ATC takes pilot to task for initiating a flight through a TCA with inoperative mode C transponder.

Attributes
ACN	177307
Time
Date	199105
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bdr
State Reference	CT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 250 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	177307
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

The following conversation took place between me and ny TRACON. I was on an IFR flight plan from oxc to ilg and had received the following clearance bdr dpk V16 jfk V229 cyn V312 ood dqo. Ny departure: 'identify.' me: 'identify.' ny departure: 'you are not showing any mode C or altitude.' me: 'my mode C is inoperative. My IFR flight plan shows equipment /B and mode C inoperative is noted in the remarks. Ny departure: you cannot enter the ny TCA west/O a mode C waiver.' me: 'ma'am, it was my understanding that if proper note of equipment type is made in an IFR plan and clearance is received for ATC, no additional waivers are necessary.' ny departure: 'that is incorrect. You must receive clearance directly from the TCA or arsa by phone before enter.' note: I had not yet penetrated the mode C veil. Me: 'ma'am, do you want me to return to ood?' ny departure: 'no, stand by. I'll see if I can work something out for you.' me: 'standing by.' ny departure: 'you are cleared through the nyc TCA. Confirm altitude level 5000. Please be warned that in the future you must receive a mode C waiver prior to entering a TCA or arsa by phoning that facility prior to departure.' me: 'level 5000. Thank you, ma'am.' me: 'ny departure, small aircraft with a question.' ny departure: 'go ahead.' me: 'is small aircraft clear to enter the phl TCA also?' ny departure: 'affirmative. You are cleared through the phl TCA.' me: 'thank you, ma'am.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC TAKES PLT TO TASK FOR INITIATING A FLT THROUGH A TCA WITH INOPERATIVE MODE C TRANSPONDER.

Narrative: THE FOLLOWING CONVERSATION TOOK PLACE BTWN ME AND NY TRACON. I WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM OXC TO ILG AND HAD RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING CLRNC BDR DPK V16 JFK V229 CYN V312 OOD DQO. NY DEP: 'IDENT.' ME: 'IDENT.' NY DEP: 'YOU ARE NOT SHOWING ANY MODE C OR ALT.' ME: 'MY MODE C IS INOP. MY IFR FLT PLAN SHOWS EQUIP /B AND MODE C INOP IS NOTED IN THE REMARKS. NY DEP: YOU CANNOT ENTER THE NY TCA W/O A MODE C WAIVER.' ME: 'MA'AM, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IF PROPER NOTE OF EQUIP TYPE IS MADE IN AN IFR PLAN AND CLRNC IS RECEIVED FOR ATC, NO ADDITIONAL WAIVERS ARE NECESSARY.' NY DEP: 'THAT IS INCORRECT. YOU MUST RECEIVE CLRNC DIRECTLY FROM THE TCA OR ARSA BY PHONE BEFORE ENTER.' NOTE: I HAD NOT YET PENETRATED THE MODE C VEIL. ME: 'MA'AM, DO YOU WANT ME TO RETURN TO OOD?' NY DEP: 'NO, STAND BY. I'LL SEE IF I CAN WORK SOMETHING OUT FOR YOU.' ME: 'STANDING BY.' NY DEP: 'YOU ARE CLRED THROUGH THE NYC TCA. CONFIRM ALT LEVEL 5000. PLEASE BE WARNED THAT IN THE FUTURE YOU MUST RECEIVE A MODE C WAIVER PRIOR TO ENTERING A TCA OR ARSA BY PHONING THAT FAC PRIOR TO DEP.' ME: 'LEVEL 5000. THANK YOU, MA'AM.' ME: 'NY DEP, SMA WITH A QUESTION.' NY DEP: 'GO AHEAD.' ME: 'IS SMA CLR TO ENTER THE PHL TCA ALSO?' NY DEP: 'AFFIRMATIVE. YOU ARE CLRED THROUGH THE PHL TCA.' ME: 'THANK YOU, MA'AM.'

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.