VFR arrival to sql from the south; intending to descent at an optimum point to remain below the sfo ...

Narrative:

Enroute to sql at 8500 ft receiving flight following. I fly this route every week. 50 miles prior to my intended top-of-descent point to remain clear of class B; I was told by norcal approach (113.0) to descend and maintain VFR at or below 6500 ft. This happens every flight and despite my questions to the controllers; I have not received a practical reason for it. This is apparently SOP for this sector as their only response has been 'that's the way we do things.' this time I told them I would cancel flight following and remain at 8500 ft. The controller elected to continue flight following at 8500 ft. When I got on the ground I called the operations manager; and requested an explanation. He agreed to look into it and called back the next day to report that it was not arbitrary but was necessary to descend all VFR aircraft to ensure that they do not inhibit arrivals to sfo and sjc over boldr and gilro intersections. I disagree. At this point I was 38 miles from boldr when the jets inbound to sfo are expect to cross at 10;000 ft and 23 miles from gilro where jets inbound to sjc are expected to cross at 8000 ft. Aside from the fact that this particular day there was tailwind at 8500 ft and headwinds lower; this arbitrary descent reduces the VFR pilot's glide capability; smooth ride selection; the fuel economy. It also condenses all northwest bound VFR traffic at 6500 ft and 4500 ft; increasing the odds for a midair collision (the top of mry class C airspace is 4300 ft). This places the VFR pilot in a difficult position: in order to fly at optimum safe and efficient altitudes; you cannot get flight following. If you want flight following; you must accept increased congestion and reduced glide. As it turns out; when I made the return flight at 9500 ft today; a different ATC sector (124.52) reported that the floor is his airspace was 8000 ft and he wasn't concerned about sjc or sfo arrivals. A B737 even flew right over me at 16;000 ft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VFR arrival to SQL from the South; intending to descent at an optimum point to remain below the SFO Class B; is requested to start an early descent to; at or below 6500; reporter contended the ATC practice decreases safety and minimizes fuel economy.

Narrative: Enroute to SQL at 8500 FT receiving flight following. I fly this route every week. 50 miles prior to my intended top-of-descent point to remain clear of Class B; I was told by NORCAL Approach (113.0) to descend and maintain VFR at or below 6500 FT. This happens every flight and despite my questions to the controllers; I have not received a practical reason for it. This is apparently SOP for this sector as their only response has been 'That's the way we do things.' This time I told them I would cancel flight following and remain at 8500 FT. The Controller elected to continue flight following at 8500 FT. When I got on the ground I called the Operations Manager; and requested an explanation. He agreed to look into it and called back the next day to report that it was not arbitrary but was necessary to descend all VFR aircraft to ensure that they do not inhibit arrivals to SFO and SJC over BOLDR and GILRO intersections. I disagree. At this point I was 38 miles from BOLDR when the jets inbound to SFO are expect to cross at 10;000 FT and 23 miles from GILRO where jets inbound to SJC are expected to cross at 8000 FT. Aside from the fact that this particular day there was tailwind at 8500 FT and headwinds lower; this arbitrary descent reduces the VFR pilot's glide capability; smooth ride selection; the fuel economy. It also condenses all Northwest bound VFR traffic at 6500 FT and 4500 FT; increasing the odds for a midair collision (the top of MRY Class C airspace is 4300 FT). This places the VFR pilot in a difficult position: In order to fly at optimum safe and efficient altitudes; you cannot get flight following. If you want flight following; you must accept increased congestion and reduced glide. As it turns out; when I made the return flight at 9500 FT today; a different ATC sector (124.52) reported that the floor is his airspace was 8000 FT and he wasn't concerned about SJC or SFO arrivals. A B737 even flew right over me at 16;000 FT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	839187
Time
Date	200906
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	SNS.Airport
State Reference	CA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Cessna 180 Skywagon
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Flight Engineer Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 275 Flight Crew Total 23500 Flight Crew Type 1500
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types

VFR arrival to sql from the south; intending to descent at an optimum point to remain below the sfo class B; is requested to start an early descent to; at or below 6500; reporter contended the ATC practice decreases safety and minimizes fuel economy.