Narrative:

In 3/88, VFR special rules airspace was initiated for VFR flts over/through lax TCA. Prior to entering the southeast boundary of this airspace, I was in contact with coast approach (127.20) in level VFR flight at 4500'. Upon release from coast I switched to communication channel 122.75 and mode C transponder to 1201 as required. I announced position, direction, altitude and direction of flight on 122.75. Over lax I changed frequency to santa monica tower 120.1. At this point I began a normal gradual descent to smo, approximately 7 NM. At no point did I enter the TCA. Upon landing I learned from traffic control that this gradual descent was a violation of the special rules airspace because only level flight is allowed. This rule is inappropriate for several reasons: 1) losing altitude at greater than 1000 FPM is unreasonable. It is harmful to equipment and personnel. 2) a deviation of direction away from smo puts the aircraft in a more likely conflict with TCA traffic as evidenced by lower TCA boundaries to the east and west. Deviation north of santa monica is inadvisable due to rising terrain. Finally, any maneuver increases the hazard in the airspace immediately north of the SVFR airspace due to the funneling of traffic in the area. A slow, gradual and normal descent within the air traffic area seems both prudent and practical for air safety. While obeying the strict boundaries of the SVFR airspace between 3000 and 5000' MSL, so as not to enter the TCA west/O clearance, the practical descent path into smo is at odds with the strict interpretation of level flight only.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PENETRATION OF TCA WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: IN 3/88, VFR SPECIAL RULES AIRSPACE WAS INITIATED FOR VFR FLTS OVER/THROUGH LAX TCA. PRIOR TO ENTERING THE SE BOUNDARY OF THIS AIRSPACE, I WAS IN CONTACT WITH COAST APCH (127.20) IN LEVEL VFR FLT AT 4500'. UPON RELEASE FROM COAST I SWITCHED TO COM CHANNEL 122.75 AND MODE C TRANSPONDER TO 1201 AS REQUIRED. I ANNOUNCED POS, DIRECTION, ALT AND DIRECTION OF FLT ON 122.75. OVER LAX I CHANGED FREQ TO SANTA MONICA TWR 120.1. AT THIS POINT I BEGAN A NORMAL GRADUAL DSCNT TO SMO, APPROX 7 NM. AT NO POINT DID I ENTER THE TCA. UPON LNDG I LEARNED FROM TFC CTL THAT THIS GRADUAL DSCNT WAS A VIOLATION OF THE SPECIAL RULES AIRSPACE BECAUSE ONLY LEVEL FLT IS ALLOWED. THIS RULE IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR SEVERAL REASONS: 1) LOSING ALT AT GREATER THAN 1000 FPM IS UNREASONABLE. IT IS HARMFUL TO EQUIP AND PERSONNEL. 2) A DEVIATION OF DIRECTION AWAY FROM SMO PUTS THE ACFT IN A MORE LIKELY CONFLICT WITH TCA TFC AS EVIDENCED BY LOWER TCA BOUNDARIES TO THE E AND W. DEVIATION N OF SANTA MONICA IS INADVISABLE DUE TO RISING TERRAIN. FINALLY, ANY MANEUVER INCREASES THE HAZARD IN THE AIRSPACE IMMEDIATELY N OF THE SVFR AIRSPACE DUE TO THE FUNNELING OF TFC IN THE AREA. A SLOW, GRADUAL AND NORMAL DSCNT WITHIN THE ATA SEEMS BOTH PRUDENT AND PRACTICAL FOR AIR SAFETY. WHILE OBEYING THE STRICT BOUNDARIES OF THE SVFR AIRSPACE BTWN 3000 AND 5000' MSL, SO AS NOT TO ENTER THE TCA W/O CLRNC, THE PRACTICAL DSCNT PATH INTO SMO IS AT ODDS WITH THE STRICT INTERP OF LEVEL FLT ONLY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.