Small aircraft on IFR flight plan vectored through den airspace rather than filed route.

Attributes
ACN	315289
Time
Date	199509
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hbu
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 18000 msl bound upper : 18000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv tracon : den
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	315289
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

This flight was one of my first involving the new den IFR procedures. I filed fnl direct to hbu direct fmn. The initial leg, via GPS, would not have come close to den airspace. Instead, I was given a sequence of different vectors, by various controllers, through den airspace toward cos, then told I was off course. All the time I had my position, via GPS, off hbu. I then requested vectors to wherever the current controller wanted me. (By this time I had been diverted in various directions other than a direct routing -- all I wanted to do was get on to hbu.) this was accomplished easily and the flight continued with no difficulties other than some minor icing. The den airspace, in my opinion, has not ever been nearly as busy as proclaimed. It is even less now with the den boondoggle encouraging passenger to drive to colorado springs. The purpose of this report is to suggest that direct routings, such as I requested, be granted whenever feasible. Only confusion is attained by vectoring aircraft right through the den area when it is not necessary. The IFR routing scenario needs re-evaluation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ON IFR FLT PLAN VECTORED THROUGH DEN AIRSPACE RATHER THAN FILED RTE.

Narrative: THIS FLT WAS ONE OF MY FIRST INVOLVING THE NEW DEN IFR PROCS. I FILED FNL DIRECT TO HBU DIRECT FMN. THE INITIAL LEG, VIA GPS, WOULD NOT HAVE COME CLOSE TO DEN AIRSPACE. INSTEAD, I WAS GIVEN A SEQUENCE OF DIFFERENT VECTORS, BY VARIOUS CTLRS, THROUGH DEN AIRSPACE TOWARD COS, THEN TOLD I WAS OFF COURSE. ALL THE TIME I HAD MY POS, VIA GPS, OFF HBU. I THEN REQUESTED VECTORS TO WHEREVER THE CURRENT CTLR WANTED ME. (BY THIS TIME I HAD BEEN DIVERTED IN VARIOUS DIRECTIONS OTHER THAN A DIRECT ROUTING -- ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS GET ON TO HBU.) THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED EASILY AND THE FLT CONTINUED WITH NO DIFFICULTIES OTHER THAN SOME MINOR ICING. THE DEN AIRSPACE, IN MY OPINION, HAS NOT EVER BEEN NEARLY AS BUSY AS PROCLAIMED. IT IS EVEN LESS NOW WITH THE DEN BOONDOGGLE ENCOURAGING PAX TO DRIVE TO COLORADO SPRINGS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS RPT IS TO SUGGEST THAT DIRECT ROUTINGS, SUCH AS I REQUESTED, BE GRANTED WHENEVER FEASIBLE. ONLY CONFUSION IS ATTAINED BY VECTORING ACFT RIGHT THROUGH THE DEN AREA WHEN IT IS NOT NECESSARY. THE IFR ROUTING SCENARIO NEEDS RE-EVALUATION.

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.