Instructor with student practicing ILS approach has altitude deviation above and below assigned.

Attributes
ACN	380660
Time
Date	199709
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hef
State Reference	VA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iad
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 1100 flight time type : 120
ASRS Report	380660
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While in class east airspace, we requested a practice ILS approach into hef from dulles approach. Dulles gave us a squawk code and a vector to fly. They also said to expect vectors to ILS runway 16L hef. However, the controller did not officially clear us into the class B airspace. Before entering the class B airspace I asked the controller twice to verify that we were cleared into the class B, but he did not respond. Assuming we were cleared, we continued our course. The controller subsequently gave us additional vectors until he cleared us for the approach. In addition, while being vectored, my student (who was wearing a view limiting device) allowed his altitude to deviate more than 100 ft several times. It's inevitable that students are going to deviate from assigned headings and altitudes and I think it's unreasonable to constantly badger them and intervene to correct them. We must sometimes let them discover their own mistakes.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INSTRUCTOR WITH STUDENT PRACTICING ILS APCH HAS ALTDEV ABOVE AND BELOW ASSIGNED.

Narrative: WHILE IN CLASS E AIRSPACE, WE REQUESTED A PRACTICE ILS APCH INTO HEF FROM DULLES APCH. DULLES GAVE US A SQUAWK CODE AND A VECTOR TO FLY. THEY ALSO SAID TO EXPECT VECTORS TO ILS RWY 16L HEF. HOWEVER, THE CTLR DID NOT OFFICIALLY CLR US INTO THE CLASS B AIRSPACE. BEFORE ENTERING THE CLASS B AIRSPACE I ASKED THE CTLR TWICE TO VERIFY THAT WE WERE CLRED INTO THE CLASS B, BUT HE DID NOT RESPOND. ASSUMING WE WERE CLRED, WE CONTINUED OUR COURSE. THE CTLR SUBSEQUENTLY GAVE US ADDITIONAL VECTORS UNTIL HE CLRED US FOR THE APCH. IN ADDITION, WHILE BEING VECTORED, MY STUDENT (WHO WAS WEARING A VIEW LIMITING DEVICE) ALLOWED HIS ALT TO DEVIATE MORE THAN 100 FT SEVERAL TIMES. IT'S INEVITABLE THAT STUDENTS ARE GOING TO DEVIATE FROM ASSIGNED HDGS AND ALTS AND I THINK IT'S UNREASONABLE TO CONSTANTLY BADGER THEM AND INTERVENE TO CORRECT THEM. WE MUST SOMETIMES LET THEM DISCOVER THEIR OWN MISTAKES.

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.