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TRACON controller described an IFR vs. VFR vs. VFR-on-top flight plan confusion event; noting more training is necessary for some controllers regarding this issue.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1002172 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201204 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.TRACON |
| State Reference | US |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | SR22 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Departure Approach |
| Qualification | Air Traffic Control Fully Certified |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy |
Narrative:
As aircraft X approached my boundary I saw he was VFR at 9;500 ft in field 8. Then I read the remarks said; 'VFR in top.' no; that is not a typo; it used the word 'in.' I asked the adjacent approach if aircraft X was VFR or IFR. They said; 'we show VFR; why?' after the pilot was on my frequency I asked his flight plan; VFR or IFR in VFR on top conditions? He said IFR. We changed field 8 to read otp/95; and I re-issued maintain VFR on top clearance. Recommendation; I realize we do not use this tool very often; maybe it could be reviewed.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: TRACON Controller described an IFR vs. VFR vs. VFR-ON-TOP flight plan confusion event; noting more training is necessary for some controllers regarding this issue.
Narrative: As Aircraft X approached my boundary I saw he was VFR at 9;500 FT in field 8. Then I read the remarks said; 'VFR IN TOP.' No; that is not a typo; it used the word 'IN.' I asked the adjacent Approach if Aircraft X was VFR or IFR. They said; 'We show VFR; why?' After the pilot was on my frequency I asked his flight plan; VFR or IFR in VFR ON TOP conditions? He said IFR. We changed field 8 to read OTP/95; and I re-issued maintain VFR on top clearance. Recommendation; I realize we do not use this tool very often; maybe it could be reviewed.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.