First officer on a north american B25 world war bomber, complained about the captain flying the VFR corridor between the bwi and dca class B airspace rather than obtain clearance through the airspace.

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Attributes
ACN	446920
Time
Date	199908
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bwi.airport
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl single value : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bwi.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Rockwell North American Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 7900 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	446920
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Airspace Structure

Narrative:

Departed esn on a 30 min flight to fdk for an air show scheduled for that weekend. I was in the right seat navigating. PIC declined my suggestion to request clearance through bwi class B airspace. Instead he opted to use the VFR corridor located between bwi and dca. PIC was very familiar with the area and contrary to my suggestions insisted on hugging the northern edge of the corridor. Even using the current terminal chart, I had considerable difficulty providing visual navigation due to lack of visual landmarks. There is no usable NAVAID to transit the VFR corridor. As best I can determine we remained clear of the class B airspace, but not by much, perhaps 3/4 to 1 mi. PIC did make the concession of descending to 1400 ft when I repeatedly expressed my concern at the close proximity to controled airspace, which truly was no concession at all. A discussion after the flight with the PIC hopefully will preclude this from happening again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FO ON A NORTH AMERICAN B25 WORLD WAR BOMBER, COMPLAINED ABOUT THE CAPT FLYING THE VFR CORRIDOR BTWN THE BWI AND DCA CLASS B AIRSPACE RATHER THAN OBTAIN CLRNC THROUGH THE AIRSPACE.

Narrative: DEPARTED ESN ON A 30 MIN FLT TO FDK FOR AN AIR SHOW SCHEDULED FOR THAT WEEKEND. I WAS IN THE R SEAT NAVING. PIC DECLINED MY SUGGESTION TO REQUEST CLRNC THROUGH BWI CLASS B AIRSPACE. INSTEAD HE OPTED TO USE THE VFR CORRIDOR LOCATED BTWN BWI AND DCA. PIC WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA AND CONTRARY TO MY SUGGESTIONS INSISTED ON HUGGING THE NORTHERN EDGE OF THE CORRIDOR. EVEN USING THE CURRENT TERMINAL CHART, I HAD CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTY PROVIDING VISUAL NAV DUE TO LACK OF VISUAL LANDMARKS. THERE IS NO USABLE NAVAID TO TRANSIT THE VFR CORRIDOR. AS BEST I CAN DETERMINE WE REMAINED CLR OF THE CLASS B AIRSPACE, BUT NOT BY MUCH, PERHAPS 3/4 TO 1 MI. PIC DID MAKE THE CONCESSION OF DSNDING TO 1400 FT WHEN I REPEATEDLY EXPRESSED MY CONCERN AT THE CLOSE PROX TO CTLED AIRSPACE, WHICH TRULY WAS NO CONCESSION AT ALL. A DISCUSSION AFTER THE FLT WITH THE PIC HOPEFULLY WILL PRECLUDE THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.

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.