An AA5-B entered lax class B while maneuvering to avoid traffic and obtain TRACON flight following.

Attributes
ACN	702567
Time
Date	200607
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : smo.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sct.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cheetah Tiger Traveler
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 450 flight time type : 425
ASRS Report	702567
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was leaving the la special flight rules area northbound climbing out of the published 4500 ft altitude while contacting ATC for flight following and clearance into class B airspace. My tis system was showing sbound traffic at my altitude and I was not sure if target was descending to the flight rules 3500 ft sbound published elevation or if it was remaining at my altitude. I was hoping to receive clearance while climbing. I am aware of the class B shelf at 5000 ft. I have flown this route 6 or 7 times and am always concerned about aircraft that are either climbing or descending in opposite directions in this area on the same smo radial (128 degrees or 308 degrees) trying to reach the appropriate elevation. I obviously climbed into the class B airspace while looking for my approaching traffic. Had I climbed to just under 5000 ft; I would be flying at an inappropriate altitude for my direction of flight. I was unable to raise sct approach initially for clearance and flight following while still under the 5000 ft shelf. During prior flts in this situation; I have been able to remain below the 'B' airspace until clearance is given. Is it possible for ATC to devise a different track for aircraft flying VFR in opposite directions so they are not climbing or descending on the same smo radial? Different vors perhaps?

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN AA5-B ENTERED LAX CLASS B WHILE MANEUVERING TO AVOID TFC AND OBTAIN TRACON FLT FOLLOWING.

Narrative: I WAS LEAVING THE LA SPECIAL FLT RULES AREA NBOUND CLBING OUT OF THE PUBLISHED 4500 FT ALT WHILE CONTACTING ATC FOR FLT FOLLOWING AND CLRNC INTO CLASS B AIRSPACE. MY TIS SYSTEM WAS SHOWING SBOUND TFC AT MY ALT AND I WAS NOT SURE IF TARGET WAS DSNDING TO THE FLT RULES 3500 FT SBOUND PUBLISHED ELEVATION OR IF IT WAS REMAINING AT MY ALT. I WAS HOPING TO RECEIVE CLRNC WHILE CLBING. I AM AWARE OF THE CLASS B SHELF AT 5000 FT. I HAVE FLOWN THIS RTE 6 OR 7 TIMES AND AM ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT ACFT THAT ARE EITHER CLBING OR DSNDING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS IN THIS AREA ON THE SAME SMO RADIAL (128 DEGS OR 308 DEGS) TRYING TO REACH THE APPROPRIATE ELEVATION. I OBVIOUSLY CLBED INTO THE CLASS B AIRSPACE WHILE LOOKING FOR MY APCHING TFC. HAD I CLBED TO JUST UNDER 5000 FT; I WOULD BE FLYING AT AN INAPPROPRIATE ALT FOR MY DIRECTION OF FLT. I WAS UNABLE TO RAISE SCT APCH INITIALLY FOR CLRNC AND FLT FOLLOWING WHILE STILL UNDER THE 5000 FT SHELF. DURING PRIOR FLTS IN THIS SITUATION; I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REMAIN BELOW THE 'B' AIRSPACE UNTIL CLRNC IS GIVEN. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR ATC TO DEVISE A DIFFERENT TRACK FOR ACFT FLYING VFR IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS SO THEY ARE NOT CLBING OR DSNDING ON THE SAME SMO RADIAL? DIFFERENT VORS PERHAPS?

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.