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GA small aircraft pilot on a parachute drop was questioned about the WX being appropriate by TRACON controller. Controller based his concern after another aircraft in the area reported being IMC.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 157658 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199009 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : swf |
| State Reference | NY |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 10500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : n90 |
| Operator | general aviation : instructional |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other |
| Route In Use | enroute airway : v58 |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : commercial |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 500 flight time type : 100 |
| ASRS Report | 157658 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : private pilot : instrument |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
While climbing to 10500' AGL for a parachute drop, I passed through a scattered layer of clouds at 7000', maintaining VFR. In contact with ny approach for flight following, I was advised of IFR aircraft at 7000' heading toward the drop zone. He reported he was in IMC. The controller queried me as to why I was at 10000' with jumpers. I explained I was in VFR conditions the whole time. Another pilot then reported I was letting out jumpers in 'sucker holes.' I aborted the jump until the aircraft in IMC passed. I could see this aircraft. I then let the jumpers out and descended. What I am reporting is the misunderstanding by ATC of what conditions are necessary for parachute operations as well as the reporting pilot. A pilot was flying in the scattered layer of clouds at 7000', so ATC assumed I was also in IMC. ATC should have a better idea of WX in their area.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: GA SMA PLT ON A PARACHUTE DROP WAS QUESTIONED ABOUT THE WX BEING APPROPRIATE BY TRACON CTLR. CTLR BASED HIS CONCERN AFTER ANOTHER ACFT IN THE AREA REPORTED BEING IMC.
Narrative: WHILE CLBING TO 10500' AGL FOR A PARACHUTE DROP, I PASSED THROUGH A SCATTERED LAYER OF CLOUDS AT 7000', MAINTAINING VFR. IN CONTACT WITH NY APCH FOR FLT FOLLOWING, I WAS ADVISED OF IFR ACFT AT 7000' HDG TOWARD THE DROP ZONE. HE RPTED HE WAS IN IMC. THE CTLR QUERIED ME AS TO WHY I WAS AT 10000' WITH JUMPERS. I EXPLAINED I WAS IN VFR CONDITIONS THE WHOLE TIME. ANOTHER PLT THEN RPTED I WAS LETTING OUT JUMPERS IN 'SUCKER HOLES.' I ABORTED THE JUMP UNTIL THE ACFT IN IMC PASSED. I COULD SEE THIS ACFT. I THEN LET THE JUMPERS OUT AND DSNDED. WHAT I AM RPTING IS THE MISUNDERSTANDING BY ATC OF WHAT CONDITIONS ARE NECESSARY FOR PARACHUTE OPS AS WELL AS THE RPTING PLT. A PLT WAS FLYING IN THE SCATTERED LAYER OF CLOUDS AT 7000', SO ATC ASSUMED I WAS ALSO IN IMC. ATC SHOULD HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF WX IN THEIR AREA.
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.