Narrative:

As PIC, I departed sdl on a x-country to tulare, cal. After departure, I penetrated the phx TCA west/O contacting departure control. At the time of departure, I expected tower to pass us along to flight following. However, tower continued to communicate only with those aircraft in its immediate area. After I recognized that tower was not handing the aircraft off, the TCA had already been penetrated. The map was then rechked. Upon seeing that the TCA did not extend to the ground of sdl, I then realized that that may have been the reason I did not automatically obtain flight following. I then proceeded to climb through the TCA to the top. The VFR conditions were excellent. I saw no traffic conflicts. I stayed well out of the restr area and the flight path into/out of phx. With respect to human performance, since I have not used an aircraft below a TCA, I did not realize that I would not automatically be entered into the system. I certainly understand my folly now and will not repeat it. However, I also think that the sdl ATIS should mention that 'phx departure control should be contacted on frequency XXX prior to entering the phx TCA.' whenever I fly, I automatically turn my transponder to altitude enc. However, on this flight the transponder was turned on but not to altitude enc. Once I recognized this, it was turned to altitude enc. I will double my efforts to make sure that this is not repeated.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT PLT CLIMBS INTO TCA WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: AS PIC, I DEPARTED SDL ON A X-COUNTRY TO TULARE, CAL. AFTER DEP, I PENETRATED THE PHX TCA W/O CONTACTING DEP CTL. AT THE TIME OF DEP, I EXPECTED TWR TO PASS US ALONG TO FLT FOLLOWING. HOWEVER, TWR CONTINUED TO COMMUNICATE ONLY WITH THOSE ACFT IN ITS IMMEDIATE AREA. AFTER I RECOGNIZED THAT TWR WAS NOT HANDING THE ACFT OFF, THE TCA HAD ALREADY BEEN PENETRATED. THE MAP WAS THEN RECHKED. UPON SEEING THAT THE TCA DID NOT EXTEND TO THE GND OF SDL, I THEN REALIZED THAT THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE REASON I DID NOT AUTOMATICALLY OBTAIN FLT FOLLOWING. I THEN PROCEEDED TO CLB THROUGH THE TCA TO THE TOP. THE VFR CONDITIONS WERE EXCELLENT. I SAW NO TFC CONFLICTS. I STAYED WELL OUT OF THE RESTR AREA AND THE FLT PATH INTO/OUT OF PHX. WITH RESPECT TO HUMAN PERFORMANCE, SINCE I HAVE NOT USED AN ACFT BELOW A TCA, I DID NOT REALIZE THAT I WOULD NOT AUTOMATICALLY BE ENTERED INTO THE SYS. I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND MY FOLLY NOW AND WILL NOT REPEAT IT. HOWEVER, I ALSO THINK THAT THE SDL ATIS SHOULD MENTION THAT 'PHX DEP CTL SHOULD BE CONTACTED ON FREQ XXX PRIOR TO ENTERING THE PHX TCA.' WHENEVER I FLY, I AUTOMATICALLY TURN MY XPONDER TO ALT ENC. HOWEVER, ON THIS FLT THE XPONDER WAS TURNED ON BUT NOT TO ALT ENC. ONCE I RECOGNIZED THIS, IT WAS TURNED TO ALT ENC. I WILL DOUBLE MY EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS NOT REPEATED.

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.