Narrative:

Reporter is/was aware that TRSA use at bil after 1/1/91 requires mode C operation. On 1/fri/91, reporter took possession of a newly purchased aircraft and was given a chkout/chkride by a local CFI/examiner using the bil TRSA. During this flight, no mention of an inoperative mode C was made by bil approach/departure control. Flight included exit/entry of the TRSA and lndgs at bil. From this experienced, reporter believed mode C operation was satisfactory on aircraft, since no defect was reported by TRSA personnel. On 1/sat/91, departed bil using normal procedures and proceeded south on V187. Departure control reported that mode C was not working and aircraft could/would be reported for further possible violation or corrective action with FAA. Upon arrival at reporter's home base, reporter discovered that mode C capability was not installed on aircraft. Reporter suggests the following to ensure mode operations in the interest of safety are followed: 1) report any aircraft within arsa/TRSA's that do not have mode C returns to the aircraft pilot on a consistent basis. 2) have mode C operational requirement on ATIS or ground control advisories and clrncs to alert pilot that mode C is required. 3) implement check procedures similar to vot signals so that pilots may verify proper mode C operation before entering mode C required airspace, so that safety and regulations will not be violated.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA DEPARTS ARPT AND FLIES INTO ARSA WITHOUT AN OPERATING MODE C TRANSPONDER.

Narrative: RPTR IS/WAS AWARE THAT TRSA USE AT BIL AFTER 1/1/91 REQUIRES MODE C OPERATION. ON 1/FRI/91, RPTR TOOK POSSESSION OF A NEWLY PURCHASED ACFT AND WAS GIVEN A CHKOUT/CHKRIDE BY A LCL CFI/EXAMINER USING THE BIL TRSA. DURING THIS FLT, NO MENTION OF AN INOP MODE C WAS MADE BY BIL APCH/DEP CTL. FLT INCLUDED EXIT/ENTRY OF THE TRSA AND LNDGS AT BIL. FROM THIS EXPERIENCED, RPTR BELIEVED MODE C OPERATION WAS SATISFACTORY ON ACFT, SINCE NO DEFECT WAS RPTED BY TRSA PERSONNEL. ON 1/SAT/91, DEPARTED BIL USING NORMAL PROCS AND PROCEEDED S ON V187. DEP CTL RPTED THAT MODE C WAS NOT WORKING AND ACFT COULD/WOULD BE RPTED FOR FURTHER POSSIBLE VIOLATION OR CORRECTIVE ACTION WITH FAA. UPON ARR AT RPTR'S HOME BASE, RPTR DISCOVERED THAT MODE C CAPABILITY WAS NOT INSTALLED ON ACFT. RPTR SUGGESTS THE FOLLOWING TO ENSURE MODE OPS IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY ARE FOLLOWED: 1) RPT ANY ACFT WITHIN ARSA/TRSA'S THAT DO NOT HAVE MODE C RETURNS TO THE ACFT PLT ON A CONSISTENT BASIS. 2) HAVE MODE C OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENT ON ATIS OR GND CTL ADVISORIES AND CLRNCS TO ALERT PLT THAT MODE C IS REQUIRED. 3) IMPLEMENT CHK PROCS SIMILAR TO VOT SIGNALS SO THAT PLTS MAY VERIFY PROPER MODE C OPERATION BEFORE ENTERING MODE C REQUIRED AIRSPACE, SO THAT SAFETY AND REGS WILL NOT BE VIOLATED.

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.