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A silvaire 8A pilot using a handheld VHF has problems citing tower's claim of weak transmission, getting permission for entry into the class D of apa, co.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 537736 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200202 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : apa.airport |
| State Reference | CO |
| Altitude | msl single value : 8000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Dusk |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : apa.tower |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Silvaire Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level descent : approach |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time total : 1800 flight time type : 330 |
| ASRS Report | 537736 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : local |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Airspace Structure Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft ATC Facility ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Facility |
Narrative:
Flew from texas to apa, co. Used handheld GPS and handheld comrdo. No electrical system, no transponder, no lights, but fuel stop was lamar, co. Approached apa at 8000 ft MSL to stay under class B airspace. Called apa tower from 15, 12, 10, 7, and 5 mi out. After each call, apa tower replied 'aircraft calling, radio unreadable, remain clear of class D airspace.' there was not enough daylight remaining to fly to another airport. So I remained at 8000 ft MSL, 1100 ft higher than tropic patterns and approached to within 3 mi of apa and successfully made radio contact and was cleared to land. No issues upon the landing. While I had been attempting to make radio contact on my handheld communication radio from 10 mi out, I heard 2 other aircraft give weak but clear xmissions to apa tower. They were also denied access to class D airspace. I have used this handheld before with no problems. I had fresh batteries in the radio. Lesson: I think the tower was too picky about weak but clear radio xmissions. I believe my actions were warranted given the time of day and approaching dusk.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A SILVAIRE 8A PLT USING A HANDHELD VHF HAS PROBS CITING TWR'S CLAIM OF WEAK XMISSION, GETTING PERMISSION FOR ENTRY INTO THE CLASS D OF APA, CO.
Narrative: FLEW FROM TEXAS TO APA, CO. USED HANDHELD GPS AND HANDHELD COMRDO. NO ELECTRICAL SYS, NO XPONDER, NO LIGHTS, BUT FUEL STOP WAS LAMAR, CO. APCHED APA AT 8000 FT MSL TO STAY UNDER CLASS B AIRSPACE. CALLED APA TWR FROM 15, 12, 10, 7, AND 5 MI OUT. AFTER EACH CALL, APA TWR REPLIED 'ACFT CALLING, RADIO UNREADABLE, REMAIN CLR OF CLASS D AIRSPACE.' THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH DAYLIGHT REMAINING TO FLY TO ANOTHER ARPT. SO I REMAINED AT 8000 FT MSL, 1100 FT HIGHER THAN TROPIC PATTERNS AND APCHED TO WITHIN 3 MI OF APA AND SUCCESSFULLY MADE RADIO CONTACT AND WAS CLRED TO LAND. NO ISSUES UPON THE LNDG. WHILE I HAD BEEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE RADIO CONTACT ON MY HANDHELD COM RADIO FROM 10 MI OUT, I HEARD 2 OTHER ACFT GIVE WEAK BUT CLR XMISSIONS TO APA TWR. THEY WERE ALSO DENIED ACCESS TO CLASS D AIRSPACE. I HAVE USED THIS HANDHELD BEFORE WITH NO PROBS. I HAD FRESH BATTERIES IN THE RADIO. LESSON: I THINK THE TWR WAS TOO PICKY ABOUT WEAK BUT CLR RADIO XMISSIONS. I BELIEVE MY ACTIONS WERE WARRANTED GIVEN THE TIME OF DAY AND APCHING DUSK.
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.