<< >> NASA ASRS Report 116759, July 1989

GA small aircraft flew under ord TCA without mode C. Pilot was advised before departure that ATC would rather not talk to VFR traffic in this area.

Attributes
ACN	116759
Time
Date	198907
Day	Thu
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cgx
State Reference	IL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	116759
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I planned a trip from milwaukee to meigs field in chicago. Because of the new arrival procedures established jul/sat for mode C and communication within 30 mi of O'hare, I called the FAA to find out exactly what they wanted. The call was made on jul/sat or sun. The person I talked to said it was no problem to fly down lake michigan VFR below the TCA, squawk 1200, and use normal VFR procedures to get to meigs. It was stated that ATC would rather not even talk to you in that situation and mode C was not needed. I flew the trip exactly that way on jul/thu. Upon getting back I thought about it some more and called the local GADO office. I was told that mode C was definitely required and communication with approach was required even below the TCA. I got 2 different answers to the same question and feel that this has the possibility of creating confusion. It would be nice if procedures could be clarified and passed out to everyone at the appropriate agencies.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA FLEW UNDER ORD TCA WITHOUT MODE C. PLT WAS ADVISED BEFORE DEP THAT ATC WOULD RATHER NOT TALK TO VFR TRAFFIC IN THIS AREA.

Narrative: I PLANNED A TRIP FROM MILWAUKEE TO MEIGS FIELD IN CHICAGO. BECAUSE OF THE NEW ARRIVAL PROCS ESTABLISHED JUL/SAT FOR MODE C AND COM WITHIN 30 MI OF O'HARE, I CALLED THE FAA TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANTED. THE CALL WAS MADE ON JUL/SAT OR SUN. THE PERSON I TALKED TO SAID IT WAS NO PROBLEM TO FLY DOWN LAKE MICHIGAN VFR BELOW THE TCA, SQUAWK 1200, AND USE NORMAL VFR PROCS TO GET TO MEIGS. IT WAS STATED THAT ATC WOULD RATHER NOT EVEN TALK TO YOU IN THAT SITUATION AND MODE C WAS NOT NEEDED. I FLEW THE TRIP EXACTLY THAT WAY ON JUL/THU. UPON GETTING BACK I THOUGHT ABOUT IT SOME MORE AND CALLED THE LOCAL GADO OFFICE. I WAS TOLD THAT MODE C WAS DEFINITELY REQUIRED AND COM WITH APCH WAS REQUIRED EVEN BELOW THE TCA. I GOT 2 DIFFERENT ANSWERS TO THE SAME QUESTION AND FEEL THAT THIS HAS THE POSSIBILITY OF CREATING CONFUSION. IT WOULD BE NICE IF PROCS COULD BE CLARIFIED AND PASSED OUT TO EVERYONE AT THE APPROPRIATE AGENCIES.

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.