Narrative:

On IFR training flight, on IFR clearance, aircraft was proceeding via radar vectors, heading 360 degrees, altitude 2000'. We were expecting the ILS to 8 at fxe. As instrument, I needed to give my student a few unusual attitudes. When handed off to the final controller, I requested permission to maneuver VFR for approximately 5 mins prior to proceeding to fxe. The controller asked if I wanted to cancel IFR. Thinking this would cause an extended delay in getting home or result in being denied an INS approach to fxe, I refused to cancel and repeated the request to maneuver for 5 mins before proceeding. The controller assigned heading of 310 degrees and said that we had to remain below 2000' due to heavy traffic. (2000' is MVA there; 2200' is iaa.) I acknowledged this, stated that I would remain below 2000' and call him back when I was finished maneuvering. I then turned down the vol on the radio to talk to the student, descended to 1500', did 3 unusual attitudes, remaining well below 2000' and maintaining a generally northwest-erly direction of flight. Upon completion of these maneuvers, I initiated a climb back to 2000' and called ATC. Total time off frequency was 5 mins or less. I probably should have monitored the frequency for a minute more, and also should have insisted on specific authorization for my maneuvers. On the other hand, the controller should have either specifically authority/authorized or specifically denied my request. There was no other traffic dangerously close--however had there been, this misunderstanding could have resulted in tragedy.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INSTRUCTOR PLT SHOWS POOR JUDGEMENT IN PERFORMING UNUSUAL ATTITUDE MANEUVERS IN PROX OF HEAVY TRAFFIC WHILE ON IFR FLT PLAN. PERFORMED MANEUVERS WITH VOLUME CONTROL TURNED DOWN. STATES THAT CTLR SHOULD HAVE DENIED HIS REQUESTS FOR MANEUVERING.

Narrative: ON IFR TRNING FLT, ON IFR CLRNC, ACFT WAS PROCEEDING VIA RADAR VECTORS, HDG 360 DEGS, ALT 2000'. WE WERE EXPECTING THE ILS TO 8 AT FXE. AS INSTR, I NEEDED TO GIVE MY STUDENT A FEW UNUSUAL ATTITUDES. WHEN HANDED OFF TO THE FINAL CTLR, I REQUESTED PERMISSION TO MANEUVER VFR FOR APPROX 5 MINS PRIOR TO PROCEEDING TO FXE. THE CTLR ASKED IF I WANTED TO CANCEL IFR. THINKING THIS WOULD CAUSE AN EXTENDED DELAY IN GETTING HOME OR RESULT IN BEING DENIED AN INS APCH TO FXE, I REFUSED TO CANCEL AND REPEATED THE REQUEST TO MANEUVER FOR 5 MINS BEFORE PROCEEDING. THE CTLR ASSIGNED HDG OF 310 DEGS AND SAID THAT WE HAD TO REMAIN BELOW 2000' DUE TO HEAVY TFC. (2000' IS MVA THERE; 2200' IS IAA.) I ACKNOWLEDGED THIS, STATED THAT I WOULD REMAIN BELOW 2000' AND CALL HIM BACK WHEN I WAS FINISHED MANEUVERING. I THEN TURNED DOWN THE VOL ON THE RADIO TO TALK TO THE STUDENT, DSNDED TO 1500', DID 3 UNUSUAL ATTITUDES, REMAINING WELL BELOW 2000' AND MAINTAINING A GENERALLY NW-ERLY DIRECTION OF FLT. UPON COMPLETION OF THESE MANEUVERS, I INITIATED A CLB BACK TO 2000' AND CALLED ATC. TOTAL TIME OFF FREQ WAS 5 MINS OR LESS. I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE MONITORED THE FREQ FOR A MINUTE MORE, AND ALSO SHOULD HAVE INSISTED ON SPECIFIC AUTHORIZATION FOR MY MANEUVERS. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE CTLR SHOULD HAVE EITHER SPECIFICALLY AUTH OR SPECIFICALLY DENIED MY REQUEST. THERE WAS NO OTHER TFC DANGEROUSLY CLOSE--HOWEVER HAD THERE BEEN, THIS MISUNDERSTANDING COULD HAVE RESULTED IN TRAGEDY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.