Mode 'C' veil violation.

Attributes
ACN	168361
Time
Date	199101
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hwo
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mia tower : hwo tracon : ont
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 750 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	168361
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Prior to frequency change departing hwo air traffic area on a training flight to A-291 B, C, the controller stated the transponder was not returning. He asked 'our intentions' and we continued the flight. A-291 is within the mode C veil of mia TCA. West/O being advised that the flight must be terminated I continued. Upon returning, a squawk was filed against the aircraft to the operating FBO xyz arwys. While understanding that a mode C must be operating to enter or to operate within the veil, I was uncertain if a flight must immediately terminate or may continue till landing and then request repair. ATC at hwo never made any recommendations. If a flight must immediately return to the point of departure or if other ATC options exist, I believe ATC should offer this advise.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MODE 'C' VEIL VIOLATION.

Narrative: PRIOR TO FREQ CHANGE DEPARTING HWO ATA ON A TRNING FLT TO A-291 B, C, THE CTLR STATED THE XPONDER WAS NOT RETURNING. HE ASKED 'OUR INTENTIONS' AND WE CONTINUED THE FLT. A-291 IS WITHIN THE MODE C VEIL OF MIA TCA. W/O BEING ADVISED THAT THE FLT MUST BE TERMINATED I CONTINUED. UPON RETURNING, A SQUAWK WAS FILED AGAINST THE ACFT TO THE OPERATING FBO XYZ ARWYS. WHILE UNDERSTANDING THAT A MODE C MUST BE OPERATING TO ENTER OR TO OPERATE WITHIN THE VEIL, I WAS UNCERTAIN IF A FLT MUST IMMEDIATELY TERMINATE OR MAY CONTINUE TILL LNDG AND THEN REQUEST REPAIR. ATC AT HWO NEVER MADE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS. IF A FLT MUST IMMEDIATELY RETURN TO THE POINT OF DEP OR IF OTHER ATC OPTIONS EXIST, I BELIEVE ATC SHOULD OFFER THIS ADVISE.

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.