Approach controller issues open season clearance for lax TCA corridors.

Attributes
ACN	156449
Time
Date	199009
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lax airport : lgb
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	approach : visual enroute other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 244 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	156449
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

My student and I planned a dual x-country from lgb to oxnard, via the vny 140 right northbound through the TCA. Looking at the lax VFR TCA chart, it references the hollywood park special transition route, but it says nothing on that chart about altitudes for that route. We departed lgb, contacted la approach on 134.9, he said he was saturated and to wait 5 mins. Well we quickly asked for the VFR transition. The controller came over and said 'anybody wanting to use the transition rtes just go ahead and do it.' so we proceeded. Then the controller asked if anybody was standing by on frequency. So we indented ourselves and gave him our position over hollywood park. He then asked our altitude. We replied 4500'. He then said 'you are in the TCA, squawk...and turn left 240 degree traffic 4 O'clock and 1 mi. I asked him about that particular routing along the vny 140 right and he said that's only for 7500' MSL and above. He then described where the shoreline route was for our transition I believe he said the smo 131 right. I don't have the chart right now but it's on the VFR TCA chart. I did study the TCA chart carefully and it shows the rtes and has little magenta boxes explaining the procedure for penetration but does not have any altitude restriction. I understand there is more literature and I will become familiar with but, as is on all other charts, there should be altitudes listed on the magenta lines and arrows that identify these rtes.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: APCH CTLR ISSUES OPEN SEASON CLRNC FOR LAX TCA CORRIDORS.

Narrative: MY STUDENT AND I PLANNED A DUAL X-COUNTRY FROM LGB TO OXNARD, VIA THE VNY 140 R NBND THROUGH THE TCA. LOOKING AT THE LAX VFR TCA CHART, IT REFERENCES THE HOLLYWOOD PARK SPECIAL TRANSITION RTE, BUT IT SAYS NOTHING ON THAT CHART ABOUT ALTS FOR THAT RTE. WE DEPARTED LGB, CONTACTED LA APCH ON 134.9, HE SAID HE WAS SATURATED AND TO WAIT 5 MINS. WELL WE QUICKLY ASKED FOR THE VFR TRANSITION. THE CTLR CAME OVER AND SAID 'ANYBODY WANTING TO USE THE TRANSITION RTES JUST GO AHEAD AND DO IT.' SO WE PROCEEDED. THEN THE CTLR ASKED IF ANYBODY WAS STANDING BY ON FREQ. SO WE INDENTED OURSELVES AND GAVE HIM OUR POS OVER HOLLYWOOD PARK. HE THEN ASKED OUR ALT. WE REPLIED 4500'. HE THEN SAID 'YOU ARE IN THE TCA, SQUAWK...AND TURN L 240 DEG TFC 4 O'CLOCK AND 1 MI. I ASKED HIM ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR RTING ALONG THE VNY 140 R AND HE SAID THAT'S ONLY FOR 7500' MSL AND ABOVE. HE THEN DESCRIBED WHERE THE SHORELINE RTE WAS FOR OUR TRANSITION I BELIEVE HE SAID THE SMO 131 R. I DON'T HAVE THE CHART RIGHT NOW BUT IT'S ON THE VFR TCA CHART. I DID STUDY THE TCA CHART CAREFULLY AND IT SHOWS THE RTES AND HAS LITTLE MAGENTA BOXES EXPLAINING THE PROC FOR PENETRATION BUT DOES NOT HAVE ANY ALT RESTRICTION. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS MORE LITERATURE AND I WILL BECOME FAMILIAR WITH BUT, AS IS ON ALL OTHER CHARTS, THERE SHOULD BE ALTS LISTED ON THE MAGENTA LINES AND ARROWS THAT IDENT THESE RTES.

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.