Narrative:

We were on the vcn 7 arrival to the phl airport. On ATIS, noted parachute jumping in progress north of vcn VOR -- very common occurrence. This time after checking in with approach control, we heard on the frequency an exchange between an aircraft and approach control. Approach advised the other aircraft that he would be unable to clear all the aircraft out from his jump zone. Unsure of the response. Shortly thereafter, we were just north of the vcn VOR on assigned heading 350 degrees level at 8000 ft when my first officer observed TCASII traffic 12 O'clock 5 NM 6000 ft above. We asked approach control if that was the aircraft with parachute jumpers. Approach responded yes, and asked if we wanted a vector. After a yes response we were given 20 degrees left, then observed the other aircraft visually going over the top of us. We did not observe any parachute jumping activity. After we were clear of any potential jumping activity, we were reclred back on course and approach control requested that we advise our safety representatives of our concerns as this goes on all the time in philadelphia. This area is on the arrival but outside class B airspace so apparently there is nothing ATC can do about it. It is, however, right in the middle of a very heavily traveled corridor of air carrier aircraft. The other aircraft was not a factor at all, but I sure don't want to have to dodge parachute jumpers much less hit one of them. Phl ATIS commonly notes parachute jumping not only on the vcn 7 arrival but also 5 NM north of the pottstown VOR. This is a very traveled corridor for departures going nwbound. I am speculating that this is some sort of school or club. I have no interest in eliminating parachute jumping activity, but common sense dictates that they find a little less busy place to do it.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR REQUESTS VECTORS CLR OF PARACHUTE JUMPING OP NEAR PHL.

Narrative: WE WERE ON THE VCN 7 ARR TO THE PHL ARPT. ON ATIS, NOTED PARACHUTE JUMPING IN PROGRESS N OF VCN VOR -- VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE. THIS TIME AFTER CHKING IN WITH APCH CTL, WE HEARD ON THE FREQ AN EXCHANGE BTWN AN ACFT AND APCH CTL. APCH ADVISED THE OTHER ACFT THAT HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO CLR ALL THE ACFT OUT FROM HIS JUMP ZONE. UNSURE OF THE RESPONSE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE WERE JUST N OF THE VCN VOR ON ASSIGNED HDG 350 DEGS LEVEL AT 8000 FT WHEN MY FO OBSERVED TCASII TFC 12 O'CLOCK 5 NM 6000 FT ABOVE. WE ASKED APCH CTL IF THAT WAS THE ACFT WITH PARACHUTE JUMPERS. APCH RESPONDED YES, AND ASKED IF WE WANTED A VECTOR. AFTER A YES RESPONSE WE WERE GIVEN 20 DEGS L, THEN OBSERVED THE OTHER ACFT VISUALLY GOING OVER THE TOP OF US. WE DID NOT OBSERVE ANY PARACHUTE JUMPING ACTIVITY. AFTER WE WERE CLR OF ANY POTENTIAL JUMPING ACTIVITY, WE WERE RECLRED BACK ON COURSE AND APCH CTL REQUESTED THAT WE ADVISE OUR SAFETY REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR CONCERNS AS THIS GOES ON ALL THE TIME IN PHILADELPHIA. THIS AREA IS ON THE ARR BUT OUTSIDE CLASS B AIRSPACE SO APPARENTLY THERE IS NOTHING ATC CAN DO ABOUT IT. IT IS, HOWEVER, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY HEAVILY TRAVELED CORRIDOR OF ACR ACFT. THE OTHER ACFT WAS NOT A FACTOR AT ALL, BUT I SURE DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO DODGE PARACHUTE JUMPERS MUCH LESS HIT ONE OF THEM. PHL ATIS COMMONLY NOTES PARACHUTE JUMPING NOT ONLY ON THE VCN 7 ARR BUT ALSO 5 NM N OF THE POTTSTOWN VOR. THIS IS A VERY TRAVELED CORRIDOR FOR DEPS GOING NWBOUND. I AM SPECULATING THAT THIS IS SOME SORT OF SCHOOL OR CLUB. I HAVE NO INTEREST IN ELIMINATING PARACHUTE JUMPING ACTIVITY, BUT COMMON SENSE DICTATES THAT THEY FIND A LITTLE LESS BUSY PLACE TO DO IT.

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.