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|
Attributes | |
ACN | 1561272 |
Time | |
Date | 201807 |
Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
Place | |
Locale Reference | BFI.Airport |
State Reference | WA |
Environment | |
Flight Conditions | VMC |
Light | Daylight |
Aircraft 1 | |
Make Model Name | PA-24 Comanche |
Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
Flight Phase | Descent |
Flight Plan | VFR |
Person 1 | |
Function | Single Pilot |
Qualification | Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private |
Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 9 Flight Crew Total 918 Flight Crew Type 455 |
Events | |
Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Airspace Violation All Types Deviation - Procedural FAR |
Narrative:
I was enroute to boeing field with VFR flight following the entire way. I had descended to 10;500 ft. MSL and was flying over the mountains to the east of the city. I was handed off to the seattle approach and the controller asked if I wanted clearance into the class B airspace or if I wished to remain outside of it.initially I responded that I was unfamiliar with the airspace; having never flown there before and asked their advice. He responded that I should stay out of the class B airspace. I then changed my mind and re-contacted the same controller and asked for a clearance into class B airspace but instead he passed me to the next one without issuing me a clearance. The next controller said I was doing fine. I repeated to him that I was unfamiliar with the airspace and preferred a clearance. He did not issue me one and quickly passed me off to the boeing tower controller saying to avoid renton class D airspace.that controller was very busy and would not respond to multiple calls. During the whole time; I had descended to less than 3;000 feet MSL to stay below class B airspace; but the renton class D tops out at 2;500 feet. Directly adjacent and west of renton is a corridor with even lower attitude requirements. I was under the impression the approach controller would vector me to sequence me into boeing field and allow me to descend safely while remaining under the class B airspace. Trying to stay above the renton class D; but below the seattle class B airspace was very difficult and I believe I inadvertently penetrated class B airspace as I flew north to get out of a potentially dangerous situation. Once I cleared the lower class B airspace to the north I was able to contact boeing tower and was given instructions to enter the right downwind to 32R; which I did and landed uneventfully.my concern about the descent and approach into boeing field is that I communicated I was unfamiliar and did request class B clearance; but was not given one and then was given no assistance to help avoid renton class D airspace and safely enter into the busy traffic pattern at boeing. The boeing tower controller was very busy and in the time it took to establish 2 way communication I was given instructions by the previous controller to stay clear of the class B airspace.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PA-24 pilot reported a lack of support from ATC led to a possible Class B airspace violation.
Narrative: I was enroute to Boeing Field with VFR flight following the entire way. I had descended to 10;500 ft. MSL and was flying over the mountains to the east of the city. I was handed off to the Seattle Approach and the controller asked if I wanted clearance into the Class B airspace or if I wished to remain outside of it.Initially I responded that I was unfamiliar with the airspace; having never flown there before and asked their advice. He responded that I should stay out of the Class B airspace. I then changed my mind and re-contacted the same controller and asked for a clearance into Class B airspace but instead he passed me to the next one without issuing me a clearance. The next controller said I was doing fine. I repeated to him that I was unfamiliar with the airspace and preferred a clearance. He did not issue me one and quickly passed me off to the Boeing Tower controller saying to avoid Renton Class D airspace.That controller was very busy and would not respond to multiple calls. During the whole time; I had descended to less than 3;000 feet MSL to stay below Class B airspace; but the Renton Class D tops out at 2;500 feet. Directly adjacent and west of Renton is a corridor with even lower attitude requirements. I was under the impression the Approach controller would vector me to sequence me into Boeing Field and allow me to descend safely while remaining under the Class B airspace. Trying to stay above the Renton Class D; but below the Seattle Class B airspace was very difficult and I believe I inadvertently penetrated Class B airspace as I flew north to get out of a potentially dangerous situation. Once I cleared the lower Class B airspace to the north I was able to contact Boeing Tower and was given instructions to enter the right downwind to 32R; which I did and landed uneventfully.My concern about the descent and approach into Boeing Field is that I communicated I was unfamiliar and did request Class B clearance; but was not given one and then was given no assistance to help avoid Renton Class D airspace and safely enter into the busy traffic pattern at Boeing. The Boeing Tower controller was very busy and in the time it took to establish 2 way communication I was given instructions by the previous controller to stay clear of the Class B airspace.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.