Small aircraft experienced a delay entering an arsa.

Attributes
ACN	121583
Time
Date	198908
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : alb
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1600 msl bound upper : 1700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : alb
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
ASRS Report	121583
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

During the past few months, alb approach (arsa) has instituted a new system of zone control. In the past, alb was divided on the 360 degree right into east and west approach/departure frequency zones. Now, if within 20 NM of alb, a pilot is to use 127.15 (west) and 124.7 (east). Outside of 20 NM, the old system holds. On 8/X/89, I was to move my aircraft from sch to alb. I called alb approach on 127.15 and was answered with, 'stay clear of the arsa.' I again called alb and received no answer. Finally, after 4-5 calls, I said, 'may I have service now(!!), please? Finally, at 7-8 mi northwest of alb, approach gave me a squawk and permission to follow another aircraft to landing. It took me 31 mins and over a dozen radio calls to get across 8 NM.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA EXPERIENCED A DELAY ENTERING AN ARSA.

Narrative: DURING THE PAST FEW MONTHS, ALB APCH (ARSA) HAS INSTITUTED A NEW SYS OF ZONE CTL. IN THE PAST, ALB WAS DIVIDED ON THE 360 DEG R INTO E AND W APCH/DEP FREQ ZONES. NOW, IF WITHIN 20 NM OF ALB, A PLT IS TO USE 127.15 (W) AND 124.7 (E). OUTSIDE OF 20 NM, THE OLD SYS HOLDS. ON 8/X/89, I WAS TO MOVE MY ACFT FROM SCH TO ALB. I CALLED ALB APCH ON 127.15 AND WAS ANSWERED WITH, 'STAY CLR OF THE ARSA.' I AGAIN CALLED ALB AND RECEIVED NO ANSWER. FINALLY, AFTER 4-5 CALLS, I SAID, 'MAY I HAVE SVC NOW(!!), PLEASE? FINALLY, AT 7-8 MI NW OF ALB, APCH GAVE ME A SQUAWK AND PERMISSION TO FOLLOW ANOTHER ACFT TO LNDG. IT TOOK ME 31 MINS AND OVER A DOZEN RADIO CALLS TO GET ACROSS 8 NM.

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.