM ring which I was not. The controller (seeming quite upset) told us how to properly depart abi (contact him on departure frequency first to get clearance and squawk code). I politely advised him that the tower was closed therefore the arsa inactive only to receive more inappropriate chewing out by the controller, and shortly later a phone number on which to call him. I did not call him. I feel he may have been a new controller, trying to make a bust. I feel to help in the future, controllers such as him should receive better training. Also, if I should have contacted him prior to departure, it should be so stated on ATIS. Please advise me if I am incorrect.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF SMT ATX FLT DEPARTING ABI DURING EARLY MORNING HOURS WHEN TWR WAS CLOSED, DID NOT GET ARSA CLRNC FROM ABI APCH DUE TO A CONFUSION REGARDING ARSA RULES.

Narrative: AT APPROX XA15 WE LANDED AT ABI. WHEN APPROX 40 MI OUT, I GOT ATIS AND CALLED APCH CTL (DYESS AFB -- ABI WAS CLOSED FOR THE NIGHT). WHEN I CONTACTED APCH CTL (AS ADVISED BY ATIS) AND GAVE A REPORT OF POSITION AND INTENTIONS, THE CTLR SEEMED TO BE HAVING A BRAIN FUNCTION PROBLEM RIGHT OFF. HE SNAPPED BACK ARE YOU IN THE ARSA? I REPLIED POLITELY NO AND ONCE AGAIN GAVE A POSITION REPORT. EVENTUALLY, HE FIGURED OUT WHERE I WAS AFTER GIVING ME A SQUAWK CODE. THAT TOOK PLACE I ESTIMATE AROUND XA50 PM 11/THU/89. WHEN LEAVING ABI AT ABOUT XB40 ON SAME DATE, I ADVISED OF OUR TKOF AND INTENTIONS ON TWR (CTAF) FREQ. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER AIRBORNE I CONTACTED DYESS AFB ON THE APPROPRIATE DEP FREQ. WHEN I DID SO, THE CTLR ASKED IF I WAS IN THE ARSA. I REPLIED YES (REFERRING TO THE ABI ARSA, NOT DYESS AFB ARSA). REMEMBER THE ABI TWR IS CLOSED AND OUTSIDE OF THE DYESS AFB 5 NM AREA AND IS THEREFORE A TEMPORARY INOPERATIVE ARSA. IN ADDITION, REMEMBER FROM ABOVE, I CONTACTED DYESS AFB DEP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER DEP AS IS REQUIRED BY FARS IF IN THE 5 NM RING WHICH I WAS NOT. THE CTLR (SEEMING QUITE UPSET) TOLD US HOW TO PROPERLY DEPART ABI (CONTACT HIM ON DEP FREQ FIRST TO GET CLRNC AND SQUAWK CODE). I POLITELY ADVISED HIM THAT THE TWR WAS CLOSED THEREFORE THE ARSA INACTIVE ONLY TO RECEIVE MORE INAPPROPRIATE CHEWING OUT BY THE CTLR, AND SHORTLY LATER A PHONE NUMBER ON WHICH TO CALL HIM. I DID NOT CALL HIM. I FEEL HE MAY HAVE BEEN A NEW CTLR, TRYING TO MAKE A BUST. I FEEL TO HELP IN THE FUTURE, CTLRS SUCH AS HIM SHOULD RECEIVE BETTER TRAINING. ALSO, IF I SHOULD HAVE CONTACTED HIM PRIOR TO DEP, IT SHOULD BE SO STATED ON ATIS. PLEASE ADVISE ME IF I AM INCORRECT.

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.