Air carrier X radar service was terminated in the class B airspace.

Attributes
ACN	284352
Time
Date	199409
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : iad
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8500 msl bound upper : 8500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iad
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 6200 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	284352
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

A VFR clearance was requested and received for a flight at 15500 ft iad-phl. Departure clearance was for 'runway heading 3000.' upon our departure we were subsequently handed off to iad departure. I stated that we were 'runway heading, through (?) altitude for 3000.' the controller replied, 'air carrier X radar contact, proceed on course, climb to requested altitude.' I read back 'X proceed on course up to 15500 ft.' climbing through 8500 ft the controller stated that he could not effect a handoff with washington above 5500 ft, and to 'state intentions.' I replied that I would like to continue the climb to 15500 ft and proceed without advisories if that were the case. The controller responded, radar service terminated, suggest you try washington frequency XXX. I replied that it was my understanding that the class B ceiling was 10000 ft (we were still below 10000 ft). His response was that the ceiling of the class B for dulles was 8500 ft. I advised again that it was my understanding that the ceiling of the class B airspace was 10000 ft and that I was still currently in the class B, and inquired as to what my 'situation' was. The controller's response was that 'he could not answer any more questions' and that he had 'higher priority phone calls to make.' with the controller's attitude and tone of response, we became very aware that he did not wish to communication further with our flight. We then contacted washington approach. For reasons unknown to us, this controller had terminated control within the limits of the class B.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X RADAR SVC WAS TERMINATED IN THE CLASS B AIRSPACE.

Narrative: A VFR CLRNC WAS REQUESTED AND RECEIVED FOR A FLT AT 15500 FT IAD-PHL. DEP CLRNC WAS FOR 'RWY HDG 3000.' UPON OUR DEP WE WERE SUBSEQUENTLY HANDED OFF TO IAD DEP. I STATED THAT WE WERE 'RWY HDG, THROUGH (?) ALT FOR 3000.' THE CTLR REPLIED, 'ACR X RADAR CONTACT, PROCEED ON COURSE, CLB TO REQUESTED ALT.' I READ BACK 'X PROCEED ON COURSE UP TO 15500 FT.' CLBING THROUGH 8500 FT THE CTLR STATED THAT HE COULD NOT EFFECT A HDOF WITH WASHINGTON ABOVE 5500 FT, AND TO 'STATE INTENTIONS.' I REPLIED THAT I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE THE CLB TO 15500 FT AND PROCEED WITHOUT ADVISORIES IF THAT WERE THE CASE. THE CTLR RESPONDED, RADAR SVC TERMINATED, SUGGEST YOU TRY WASHINGTON FREQ XXX. I REPLIED THAT IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CLASS B CEILING WAS 10000 FT (WE WERE STILL BELOW 10000 FT). HIS RESPONSE WAS THAT THE CEILING OF THE CLASS B FOR DULLES WAS 8500 FT. I ADVISED AGAIN THAT IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CEILING OF THE CLASS B AIRSPACE WAS 10000 FT AND THAT I WAS STILL CURRENTLY IN THE CLASS B, AND INQUIRED AS TO WHAT MY 'SIT' WAS. THE CTLR'S RESPONSE WAS THAT 'HE COULD NOT ANSWER ANY MORE QUESTIONS' AND THAT HE HAD 'HIGHER PRIORITY PHONE CALLS TO MAKE.' WITH THE CTLR'S ATTITUDE AND TONE OF RESPONSE, WE BECAME VERY AWARE THAT HE DID NOT WISH TO COM FURTHER WITH OUR FLT. WE THEN CONTACTED WASHINGTON APCH. FOR REASONS UNKNOWN TO US, THIS CTLR HAD TERMINATED CTL WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE CLASS B.

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.