Narrative:

FARS require that we remain above the designated floors of a TCA when approaching to land at the primary airport of a TCA. In this instance we needed to be at 5000 or higher until within 20 mi of the airport. At 30 mi we were told to descend to 3000. I told the captain that the controller's instruction would put us below the TCA. He ordered that we descend anyway and said since it was IFR he really didn't think it mattered. We were under the TCA for 6 mi before reentering. The big problem is that I have received numerous such clrncs this month in both memphis and new orleans, in both VFR and IFR conditions. Before this month I have flown in the detroit and cleveland TCAS without such problems. Until this time I have not had experience with memphis or new orleans. Upon questioning, however, 1 controller recently admitted we were absolutely right and he should not have descended us below the TCA. I believe this is a dangerous practice as VFR helicopters may be operating below the TCA in what would be considered IFR conditions to most fixed wing pilots.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER FO COMPLAINS THAT APCH CTLRS ARE DSNDING THEM THROUGH THE FLOOR OF THE TCA ON ARR.

Narrative: FARS REQUIRE THAT WE REMAIN ABOVE THE DESIGNATED FLOORS OF A TCA WHEN APCHING TO LAND AT THE PRIMARY ARPT OF A TCA. IN THIS INSTANCE WE NEEDED TO BE AT 5000 OR HIGHER UNTIL WITHIN 20 MI OF THE ARPT. AT 30 MI WE WERE TOLD TO DSND TO 3000. I TOLD THE CAPT THAT THE CTLR'S INSTRUCTION WOULD PUT US BELOW THE TCA. HE ORDERED THAT WE DSND ANYWAY AND SAID SINCE IT WAS IFR HE REALLY DIDN'T THINK IT MATTERED. WE WERE UNDER THE TCA FOR 6 MI BEFORE REENTERING. THE BIG PROBLEM IS THAT I HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS SUCH CLRNCS THIS MONTH IN BOTH MEMPHIS AND NEW ORLEANS, IN BOTH VFR AND IFR CONDITIONS. BEFORE THIS MONTH I HAVE FLOWN IN THE DETROIT AND CLEVELAND TCAS WITHOUT SUCH PROBLEMS. UNTIL THIS TIME I HAVE NOT HAD EXPERIENCE WITH MEMPHIS OR NEW ORLEANS. UPON QUESTIONING, HOWEVER, 1 CTLR RECENTLY ADMITTED WE WERE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT AND HE SHOULD NOT HAVE DSNDED US BELOW THE TCA. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DANGEROUS PRACTICE AS VFR HELIS MAY BE OPERATING BELOW THE TCA IN WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED IFR CONDITIONS TO MOST FIXED WING PLTS.

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.