Narrative:

New procedures were implemented for washington ADIZ for special airports including martin state, which includes the following: pilots shall fly the most direct route out of the ADIZ. Our training flight departed martin following the prescribed procedures. As the NOTAM says, we flew directly to westminster VOR. Upon reaching our destination of carroll county airport, we were informed by ground personnel to contact potomac. We were told by potomac that we're in violation for not flying the quickest route out of the ADIZ. Meaning to fly directly north of martin state, or directly southeast. However, as a pilot, the definition of direct is to fly the shortest distance between 2 points, without deviating from that course, so as interpreted by many pilots, we flew the most direct route to westminster. Problems with the current system include: 1) the ambiguity of the wording 'most direct.' 2) no statements are made on what is the most direct route out of the ADIZ. 3) the same route was completed the night before, and was never told that a deviation had occurred. 4) we monitored the appropriate potomac frequency, but was never advised that we were deviating from the intent of the NOTAM. To conclude, I feel that future violations can be minimized if the wording of the NOTAM is changed, so that there leaves no room for interpretation. I understand that these current procedures are a test, and as a pilot operating from within the ADIZ, I want them to be successful. I hope my statement shows that NOTAMS of this magnitude should be worded very clear, so that mistakes will not be made.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INSTRUCTOR PLT OF C152 USES INTERP OF THE WORD 'DIRECT' TO ALLOW HIM TO FLY WITHIN THE DC ADIZ FROM MTN TO EMI VOR THENCE TO DMW. PLT CHARGED WITH VIOLATION OF THE FDC ADIZ NOTAM 3-2126.

Narrative: NEW PROCS WERE IMPLEMENTED FOR WASHINGTON ADIZ FOR SPECIAL ARPTS INCLUDING MARTIN STATE, WHICH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING: PLTS SHALL FLY THE MOST DIRECT RTE OUT OF THE ADIZ. OUR TRAINING FLT DEPARTED MARTIN FOLLOWING THE PRESCRIBED PROCS. AS THE NOTAM SAYS, WE FLEW DIRECTLY TO WESTMINSTER VOR. UPON REACHING OUR DEST OF CARROLL COUNTY ARPT, WE WERE INFORMED BY GND PERSONNEL TO CONTACT POTOMAC. WE WERE TOLD BY POTOMAC THAT WE'RE IN VIOLATION FOR NOT FLYING THE QUICKEST RTE OUT OF THE ADIZ. MEANING TO FLY DIRECTLY N OF MARTIN STATE, OR DIRECTLY SE. HOWEVER, AS A PLT, THE DEFINITION OF DIRECT IS TO FLY THE SHORTEST DISTANCE BTWN 2 POINTS, WITHOUT DEVIATING FROM THAT COURSE, SO AS INTERPRETED BY MANY PLTS, WE FLEW THE MOST DIRECT RTE TO WESTMINSTER. PROBS WITH THE CURRENT SYS INCLUDE: 1) THE AMBIGUITY OF THE WORDING 'MOST DIRECT.' 2) NO STATEMENTS ARE MADE ON WHAT IS THE MOST DIRECT RTE OUT OF THE ADIZ. 3) THE SAME RTE WAS COMPLETED THE NIGHT BEFORE, AND WAS NEVER TOLD THAT A DEV HAD OCCURRED. 4) WE MONITORED THE APPROPRIATE POTOMAC FREQ, BUT WAS NEVER ADVISED THAT WE WERE DEVIATING FROM THE INTENT OF THE NOTAM. TO CONCLUDE, I FEEL THAT FUTURE VIOLATIONS CAN BE MINIMIZED IF THE WORDING OF THE NOTAM IS CHANGED, SO THAT THERE LEAVES NO ROOM FOR INTERP. I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE CURRENT PROCS ARE A TEST, AND AS A PLT OPERATING FROM WITHIN THE ADIZ, I WANT THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL. I HOPE MY STATEMENT SHOWS THAT NOTAMS OF THIS MAGNITUDE SHOULD BE WORDED VERY CLR, SO THAT MISTAKES WILL NOT BE MADE.

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.