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Falcon 900 flight crew reported that a late handoff from TRACON to tower may have resulted in a pilot deviation.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1691245 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201910 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | BAZ.Airport |
| State Reference | TX |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Falcon 900 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Initial Approach |
| Route In Use | Visual Approach |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain Pilot Not Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 130 Flight Crew Total 11300 Flight Crew Type 3400 |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying First Officer |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 90 Flight Crew Total 13100 Flight Crew Type 400 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy |
Narrative:
On descent into baz we had transitioned from houston center to austin approach to san antonio approach. While on frequency with san antonio approach we were asked 2 times if we had the airport in sight. On the second request we called the field in sight at around 8 miles away and at 4;000 feet MSL. The controller had given us a 330 degree heading and to maintain 4;000 feet MSL. Shortly after that we were cleared for the visual approach and instructed to contact tower. Being cleared for the visual approach; we directed the airplane to a point that would allow for left traffic pattern entry on the left downwind while maintaining 4;000 feet verified the tower frequency and continued inbound.upon switching over to new braunfels tower (baz) and at 4;000 feet; I checked in with the tower controller and advised we were on the left downwind and on the visual approach. We continued the visual approach and flew the specified left traffic pattern and descended to traffic pattern altitude to join the final for runway 13. On the base leg; the tower controller asked about the previous controller handing us off to tower. We advised the tower controller that the san antonio approach controller cleared us for the visual approach and switched us to tower. We continued inbound after being cleared to land and landed without incident. No other traffic in the area or traffic pattern can be recalled.after I queried the controller about his comment and stated that the handoff may have been a little late. After dropping passenger at the FBO we taxied out and the tower controller asked us to give them a call as there was a 'possible pilot deviation.' we parked the aircraft in a safe location and I made a phone call to the tower. I asked what the possible pilot deviation was and he would not give me a direct answer; only stating that late handoffs happen all of the time from san antonio approach and that it needed to stop. Three days later I spoke with the baz tower manager and she stated that this does happen frequently and that it can be a problem; my response was that it may happen frequently but as a pilot there is very little we can do until the airport is in sight and we can safely enter the traffic pattern and communicate as directed by other ATC facilities.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: Falcon 900 flight crew reported that a late handoff from TRACON to Tower may have resulted in a pilot deviation.
Narrative: On descent into BAZ we had transitioned from Houston Center to Austin approach to San Antonio approach. While on frequency with San Antonio approach we were asked 2 times if we had the airport in sight. On the second request we called the field in sight at around 8 miles away and at 4;000 feet MSL. The Controller had given us a 330 degree heading and to maintain 4;000 feet MSL. Shortly after that we were cleared for the visual approach and instructed to contact Tower. Being cleared for the visual approach; we directed the airplane to a point that would allow for left traffic pattern entry on the left downwind while maintaining 4;000 feet verified the Tower frequency and continued inbound.Upon switching over to New Braunfels Tower (BAZ) and at 4;000 feet; I checked in with the Tower Controller and advised we were on the LEFT downwind and on the VISUAL approach. We continued the visual approach and flew the specified left traffic pattern and descended to traffic pattern altitude to join the final for Runway 13. On the base leg; the Tower Controller asked about the previous Controller handing us off to Tower. We advised the Tower Controller that the San Antonio Approach Controller cleared us for the visual approach and switched us to Tower. We continued inbound after being cleared to land and landed without incident. No other traffic in the area or traffic pattern can be recalled.After I queried the Controller about his comment and stated that the handoff may have been a little late. After dropping passenger at the FBO we taxied out and the Tower Controller asked us to give them a call as there was a 'Possible Pilot Deviation.' We parked the aircraft in a safe location and I made a phone call to the Tower. I asked what the possible pilot deviation was and he would not give me a direct answer; only stating that late handoffs happen all of the time from San Antonio approach and that it needed to stop. Three days later I spoke with the BAZ Tower Manager and she stated that this does happen frequently and that it can be a problem; my response was that it may happen frequently but as a pilot there is very little we can do until the airport is in sight and we can safely enter the traffic pattern and communicate as directed by other ATC facilities.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.