C172 pilot is admonished by ito approach for not making contact outside of 10 NM.

Attributes
ACN	719523
Time
Date	200611
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ito.airport
State Reference	HI
Altitude	agl single value : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ito.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 5 flight time total : 600 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	719523
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	non adherence other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

I was flying VFR outside of the class D airspace over hilo; hi; airport. The chart does not denote the area beyond the airport area as a radar service area. Apparently I was expected to be in communication (radio contact) with hilo approach when less than 10 mi from the airport. I was approximately 9 mi out when I established contact and was given a specific transponder code. There were flight-seeing helicopters in the near vicinity. I don't believe we were in conflict; although there was potential for conflict. It seems that the radar service area should be denoted on the sectional chart; if it is in operation. I appreciate the controller's monitoring and traffic separation. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter states that the controller seemed to expect a call outside a 10 NM radius; but did not ask the reason for this expectation. The reporter is not a local resident and did not have local knowledge.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PLT IS ADMONISHED BY ITO APCH FOR NOT MAKING CONTACT OUTSIDE OF 10 NM.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING VFR OUTSIDE OF THE CLASS D AIRSPACE OVER HILO; HI; ARPT. THE CHART DOES NOT DENOTE THE AREA BEYOND THE ARPT AREA AS A RADAR SVC AREA. APPARENTLY I WAS EXPECTED TO BE IN COM (RADIO CONTACT) WITH HILO APCH WHEN LESS THAN 10 MI FROM THE ARPT. I WAS APPROX 9 MI OUT WHEN I ESTABLISHED CONTACT AND WAS GIVEN A SPECIFIC XPONDER CODE. THERE WERE FLT-SEEING HELIS IN THE NEAR VICINITY. I DON'T BELIEVE WE WERE IN CONFLICT; ALTHOUGH THERE WAS POTENTIAL FOR CONFLICT. IT SEEMS THAT THE RADAR SVC AREA SHOULD BE DENOTED ON THE SECTIONAL CHART; IF IT IS IN OP. I APPRECIATE THE CTLR'S MONITORING AND TFC SEPARATION. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATES THAT THE CTLR SEEMED TO EXPECT A CALL OUTSIDE A 10 NM RADIUS; BUT DID NOT ASK THE REASON FOR THIS EXPECTATION. THE RPTR IS NOT A LCL RESIDENT AND DID NOT HAVE LCL KNOWLEDGE.

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.