Small aircraft transgressing hou arsa with mode C deviation queried by TRACON who gave authorization...

Attributes
ACN	119302
Time
Date	198908
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hou
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iah
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 9 flight time total : 288 flight time type : 28
ASRS Report	119302
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Inter Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

Rental aircraft small aircraft xx based at san antonio int'l airport, san antonio, tx is not mode C equipped. I contacted houston center watch supervisor, 'rooster', pr far 91.24(D)(3) requesting a mode C authorized deviation for an IFR flight from houston-hull (sgr) airport to houston-baytown (hpy) in aircraft xx via telephone. Verbal consent was given for this flight. Approximately 40 min after this telephone conversation, the flight departed from houston-hull on an IFR flight plan. After initial contact to approach on 123.8 the approach controller noted he was not receiving an altitude readout. I responded that I had obtained a mode C deviation. The controller requested who I contacted for this deviation. I responded 'with houston center'. The controller said I should have made the request thru the houston-hobby arsa. The flight proceeded normally after this exchange of information. It appears that the appropriate controller(south) are not being informed of authorized mode C deviations in a timely manner. Clarification of side-by-side (or adjoining) TCA and arsa airspace should be provided to pilots and controllers concerning mode C responsibilities (ie, why aren't arsa approach controllers notified of a mode C deviation in their airspace if authorized).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA TRANSGRESSING HOU ARSA WITH MODE C DEVIATION QUERIED BY TRACON WHO GAVE AUTHORIZATION.

Narrative: RENTAL ACFT SMA XX BASED AT SAN ANTONIO INT'L ARPT, SAN ANTONIO, TX IS NOT MODE C EQUIPPED. I CONTACTED HOUSTON CENTER WATCH SUPVR, 'ROOSTER', PR FAR 91.24(D)(3) REQUESTING A MODE C AUTHORIZED DEVIATION FOR AN IFR FLT FROM HOUSTON-HULL (SGR) ARPT TO HOUSTON-BAYTOWN (HPY) IN ACFT XX VIA TELEPHONE. VERBAL CONSENT WAS GIVEN FOR THIS FLT. APPROX 40 MIN AFTER THIS TELEPHONE CONVERSATION, THE FLT DEPARTED FROM HOUSTON-HULL ON AN IFR FLT PLAN. AFTER INITIAL CONTACT TO APCH ON 123.8 THE APCH CTLR NOTED HE WAS NOT RECEIVING AN ALT READOUT. I RESPONDED THAT I HAD OBTAINED A MODE C DEVIATION. THE CTLR REQUESTED WHO I CONTACTED FOR THIS DEVIATION. I RESPONDED 'WITH HOUSTON CENTER'. THE CTLR SAID I SHOULD HAVE MADE THE REQUEST THRU THE HOUSTON-HOBBY ARSA. THE FLT PROCEEDED NORMALLY AFTER THIS EXCHANGE OF INFO. IT APPEARS THAT THE APPROPRIATE CTLR(S) ARE NOT BEING INFORMED OF AUTHORIZED MODE C DEVIATIONS IN A TIMELY MANNER. CLARIFICATION OF SIDE-BY-SIDE (OR ADJOINING) TCA AND ARSA AIRSPACE SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO PLTS AND CTLRS CONCERNING MODE C RESPONSIBILITIES (IE, WHY AREN'T ARSA APCH CTLRS NOTIFIED OF A MODE C DEVIATION IN THEIR AIRSPACE IF AUTHORIZED).

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.