Narrative:

I had filed an IFR flight plan. Although in ca; I could only get cleveland; oh; when I called the 800 number. Fullerton AWOS instructs to open clearance with socal on 124.65. Could not get them on the ground. Now stuck; cleveland cannot get me clearance in ca and cannot connect me to a FSS that can. Check charts and depart to north to stay under class B; and call socal for clearance. Socal seems surprised and informs me they cannot give me a clearance because I am under class B - ask my intentions. I say to remain VFR and to stay with them VFR; avoid class B; until they can get me a clearance. Controller tells me I am already in class B (I was not; it drops from 6000 ft to 4000 ft at that point; I am remaining below 2900 ft); and gives me heading of 90 degrees and tells me they will work it out. He seems annoyed and tells me I should have called their 800 number. I explained I was trying with FSS but could only get cleveland; oh! All eventually works out - but I can see how they are not happy to have an aircraft jump up unannounced for a clearance just below class B. I am not happy that the new FSS simply does not work. I could provide other stories from the past 60 days if interested. I am certain I avoided class B but am filling this form out because the controller made a statement that I had entered it. If so (and I do not think I did -- I think they were just scrambling to figure out what to do with me with a request on file; in the air; and under la class B); not being able to call the FSS's 800 number on the ground and get a center that can get a clearance is absolutely a contributing factor.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SR22 PILOT WITH AN IFR FLT PLAN ON FILE WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT FSS ON THE 800 NUMBER FOR CLRNC. FLT DEP BELOW SOCAL CLASS 'B' FOR CLRNC ON VHF.

Narrative: I HAD FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN. ALTHOUGH IN CA; I COULD ONLY GET CLEVELAND; OH; WHEN I CALLED THE 800 NUMBER. FULLERTON AWOS INSTRUCTS TO OPEN CLRNC WITH SOCAL ON 124.65. COULD NOT GET THEM ON THE GND. NOW STUCK; CLEVELAND CANNOT GET ME CLRNC IN CA AND CANNOT CONNECT ME TO A FSS THAT CAN. CHK CHARTS AND DEPART TO N TO STAY UNDER CLASS B; AND CALL SOCAL FOR CLRNC. SOCAL SEEMS SURPRISED AND INFORMS ME THEY CANNOT GIVE ME A CLRNC BECAUSE I AM UNDER CLASS B - ASK MY INTENTIONS. I SAY TO REMAIN VFR AND TO STAY WITH THEM VFR; AVOID CLASS B; UNTIL THEY CAN GET ME A CLRNC. CTLR TELLS ME I AM ALREADY IN CLASS B (I WAS NOT; IT DROPS FROM 6000 FT TO 4000 FT AT THAT POINT; I AM REMAINING BELOW 2900 FT); AND GIVES ME HDG OF 90 DEGS AND TELLS ME THEY WILL WORK IT OUT. HE SEEMS ANNOYED AND TELLS ME I SHOULD HAVE CALLED THEIR 800 NUMBER. I EXPLAINED I WAS TRYING WITH FSS BUT COULD ONLY GET CLEVELAND; OH! ALL EVENTUALLY WORKS OUT - BUT I CAN SEE HOW THEY ARE NOT HAPPY TO HAVE AN ACFT JUMP UP UNANNOUNCED FOR A CLRNC JUST BELOW CLASS B. I AM NOT HAPPY THAT THE NEW FSS SIMPLY DOES NOT WORK. I COULD PROVIDE OTHER STORIES FROM THE PAST 60 DAYS IF INTERESTED. I AM CERTAIN I AVOIDED CLASS B BUT AM FILLING THIS FORM OUT BECAUSE THE CTLR MADE A STATEMENT THAT I HAD ENTERED IT. IF SO (AND I DO NOT THINK I DID -- I THINK THEY WERE JUST SCRAMBLING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH ME WITH A REQUEST ON FILE; IN THE AIR; AND UNDER LA CLASS B); NOT BEING ABLE TO CALL THE FSS'S 800 NUMBER ON THE GND AND GET A CTR THAT CAN GET A CLRNC IS ABSOLUTELY A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

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.