Instructor pilot of an sel small aircraft penetrated class B airspace due to a misunderstanding of t...

Attributes
ACN	421719
Time
Date	199812
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : apa
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8500 msl bound upper : 8500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 55 flight time total : 1949 flight time type : 117
ASRS Report	421719
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I inadvertently entered the class B airspace for den. I did so based on my incorrect assumption that once I was talking to den approach (on 128.25) they would automatically clear me into the airspace as I approached it. Since I was talking to approach prior to the mode C veil, and while flying under a section of class B airspace with a 10000 ft MSL floor, I thought the controller would monitor my approach to the section with an 8000 ft floor. When I did not receive a clearance, I asked the controller to confirm my clearance into class B airspace and he responded 'negative, depart class B airspace immediately.' I then rapidly descended below 8000 ft MSL and continued my flight to centennial airport without further incident. The previous evening I had specifically reviewed the procedures for entering class B airspace as described in the aim. While the aim is very clear that clearance is required prior to entering class B airspace, the second sentence of paragraph 3-2-3,D,2,a confused me. It stated '...communications with ATC should be established in relation to the points indicated for spacing and sequencing purposes.' this led me to believe the controller would monitor my position in relation to class B airspace and either advise me that I was approaching the airspace or automatically clear me into it. I may be the only person confused by this statement, but if not, I have a suggestion. I suggest the following sentence be added to that paragraph: 'contact with ATC prior to penetrating the mode C veil, or operating beneath the class B airspace does not relieve the pilot of the responsibility to request clearance into class B airspace if flight into a portion of that airspace is anticipated.' I will be much more vigilant in my next flts in and near class B airspace, and I appreciate your consideration of my suggestion.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INSTRUCTOR PLT OF AN SEL SMA PENETRATED CLASS B AIRSPACE DUE TO A MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE ATC PROCS FOR OBTAINING ACTUAL CLRNC INTO THE AIRSPACE. HE IMMEDIATELY DSNDED OUT OF THE AIRSPACE WHEN THE CTLR ADVISED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE CLRNC.

Narrative: I INADVERTENTLY ENTERED THE CLASS B AIRSPACE FOR DEN. I DID SO BASED ON MY INCORRECT ASSUMPTION THAT ONCE I WAS TALKING TO DEN APCH (ON 128.25) THEY WOULD AUTOMATICALLY CLR ME INTO THE AIRSPACE AS I APCHED IT. SINCE I WAS TALKING TO APCH PRIOR TO THE MODE C VEIL, AND WHILE FLYING UNDER A SECTION OF CLASS B AIRSPACE WITH A 10000 FT MSL FLOOR, I THOUGHT THE CTLR WOULD MONITOR MY APCH TO THE SECTION WITH AN 8000 FT FLOOR. WHEN I DID NOT RECEIVE A CLRNC, I ASKED THE CTLR TO CONFIRM MY CLRNC INTO CLASS B AIRSPACE AND HE RESPONDED 'NEGATIVE, DEPART CLASS B AIRSPACE IMMEDIATELY.' I THEN RAPIDLY DSNDED BELOW 8000 FT MSL AND CONTINUED MY FLT TO CENTENNIAL ARPT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE PREVIOUS EVENING I HAD SPECIFICALLY REVIEWED THE PROCS FOR ENTERING CLASS B AIRSPACE AS DESCRIBED IN THE AIM. WHILE THE AIM IS VERY CLR THAT CLRNC IS REQUIRED PRIOR TO ENTERING CLASS B AIRSPACE, THE SECOND SENTENCE OF PARAGRAPH 3-2-3,D,2,A CONFUSED ME. IT STATED '...COMS WITH ATC SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED IN RELATION TO THE POINTS INDICATED FOR SPACING AND SEQUENCING PURPOSES.' THIS LED ME TO BELIEVE THE CTLR WOULD MONITOR MY POS IN RELATION TO CLASS B AIRSPACE AND EITHER ADVISE ME THAT I WAS APCHING THE AIRSPACE OR AUTOMATICALLY CLR ME INTO IT. I MAY BE THE ONLY PERSON CONFUSED BY THIS STATEMENT, BUT IF NOT, I HAVE A SUGGESTION. I SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE BE ADDED TO THAT PARAGRAPH: 'CONTACT WITH ATC PRIOR TO PENETRATING THE MODE C VEIL, OR OPERATING BENEATH THE CLASS B AIRSPACE DOES NOT RELIEVE THE PLT OF THE RESPONSIBILITY TO REQUEST CLRNC INTO CLASS B AIRSPACE IF FLT INTO A PORTION OF THAT AIRSPACE IS ANTICIPATED.' I WILL BE MUCH MORE VIGILANT IN MY NEXT FLTS IN AND NEAR CLASS B AIRSPACE, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION OF MY SUGGESTION.

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.

Instructor pilot of an sel small aircraft penetrated class B airspace due to a misunderstanding of the ATC procedures for obtaining actual clearance into the airspace. He immediately descended out of the airspace when the controller advised that he did not have clearance.