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GA pilot reported a possible airspace violation in the dc sfra area due to confusion and miscommunication.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1595298 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201811 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801-2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | JYO.Airport |
| State Reference | VA |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Initial Approach |
| Route In Use | Direct |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Single Pilot Pilot Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Private |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30 Flight Crew Total 120 Flight Crew Type 120 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Airspace Violation All Types Deviation - Procedural FAR Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy |
Narrative:
I was approaching the dc sfra on approach to leesburg. I had a discreet squawk code for my VFR flight plan from ZZZ to jyo. I approached the sfra from the south and was instructed 'proceed on course under own navigation; and squawk xyyz. I was also instructed to contact leesburg tower and depart the TRACON frequency. A few minutes later I heard calls on guard that an aircraft was violating the sfra/restricted airspace. I was in contact with tower at this point and asked tower if they were referring to me. I believe there was a lack of clarity in the procedures for the sfra and the communications from the controllers to me. Also; as a new pilot; this is a difficult area to fly in because of the sfra and it is fairly easy to get a pilot deviation because of it. Controller instructed me to proceed on course. This was confusing - am I cleared to enter sfra? I have a flight plan on file showing destination leesburg; I am squawking the appropriate code and am in communication with ATC and tower at leesburg. Is this a violation of the sfra? All along that sector; there is a 1;500 ft obstacle to exit the sfra if you are on the eastern side. You have to violate bravo airspace to leave the sfra in that zone.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: GA pilot reported a possible airspace violation in the DC SFRA area due to confusion and miscommunication.
Narrative: I was approaching the DC SFRA on approach to Leesburg. I had a discreet squawk code for my VFR flight plan from ZZZ to JYO. I approached the SFRA from the south and was instructed 'proceed on course under own navigation; and squawk XYYZ. I was also instructed to contact Leesburg Tower and depart the TRACON frequency. A few minutes later I heard calls on guard that an aircraft was violating the SFRA/Restricted airspace. I was in contact with Tower at this point and asked Tower if they were referring to me. I believe there was a lack of clarity in the procedures for the SFRA and the communications from the controllers to me. Also; as a new pilot; this is a difficult area to fly in because of the SFRA and it is fairly easy to get a pilot deviation because of it. Controller instructed me to proceed on course. This was confusing - am I cleared to enter SFRA? I have a flight plan on file showing destination Leesburg; I am squawking the appropriate code and am in communication with ATC and Tower at Leesburg. Is this a violation of the SFRA? All along that sector; there is a 1;500 FT obstacle to exit the SFRA if you are on the eastern side. You have to violate Bravo airspace to leave the SFRA in that zone.
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.