Narrative:

I was flying my small aircraft aircraft from santa paula to torrance. I called los angeles on 134.9 for a radar clearance through, via the shoreline route. I was told by los angeles to take the 'special VFR flight rules area' route. I have lived in the southern new jersey area for the past 5 yrs and I am unfamiliar with the los angeles area. I opened my TCA chart and located the shoreline and hollywood park rtes. The arrows are clear and visable. As I was nearing the los angeles area I recalled 134.9 and did not receive a response. I continued to inspect the chart and only located the shoreline and hollywood park rtes. On the reverse side of the chart I saw an inset directly to the left of the shoreline route which states 'los angeles special flight rules area'. I assumed this was the VFR route and flew through to torrance. After landing I found out about the terrible mistake I made. I know I am at fault. I have since enrolled in a ground school to familiarize myself with the area. My question is, although the VFR route that currently is in use is fine, why can't it be easier located on the chart? Why is it only on a small part of the chart shown on an inset. Maybe the VFR route should be on both sides of the chart with the shoreline and hollywood park rtes. I have attached a copy of what I am writing about. Again I realize I am at fault and I will soon be notified by the FAF; however, maybe my suggestion can be utilized in some way.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA MISINTERPRETS TCA CHART AND PENETRATES TCA WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING MY SMA ACFT FROM SANTA PAULA TO TORRANCE. I CALLED LOS ANGELES ON 134.9 FOR A RADAR CLRNC THROUGH, VIA THE SHORELINE RTE. I WAS TOLD BY LOS ANGELES TO TAKE THE 'SPECIAL VFR FLT RULES AREA' RTE. I HAVE LIVED IN THE SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY AREA FOR THE PAST 5 YRS AND I AM UNFAMILIAR WITH THE LOS ANGELES AREA. I OPENED MY TCA CHART AND LOCATED THE SHORELINE AND HOLLYWOOD PARK RTES. THE ARROWS ARE CLR AND VISABLE. AS I WAS NEARING THE LOS ANGELES AREA I RECALLED 134.9 AND DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. I CONTINUED TO INSPECT THE CHART AND ONLY LOCATED THE SHORELINE AND HOLLYWOOD PARK RTES. ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THE CHART I SAW AN INSET DIRECTLY TO THE L OF THE SHORELINE RTE WHICH STATES 'LOS ANGELES SPECIAL FLT RULES AREA'. I ASSUMED THIS WAS THE VFR RTE AND FLEW THROUGH TO TORRANCE. AFTER LNDG I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE TERRIBLE MISTAKE I MADE. I KNOW I AM AT FAULT. I HAVE SINCE ENROLLED IN A GND SCHOOL TO FAMILIARIZE MYSELF WITH THE AREA. MY QUESTION IS, ALTHOUGH THE VFR RTE THAT CURRENTLY IS IN USE IS FINE, WHY CAN'T IT BE EASIER LOCATED ON THE CHART? WHY IS IT ONLY ON A SMALL PART OF THE CHART SHOWN ON AN INSET. MAYBE THE VFR RTE SHOULD BE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CHART WITH THE SHORELINE AND HOLLYWOOD PARK RTES. I HAVE ATTACHED A COPY OF WHAT I AM WRITING ABOUT. AGAIN I REALIZE I AM AT FAULT AND I WILL SOON BE NOTIFIED BY THE FAF; HOWEVER, MAYBE MY SUGGESTION CAN BE UTILIZED IN SOME WAY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.