Narrative:

I took off from ZZZ and flew directly to lynden; wa; 38W on an easterly heading. I was mode C equipped. I proceeded to lynden and landed. I believe that the highest altitude I obtained was less than 2000 ft for the trip. Later; it occurred to me to further examine my sectional chart (seattle). The sectional chart was current by the way. I noticed that there is a blue dotted line extending about 15 NM west from the abbotsford; back course (cyxx) class D airspace and passing just south of the blain airport. I thought at that time that I had violated that class D airspace because I had not been in contact with abbotsford tower. That disturbed me because I meticulously examined the chart before the flight -- the blue line is obscured and it is very near to the vancouver class C magenta line on the chart. Upon further examination of the chart; however; I became even more confused. The chart denotes; for the abbotsford class D airspace; that class D canal zone excludes the united states. There is another note in the canadian side of the westward extension of the canal zone boundary that notes '125/25;' denoting that the class D starts at 2500 ft MSL and extends to 12500 ft MSL. So; from the chart; it is unclr whether there is a real class D canal zone in the united states for abbotsford; british columbia. If there is a class D canal zone; it is unclr where the floor and ceiling of that airspace is. The chart should be improved to clearly denote the existence and boundaries of the canal zone in the united states; if any. I later consulted with a friend who is an ATP captain; and he was as confused as I.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GENERAL AVIATION PLT IS CONFUSED REGARDING SECTIONAL DEPICTION OF CYXX AIRSPACE NEAR HIS DESTINATION 38W.

Narrative: I TOOK OFF FROM ZZZ AND FLEW DIRECTLY TO LYNDEN; WA; 38W ON AN EASTERLY HDG. I WAS MODE C EQUIPPED. I PROCEEDED TO LYNDEN AND LANDED. I BELIEVE THAT THE HIGHEST ALT I OBTAINED WAS LESS THAN 2000 FT FOR THE TRIP. LATER; IT OCCURRED TO ME TO FURTHER EXAMINE MY SECTIONAL CHART (SEATTLE). THE SECTIONAL CHART WAS CURRENT BY THE WAY. I NOTICED THAT THERE IS A BLUE DOTTED LINE EXTENDING ABOUT 15 NM W FROM THE ABBOTSFORD; BC (CYXX) CLASS D AIRSPACE AND PASSING JUST S OF THE BLAIN ARPT. I THOUGHT AT THAT TIME THAT I HAD VIOLATED THAT CLASS D AIRSPACE BECAUSE I HAD NOT BEEN IN CONTACT WITH ABBOTSFORD TWR. THAT DISTURBED ME BECAUSE I METICULOUSLY EXAMINED THE CHART BEFORE THE FLT -- THE BLUE LINE IS OBSCURED AND IT IS VERY NEAR TO THE VANCOUVER CLASS C MAGENTA LINE ON THE CHART. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE CHART; HOWEVER; I BECAME EVEN MORE CONFUSED. THE CHART DENOTES; FOR THE ABBOTSFORD CLASS D AIRSPACE; THAT CLASS D CANAL ZONE EXCLUDES THE UNITED STATES. THERE IS ANOTHER NOTE IN THE CANADIAN SIDE OF THE WESTWARD EXTENSION OF THE CANAL ZONE BOUNDARY THAT NOTES '125/25;' DENOTING THAT THE CLASS D STARTS AT 2500 FT MSL AND EXTENDS TO 12500 FT MSL. SO; FROM THE CHART; IT IS UNCLR WHETHER THERE IS A REAL CLASS D CANAL ZONE IN THE UNITED STATES FOR ABBOTSFORD; BRITISH COLUMBIA. IF THERE IS A CLASS D CANAL ZONE; IT IS UNCLR WHERE THE FLOOR AND CEILING OF THAT AIRSPACE IS. THE CHART SHOULD BE IMPROVED TO CLRLY DENOTE THE EXISTENCE AND BOUNDARIES OF THE CANAL ZONE IN THE UNITED STATES; IF ANY. I LATER CONSULTED WITH A FRIEND WHO IS AN ATP CAPT; AND HE WAS AS CONFUSED AS I.

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.