Narrative:

We departed macon, GA (mcn), then activated a VFR flight plan to gainesville, GA (gvl). I had planned to straight climb to 12500 ft MSL to avoid the atlanta class B airspace. Macon approach kept us low for traffic then climbed us to 10500 ft MSL, terminating radar out of 10000 ft MSL. We called atl approach for flight following, but was unable to get it because he was busy. He did advise us of an arrival corridor and crossing traffic at 11000 ft MSL. He suggested that we turn east and contact ZTL. Upon contact with ZTL he advised us to remain clear of class B airspace. I elected to climb to 12500 ft MSL to be above class B. We were still clear of class B at this time. I was using VOR and DME to keep clear of class B. I do not know if it was my equipment or the ground based equipment but we were getting intermittent and erratic readings. When the climb started we were clear, but before the climb ended it showed us just on the edge of class B. I'm not sure due to the DME readings if we violated the airspace. To the best of my knowledge there was no traffic conflict. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter was called for counseling purposes regarding legality of flying close to TCA airspace. He was asked what clrncs he tries to maintain during crossing or fly-by, and he stated he would not use the top first officer the TCA altitude for his cruise altitude, nor would he fly purposely close to the edge of it. He also stated that his intent was to climb to 13500 ft but was restr in climb by TRACON. He has now changed his procedures when flying in areas that have TCA's. His new procedure is to fly under IFR control at all times. Analyst suspects he is determined not to let another incident like this one happen again.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLASS B AIRSPACE INCURSION.

Narrative: WE DEPARTED MACON, GA (MCN), THEN ACTIVATED A VFR FLT PLAN TO GAINESVILLE, GA (GVL). I HAD PLANNED TO STRAIGHT CLB TO 12500 FT MSL TO AVOID THE ATLANTA CLASS B AIRSPACE. MACON APCH KEPT US LOW FOR TFC THEN CLBED US TO 10500 FT MSL, TERMINATING RADAR OUT OF 10000 FT MSL. WE CALLED ATL APCH FOR FLT FOLLOWING, BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET IT BECAUSE HE WAS BUSY. HE DID ADVISE US OF AN ARR CORRIDOR AND XING TFC AT 11000 FT MSL. HE SUGGESTED THAT WE TURN E AND CONTACT ZTL. UPON CONTACT WITH ZTL HE ADVISED US TO REMAIN CLR OF CLASS B AIRSPACE. I ELECTED TO CLB TO 12500 FT MSL TO BE ABOVE CLASS B. WE WERE STILL CLR OF CLASS B AT THIS TIME. I WAS USING VOR AND DME TO KEEP CLR OF CLASS B. I DO NOT KNOW IF IT WAS MY EQUIP OR THE GND BASED EQUIP BUT WE WERE GETTING INTERMITTENT AND ERRATIC READINGS. WHEN THE CLB STARTED WE WERE CLR, BUT BEFORE THE CLB ENDED IT SHOWED US JUST ON THE EDGE OF CLASS B. I'M NOT SURE DUE TO THE DME READINGS IF WE VIOLATED THE AIRSPACE. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE THERE WAS NO TFC CONFLICT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR WAS CALLED FOR COUNSELING PURPOSES REGARDING LEGALITY OF FLYING CLOSE TO TCA AIRSPACE. HE WAS ASKED WHAT CLRNCS HE TRIES TO MAINTAIN DURING XING OR FLY-BY, AND HE STATED HE WOULD NOT USE THE TOP FO THE TCA ALT FOR HIS CRUISE ALT, NOR WOULD HE FLY PURPOSELY CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF IT. HE ALSO STATED THAT HIS INTENT WAS TO CLB TO 13500 FT BUT WAS RESTR IN CLB BY TRACON. HE HAS NOW CHANGED HIS PROCS WHEN FLYING IN AREAS THAT HAVE TCA'S. HIS NEW PROC IS TO FLY UNDER IFR CTL AT ALL TIMES. ANALYST SUSPECTS HE IS DETERMINED NOT TO LET ANOTHER INCIDENT LIKE THIS ONE HAPPEN AGAIN.

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.