C182 pilot enters class D airspace at geu.

Attributes
ACN	702346
Time
Date	200606
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : geu.airport
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl single value : 2300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : luf.tracon tower : geu.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 805 flight time type : 685
ASRS Report	702346
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

Approaching geu from the southeast; I was receiving radar advisories from luke approach; who advised me; 'cleared through goodyear class D at or above 2500 ft.' I transitioned the gyr class D towards geu. 2 to 3 miles (approximately) from geu; luke approach instructed me to 'squawk VFR and contact tower.' I changed to tower frequency; waited several seconds to determine the frequency was clear and called tower. Tower controller advised me of my possible deviation for entering his class D without establishing communications. I believe that this problem was the result of inconsistent coordination between radar facilities and local control towers. Not only are procedures different from locale to locale; but they seem to vary from day to day within locales. Case in point: I've made the exact same flight described over a dozen times during the last year. While my routine varies little; I'm almost always handled differently. For example; one time luke will 'drop' me short of gyr and let me handle my own transition; and the next time they will coordinate the transition for me. I am certain that luke has handed me off inside geu class D before and the local controller took no issue with it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C182 PLT ENTERS CLASS D AIRSPACE AT GEU.

Narrative: APCHING GEU FROM THE SE; I WAS RECEIVING RADAR ADVISORIES FROM LUKE APCH; WHO ADVISED ME; 'CLRED THROUGH GOODYEAR CLASS D AT OR ABOVE 2500 FT.' I TRANSITIONED THE GYR CLASS D TOWARDS GEU. 2 TO 3 MILES (APPROX) FROM GEU; LUKE APCH INSTRUCTED ME TO 'SQUAWK VFR AND CONTACT TWR.' I CHANGED TO TWR FREQ; WAITED SEVERAL SECONDS TO DETERMINE THE FREQ WAS CLR AND CALLED TWR. TWR CTLR ADVISED ME OF MY POSSIBLE DEV FOR ENTERING HIS CLASS D WITHOUT ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATIONS. I BELIEVE THAT THIS PROB WAS THE RESULT OF INCONSISTENT COORDINATION BETWEEN RADAR FACILITIES AND LOCAL CTL TWRS. NOT ONLY ARE PROCS DIFFERENT FROM LOCALE TO LOCALE; BUT THEY SEEM TO VARY FROM DAY TO DAY WITHIN LOCALES. CASE IN POINT: I'VE MADE THE EXACT SAME FLT DESCRIBED OVER A DOZEN TIMES DURING THE LAST YEAR. WHILE MY ROUTINE VARIES LITTLE; I'M ALMOST ALWAYS HANDLED DIFFERENTLY. FOR EXAMPLE; ONE TIME LUKE WILL 'DROP' ME SHORT OF GYR AND LET ME HANDLE MY OWN TRANSITION; AND THE NEXT TIME THEY WILL COORDINATE THE TRANSITION FOR ME. I AM CERTAIN THAT LUKE HAS HANDED ME OFF INSIDE GEU CLASS D BEFORE AND THE LOCAL CTLR TOOK NO ISSUE WITH IT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.