Narrative:

IFR flight plan filed for published departure. Washington center was then called to give a heads up for coordination; with anticipated off time. Washington center gave new squawk code and frequency. Pilot lifted on schedule and finally got radio contact over first fix at 1;200 ft. Controller wanted to know who had given me permission to fly that departure; when told clearance had come from washington center while on ground; pilot was told to continue as they did not have radar contact at that time. When radar contact was finally established controller verified pilot was flying published departure toward ridge line; and was told to continue. Controller then told pilot to come to heading of 275 and continue until controller figured out how to vector pilot to IAF at destination airport; which was in new york center's airspace. When pilot verified he was shooting a published approach to the york airport and not a helicopter point in approaches airspace; controller said she was aware of that but she did not have the plates for that area since it was not in her airspace. She eventually told me to contact harrisburg approach for vectors and clearance for the approach to york. By this time our flight to york airport was delayed by approximately 10-20 minutes. This approach has been unsatisfactory since its inception. The missed approach procedure turns the aircraft back toward the ridge line and P-40. If the president is at camp david; this approach will not be approved under actual conditions since the missed goes into the expanded P-40. Whoever designed this approach should have been aware of this and placed the missed in another direction. This approach also utilizes two different centers to complete; mandating coordination between centers to start and end the approach. On the initial approach; though the approach went rather smoothly; the controller at harrisburg approach which had the initial part of the procedure was not aware that the frequency switch should go to washington center. He thought the switch went to potomac approach. Had the pilot been from out of the area and not known the procedure; it could have caused unnecessary delay getting the confusion worked out and the correct contacts identified. This would result in unnecessary vectoring and fuel consumption while things were being worked out. This approach should be redesigned with emphasis being placed on keeping it in the same airspace and having the missed procedures turn away from and not toward camp david.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A helicopter pilot noted the confusion caused by working between both ZDC and ZNY Controllers during a THV IFR approach. The interaction caused an extensive in flight delay. As a separate issue; the Runway 17 Missed Approach reportedly may take an aircraft into the P-40 expanded airspace when the President is at Camp David; although this statement could not be verified on the commercial chart.

Narrative: IFR Flight plan filed for published departure. Washington Center was then called to give a heads up for coordination; with anticipated off time. Washington Center gave new squawk code and frequency. Pilot lifted on schedule and finally got radio contact over first fix at 1;200 FT. Controller wanted to know who had given me permission to fly that departure; when told clearance had come from Washington Center while on ground; pilot was told to continue as they did not have radar contact at that time. When radar contact was finally established Controller verified pilot was flying published departure toward ridge line; and was told to continue. Controller then told pilot to come to heading of 275 and continue until Controller figured out how to vector pilot to IAF at destination airport; which was in New York Center's airspace. When pilot verified he was shooting a published approach to the York airport and not a helicopter point in approaches airspace; Controller said she was aware of that but she did not have the plates for that area since it was not in her airspace. She eventually told me to contact Harrisburg Approach for vectors and clearance for the approach to York. By this time our flight to York airport was delayed by approximately 10-20 minutes. This approach has been unsatisfactory since ITS inception. The Missed Approach Procedure turns the aircraft back toward the ridge line and P-40. If the President is at Camp David; this approach will not be approved under actual conditions since the missed goes into the expanded P-40. Whoever designed this approach should have been aware of this and placed the missed in another direction. This approach also utilizes two different Centers to complete; mandating coordination between Centers to start and end the approach. On the initial approach; though the approach went rather smoothly; the Controller at Harrisburg Approach which had the initial part of the procedure was not aware that the frequency switch should go to Washington Center. He thought the switch went to Potomac Approach. Had the pilot been from out of the area and not known the procedure; it could have caused unnecessary delay getting the confusion worked out and the correct contacts identified. This would result in unnecessary vectoring and fuel consumption while things were being worked out. This approach should be redesigned with emphasis being placed on keeping it in the same airspace and having the missed procedures turn away from and not toward Camp David.

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.