Maf controller reported VFR aircraft were allowed to conduct operations in an IFR class C airspace.

Attributes
ACN	1626627
Time
Date	201903
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	MAF.Airport
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft High Wing 1 Eng Fixed Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	VFR Route
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Function	Approach
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 21.0
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural FAR Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Inflight Event / Encounter VFR In IMC

Narrative:

Recently we had a situation where two VFR pipeline aircraft entered our charlie surface area while the surface area was IFR. When questioned by the supervisor the controller's response was that both pilots reported being VFR. Our district has determined that since both aircraft reported being VFR there was no problem with the operation. By this logic I could climb in my aircraft to 19;500 feet and there would be no problem because I am VFR. Simply put; this seems like a dangerous precedent to teach new controllers. What happens when the VFR pilot in an IFR surface area encounters inadvertent IMC and crashes because of it?I have been a controller and a pilot [for many years] and never in my experience has it been okay for an aircraft to operate in an IFR surface area without being either IFR; SVFR or VFR on top. In this instance none of those conditions were met. I believe the district has made an error in interpolation; thank you for your time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MAF Controller reported VFR aircraft were allowed to conduct operations in an IFR Class C airspace.

Narrative: Recently we had a situation where two VFR pipeline aircraft entered our Charlie Surface area while the surface area was IFR. When questioned by the Supervisor the controller's response was that both pilots reported being VFR. Our district has determined that since both aircraft reported being VFR there was no problem with the operation. By this logic I could climb in my aircraft to 19;500 feet and there would be no problem because I am VFR. Simply put; this seems like a dangerous precedent to teach new controllers. What happens when the VFR pilot in an IFR surface area encounters inadvertent IMC and crashes because of it?I have been a controller and a pilot [for many years] and never in my experience has it been okay for an aircraft to operate in an IFR surface area without being either IFR; SVFR or VFR on Top. In this instance none of those conditions were met. I believe the District has made an error in interpolation; thank you for your time.

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.