Unauthorized uncoordinated penetration of airspace when descending traffic enters TCA.

Attributes
ACN	193120
Time
Date	199110
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bwi
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 12500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bwi
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	approach : visual enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 3900 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	193120
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flying VFR from teb to bwi at 12500 ft MSL. Handed off to bwi approach. I checked in 'leaving 12500 ft VFR with ATIS.' approach responded, 'roger, expect runway 33R.' I know that I'm landing bwi, so does he. I took this to mean that I was cleared into the TCA. Leaving 5000 ft (15 mi northeast of bwi) I call the airport in sight. The controller responds, 'roger, you are cleared into the TCA, enter right traffic runway 33R.' by this point I had descended well through the TCA (I assume without clearance). No conflict or further discussion was made and I contacted the tower. I am disturbed by the impression that the controller knew full well my intentions of landing bwi, knew that I was descending, had a very light workload, and still did not issue me a TCA clearance as a matter of course (and as usually happens). Instead, he replied to my initial contact with 'expect 33R' which would indicate approval to maneuver VFR for the field. If controllers try to trip pilots up rather than work with them, as this incident illustrates, they will not have to try very hard.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNAUTHORIZED UNCOORDINATED PENETRATION OF AIRSPACE WHEN DSNDING TFC ENTERS TCA.

Narrative: FLYING VFR FROM TEB TO BWI AT 12500 FT MSL. HANDED OFF TO BWI APCH. I CHKED IN 'LEAVING 12500 FT VFR WITH ATIS.' APCH RESPONDED, 'ROGER, EXPECT RWY 33R.' I KNOW THAT I'M LNDG BWI, SO DOES HE. I TOOK THIS TO MEAN THAT I WAS CLRED INTO THE TCA. LEAVING 5000 FT (15 MI NE OF BWI) I CALL THE ARPT IN SIGHT. THE CTLR RESPONDS, 'ROGER, YOU ARE CLRED INTO THE TCA, ENTER R TFC RWY 33R.' BY THIS POINT I HAD DSNDED WELL THROUGH THE TCA (I ASSUME WITHOUT CLRNC). NO CONFLICT OR FURTHER DISCUSSION WAS MADE AND I CONTACTED THE TWR. I AM DISTURBED BY THE IMPRESSION THAT THE CTLR KNEW FULL WELL MY INTENTIONS OF LNDG BWI, KNEW THAT I WAS DSNDING, HAD A VERY LIGHT WORKLOAD, AND STILL DID NOT ISSUE ME A TCA CLRNC AS A MATTER OF COURSE (AND AS USUALLY HAPPENS). INSTEAD, HE REPLIED TO MY INITIAL CONTACT WITH 'EXPECT 33R' WHICH WOULD INDICATE APPROVAL TO MANEUVER VFR FOR THE FIELD. IF CTLRS TRY TO TRIP PLTS UP RATHER THAN WORK WITH THEM, AS THIS INCIDENT ILLUSTRATES, THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO TRY VERY HARD.

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.