An EMS helicopter receives a late handoff into class D airspace within class C airspace. Being aware...

Attributes
ACN	361263
Time
Date	199702
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1300 msl bound upper : 1300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 3800 flight time type : 2700
ASRS Report	361263
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Feb/xx/97, return flight from EMS helicopter transfer to ZZZ. Called clearance delivery, obtained transponder code XXXX. Ask for departure flying 360 degree heading at 1300 ft MSL, WX was 5BR-few 015 BKN200. Upon level off was to contact approach 119.5. Contacted departure was told of traffic 1200 ft MSL at my 11 O'clock position and 4 mi. Called no joy on traffic. Was told to contact ZZZ approach on 125.35. After initial contact, approach stated 'aircraft #bb, standby.' continuing on course I repeated with 'roger.' ZZZ approach then stated aircraft #bb remain clear of class D airspace. I was already in the keyhole of the class D and was approximately 5 NM from ZZZ AFB. At that time I turned left to a heading of 340 degrees and inquired if the restr areas (X and Y) were hot. They were not and I exited the class D airspace to the northwest. Problem #1: too little time from handoff from zzx departure to ZZZ approach. Should have vectored me to northwest if they couldn't clear me through. Problem #2, upon initial contact, ZZZ approach gave 'call sign and a standby.' I was under the impression as per aim paragraph 3-2-5B I was able to continue on my heading through the class D airspace. Once told to remain clear, I exited as quickly as possible and continued my flight. Improper ATC phraseology contributed to incursion. And late handoff from zzx departure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN EMS HELI RECEIVES A LATE HDOF INTO CLASS D AIRSPACE WITHIN CLASS C AIRSPACE. BEING AWARE OF WHERE HE IS HE FOLLOWS ADVICE OF APCH CTL AND IMMEDIATELY LEAVES THE AREA.

Narrative: FEB/XX/97, RETURN FLT FROM EMS HELI TRANSFER TO ZZZ. CALLED CLRNC DELIVERY, OBTAINED XPONDER CODE XXXX. ASK FOR DEP FLYING 360 DEG HDG AT 1300 FT MSL, WX WAS 5BR-FEW 015 BKN200. UPON LEVEL OFF WAS TO CONTACT APCH 119.5. CONTACTED DEP WAS TOLD OF TFC 1200 FT MSL AT MY 11 O'CLOCK POS AND 4 MI. CALLED NO JOY ON TFC. WAS TOLD TO CONTACT ZZZ APCH ON 125.35. AFTER INITIAL CONTACT, APCH STATED 'ACFT #BB, STANDBY.' CONTINUING ON COURSE I REPEATED WITH 'ROGER.' ZZZ APCH THEN STATED ACFT #BB REMAIN CLR OF CLASS D AIRSPACE. I WAS ALREADY IN THE KEYHOLE OF THE CLASS D AND WAS APPROX 5 NM FROM ZZZ AFB. AT THAT TIME I TURNED L TO A HDG OF 340 DEGS AND INQUIRED IF THE RESTR AREAS (X AND Y) WERE HOT. THEY WERE NOT AND I EXITED THE CLASS D AIRSPACE TO THE NW. PROB #1: TOO LITTLE TIME FROM HDOF FROM ZZX DEP TO ZZZ APCH. SHOULD HAVE VECTORED ME TO NW IF THEY COULDN'T CLR ME THROUGH. PROB #2, UPON INITIAL CONTACT, ZZZ APCH GAVE 'CALL SIGN AND A STANDBY.' I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION AS PER AIM PARAGRAPH 3-2-5B I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE ON MY HEADING THROUGH THE CLASS D AIRSPACE. ONCE TOLD TO REMAIN CLR, I EXITED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND CONTINUED MY FLT. IMPROPER ATC PHRASEOLOGY CONTRIBUTED TO INCURSION. AND LATE HDOF FROM ZZX DEP.

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.

An EMS helicopter receives a late handoff into class D airspace within class C airspace. Being aware of where he is he follows advice of approach control and immediately leaves the area.