Pilot of light aircraft vectored into the TCA is unsure if he is really cleared into the TCA.

Attributes
ACN	117715
Time
Date	198907
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bed airport : bos
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bos
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 450 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	117715
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I may have entered the bos TCA west/O a clearance. En route to logan for a landing, I contacted bos approach 40 mi west, and told them I was 'direct logan, landing logan.' I was given a squawk near bed. Within 10 mins of penetrating the TCA I was handed off to another controller who told me to remain clear of the TCA. Subsequently he gave me a vector straight toward the TCA! A few mins later I requested TCA clearance. He replied, 'roger, turn heading 080,' a slight course correction. I interpreted the 'roger' as clearance to enter the TCA, considering he was vectoring me right into it and I was landing at the primary TCA. The (expletive deleted) enforcement could claim the 'roger' merely meant the controller acknowledged receipt of my transmission. The problem is the controller's failure to follow procedures by stating 'small aircraft X cleared to enter the TCA,' and the FAA's ability to bust a pilot for a controller's 'mistake.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF LIGHT ACFT VECTORED INTO THE TCA IS UNSURE IF HE IS REALLY CLEARED INTO THE TCA.

Narrative: I MAY HAVE ENTERED THE BOS TCA W/O A CLRNC. ENRTE TO LOGAN FOR A LNDG, I CONTACTED BOS APCH 40 MI W, AND TOLD THEM I WAS 'DIRECT LOGAN, LNDG LOGAN.' I WAS GIVEN A SQUAWK NEAR BED. WITHIN 10 MINS OF PENETRATING THE TCA I WAS HANDED OFF TO ANOTHER CTLR WHO TOLD ME TO REMAIN CLR OF THE TCA. SUBSEQUENTLY HE GAVE ME A VECTOR STRAIGHT TOWARD THE TCA! A FEW MINS LATER I REQUESTED TCA CLRNC. HE REPLIED, 'ROGER, TURN HDG 080,' A SLIGHT COURSE CORRECTION. I INTERPRETED THE 'ROGER' AS CLRNC TO ENTER THE TCA, CONSIDERING HE WAS VECTORING ME RIGHT INTO IT AND I WAS LNDG AT THE PRIMARY TCA. THE (EXPLETIVE DELETED) ENFORCEMENT COULD CLAIM THE 'ROGER' MERELY MEANT THE CTLR ACKNOWLEDGED RECEIPT OF MY XMISSION. THE PROB IS THE CTLR'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROCS BY STATING 'SMA X CLRED TO ENTER THE TCA,' AND THE FAA'S ABILITY TO BUST A PLT FOR A CTLR'S 'MISTAKE.'

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.