Potential airspace intrusion.

Attributes
ACN	316140
Time
Date	199509
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hvn
State Reference	CT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90 tower : hvn tower : mci
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 1950 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	316140
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other other

Narrative:

On initial contact with ny approach on 127.95 the controller told me to remain clear of what I understood as 'class B airspace.' since the ny class B airspace was nowhere near my flight path I replied I would remain clear. After a change in controller on the same frequency I was advised to contact new haven if I was going to go through their class D airspace. My instruments showed me above and slightly south of new haven's airspace. I would have been even more aware of new haven's airspace if the first controller had said 'delta airspace or bravo airspace.' neither controller used the phonetic alphabet. B and D sound too much alike. The phonetic alphabet should always be used in describing airspace.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: POTENTIAL AIRSPACE INTRUSION.

Narrative: ON INITIAL CONTACT WITH NY APCH ON 127.95 THE CTLR TOLD ME TO REMAIN CLR OF WHAT I UNDERSTOOD AS 'CLASS B AIRSPACE.' SINCE THE NY CLASS B AIRSPACE WAS NOWHERE NEAR MY FLT PATH I REPLIED I WOULD REMAIN CLR. AFTER A CHANGE IN CTLR ON THE SAME FREQ I WAS ADVISED TO CONTACT NEW HAVEN IF I WAS GOING TO GO THROUGH THEIR CLASS D AIRSPACE. MY INSTS SHOWED ME ABOVE AND SLIGHTLY S OF NEW HAVEN'S AIRSPACE. I WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN MORE AWARE OF NEW HAVEN'S AIRSPACE IF THE FIRST CTLR HAD SAID 'DELTA AIRSPACE OR BRAVO AIRSPACE.' NEITHER CTLR USED THE PHONETIC ALPHABET. B AND D SOUND TOO MUCH ALIKE. THE PHONETIC ALPHABET SHOULD ALWAYS BE USED IN DESCRIBING AIRSPACE.

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.