Narrative:

I began my flight from GA ramp by contacting clearance/ground control on 121.9. As this was my first operation from this airport in an uncommon aircraft, I made attempts to make sure that ATC was informed as to the operating characteristics of my machine (gyroplane), as I need more time on the runway than most other aircraft. I received clearance to taxi to runway 4 and proceeded to do so. During taxi, I again informed ATC that I required 30 seconds on runway for rotor spin-up. I checked for any traffic in the pattern and saw none. I got into position on runway 4 and contacted departure on 118.6 and was told to contact tower on 121.3. I again checked for traffic and announced that I was ready for spin-up on 4. I then received clearance to take off and maintain runway heading. After tower handed me off to departure, the controller told me that I had not been cleared to take the runway by contacting departure first. When I returned to spi, I was instructed to contact tower by phone. I returned the phone call and discovered that tower personnel had not been briefed to the fullest extent concerning my requirements. I believe the incident could have been avoided if ATC had a better knowledge of gyroplanes and their characteristics. I was also briefed over the phone on procedures at spi. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: callback to the reporter confirmed that he taxied onto the active runway without clearance and that he switched to the departure frequency while in position. The reporter states that he was excited during this first-time operation out of a controled airport with the gyrocopter, and this was instrumental in his errors. Further discussion elicited pilot experience of 290 hours total time, with 35 hours in the last 90 days and 35 hours in type. The reporter holds a private license for fixed wing as well as gyroplane.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GYROPLANE PLT ENTERS RWY WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION AND SWITCHES TO DEP FREQ WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON TWR FREQ.

Narrative: I BEGAN MY FLT FROM GA RAMP BY CONTACTING CLRNC/GND CTL ON 121.9. AS THIS WAS MY FIRST OPERATION FROM THIS ARPT IN AN UNCOMMON ACFT, I MADE ATTEMPTS TO MAKE SURE THAT ATC WAS INFORMED AS TO THE OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS OF MY MACHINE (GYROPLANE), AS I NEED MORE TIME ON THE RWY THAN MOST OTHER ACFT. I RECEIVED CLRNC TO TAXI TO RWY 4 AND PROCEEDED TO DO SO. DURING TAXI, I AGAIN INFORMED ATC THAT I REQUIRED 30 SECONDS ON RWY FOR ROTOR SPIN-UP. I CHECKED FOR ANY TFC IN THE PATTERN AND SAW NONE. I GOT INTO POSITION ON RWY 4 AND CONTACTED DEP ON 118.6 AND WAS TOLD TO CONTACT TWR ON 121.3. I AGAIN CHECKED FOR TFC AND ANNOUNCED THAT I WAS READY FOR SPIN-UP ON 4. I THEN RECEIVED CLRNC TO TAKE OFF AND MAINTAIN RWY HDG. AFTER TWR HANDED ME OFF TO DEP, THE CTLR TOLD ME THAT I HAD NOT BEEN CLRED TO TAKE THE RWY BY CONTACTING DEP FIRST. WHEN I RETURNED TO SPI, I WAS INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT TWR BY PHONE. I RETURNED THE PHONE CALL AND DISCOVERED THAT TWR PERSONNEL HAD NOT BEEN BRIEFED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT CONCERNING MY REQUIREMENTS. I BELIEVE THE INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF ATC HAD A BETTER KNOWLEDGE OF GYROPLANES AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS. I WAS ALSO BRIEFED OVER THE PHONE ON PROCS AT SPI. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: CALLBACK TO THE REPORTER CONFIRMED THAT HE TAXIED ONTO THE ACTIVE RWY WITHOUT CLRNC AND THAT HE SWITCHED TO THE DEP FREQ WHILE IN POSITION. THE REPORTER STATES THAT HE WAS EXCITED DURING THIS FIRST-TIME OPERATION OUT OF A CTLED ARPT WITH THE GYROCOPTER, AND THIS WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN HIS ERRORS. FURTHER DISCUSSION ELICITED PLT EXPERIENCE OF 290 HRS TOTAL TIME, WITH 35 HRS IN THE LAST 90 DAYS AND 35 HRS IN TYPE. THE REPORTER HOLDS A PRIVATE LICENSE FOR FIXED WING AS WELL AS GYROPLANE.

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.