Test flight maneuvering in block altitude creates concern for center controller.

Attributes
ACN	185705
Time
Date	199108
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : vny
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15500 msl bound upper : 17500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla tower : tvc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, High Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 65 flight time total : 16600 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	185705
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

The company for which I fly is a completion and major overhaul facility for jet and turboprop type corporate aircraft. After maintenance test flts are frequently required and these are usually accomplished on an IFR flight plan or VFR with traffic advisories. On this particular occasion we proceeded VFR to a locale about 30 mi north of our airport and elected to work between 15500 and 17500 ft MSL. The area in which we maneuvered for approximately 20 mins was across and between 3 or 4 airways but since visibility was unlimited I decided not to contact the center for traffic advisories. Upon return to our airport I was informed to contact the center by telephone. During the ensuing conversation, a very courteous supervisor advised that our numerous changes of course and altitude had caused concern among controllers as they were unable to advise several other aircraft transiting the area of our intentions. This brought home to me the point that such activity, in addition to being dangerous, is extremely inconsiderate of a group of very dedicated and hard working people who are trying to keep order and ensure safety in the air, and I am writing this in the hope that other pilots will be reminded that for everyone's safety and peace of mind we should remain in contact with the appropriate facility and advise our intentions when not flying under positive control.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TEST FLT MANEUVERING IN BLOCK ALT CREATES CONCERN FOR CENTER CTLR.

Narrative: THE COMPANY FOR WHICH I FLY IS A COMPLETION AND MAJOR OVERHAUL FACILITY FOR JET AND TURBOPROP TYPE CORPORATE ACFT. AFTER MAINT TEST FLTS ARE FREQUENTLY REQUIRED AND THESE ARE USUALLY ACCOMPLISHED ON AN IFR FLT PLAN OR VFR WITH TFC ADVISORIES. ON THIS PARTICULAR OCCASION WE PROCEEDED VFR TO A LOCALE ABOUT 30 MI N OF OUR ARPT AND ELECTED TO WORK BTWN 15500 AND 17500 FT MSL. THE AREA IN WHICH WE MANEUVERED FOR APPROX 20 MINS WAS ACROSS AND BTWN 3 OR 4 AIRWAYS BUT SINCE VISIBILITY WAS UNLIMITED I DECIDED NOT TO CONTACT THE CENTER FOR TFC ADVISORIES. UPON RETURN TO OUR ARPT I WAS INFORMED TO CONTACT THE CENTER BY TELEPHONE. DURING THE ENSUING CONVERSATION, A VERY COURTEOUS SUPVR ADVISED THAT OUR NUMEROUS CHANGES OF COURSE AND ALT HAD CAUSED CONCERN AMONG CTLRS AS THEY WERE UNABLE TO ADVISE SEVERAL OTHER ACFT TRANSITING THE AREA OF OUR INTENTIONS. THIS BROUGHT HOME TO ME THE POINT THAT SUCH ACTIVITY, IN ADDITION TO BEING DANGEROUS, IS EXTREMELY INCONSIDERATE OF A GROUP OF VERY DEDICATED AND HARD WORKING PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO KEEP ORDER AND ENSURE SAFETY IN THE AIR, AND I AM WRITING THIS IN THE HOPE THAT OTHER PLTS WILL BE REMINDED THAT FOR EVERYONE'S SAFETY AND PEACE OF MIND WE SHOULD REMAIN IN CONTACT WITH THE APPROPRIATE FACILITY AND ADVISE OUR INTENTIONS WHEN NOT FLYING UNDER POSITIVE CTL.

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.