Narrative:

A VFR flight was being conducted with continuous flight following with appropriate ctrs and approach controllers from ZZZ to shv, la. The PIC was using current charts and has EFIS HSI and GPS moving maps showing there would be a period when he would be going through an MOA. The center controller did not make any comment about it being active and it is the understanding of the PIC according to far 3-4-5 MOA's there would be no problem crossing it while under radar contact. Shortly after entering the MOA, the controller advised the PIC the area was active and declined radar separation until out of the area. The PIC offered to change to IFR rules but was told he would be shortly out of the area and it would be necessary to make a substantial route and altitude deviation to obtain an IFR flight clearance and clear the MOA. The PIC elected to continue through the area, never saw another aircraft and continued uneventfully to his destination. The PIC has flown for over 45 yrs in a part of the country with many MOA's and always files IFR or with flight following all over the united states. For this trip a duats IFR flight plan was filed for this trip but was not found by clearance delivery. The WX was completely clear for the entire route so the PIC felt flight following was sufficient and proceeded without waiting for a new flight plan to be processed. This was the first time the PIC felt the controller was not particularly helpful in suggesting a route change if he (the controller) recommended it before entering the area. The PIC is aware it is his responsibility to check but these areas go from active to inactive very quickly and it has been his experience the center controllers have kept him informed and offered alternative rtes if advisable.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT ENTERS MOA.

Narrative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

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.