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PA32 pilot reports possibly entering ful class D airspace due to its depiction on his GPS as a circle; when in reality it is a rectangle.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 843349 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200907 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801-2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | FUL.Airport |
| State Reference | CA |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga/6X |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Descent |
| Route In Use | Direct |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Navigation Database |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Private |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 10 Flight Crew Total 200 Flight Crew Type 150 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Airspace Violation All Types Deviation - Procedural FAR |
Narrative:
On a personal flight to lgb; I picked up VFR advisories; as I like to do when flying in the la basin. Southwest of ful; the approach controller handed me off with the instruction to stay clear of ful airspace. I was above at about 2600 ft. After a few moments; my GPS showed me outside of the southwest 'quadrant' of ful airspace; so I started to descend. I then remembered that on my GPS; the commercial charts depict ful as a circle when it really is rectangular in shape (confirmed at the time with a cross reference with my sectional). By the time I checked; I had already called up lgb tower and was within their airspace. There is a chance I might have inadvertently entered a corner of ful airspace during the transition.1. No matter how familiar you are with a route; if you haven't flown it for a while a pre-flight briefing is always a good idea.2. In the past I had never been handed off this early; or given this instruction. It's good to anticipate; but you have to be prepared for changes. I might not always be cleared through everyone's airspace 'as usual.'3. I think it would be very beneficial for the commercial chart maker to correct their electronic charts to depict the airspace as it is on the sectionals.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PA32 pilot reports possibly entering FUL Class D airspace due to its depiction on his GPS as a circle; when in reality it is a rectangle.
Narrative: On a personal flight to LGB; I picked up VFR advisories; as I like to do when flying in the LA basin. Southwest of FUL; the Approach Controller handed me off with the instruction to stay clear of FUL airspace. I was above at about 2600 FT. After a few moments; my GPS showed me outside of the southwest 'quadrant' of FUL airspace; so I started to descend. I then remembered that on my GPS; the commercial charts depict FUL as a circle when it really is rectangular in shape (confirmed at the time with a cross reference with my sectional). By the time I checked; I had already called up LGB Tower and was within their airspace. There is a chance I might have inadvertently entered a corner of FUL airspace during the transition.1. No matter how familiar you are with a route; if you haven't flown it for a while a pre-flight briefing is always a good idea.2. In the past I had never been handed off this early; or given this instruction. It's good to anticipate; but you have to be prepared for changes. I might not always be cleared through everyone's airspace 'as usual.'3. I think it would be very beneficial for the commercial chart maker to correct their electronic charts to depict the airspace as it is on the sectionals.
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.