Small aircraft departs uncontrolled airport beneath TCA. Requests clearance through TCA which has 2 ...

Attributes
ACN	226747
Time
Date	199211
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : btf airport : btw airport : slc
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : slc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 21000 flight time type : 550
ASRS Report	226747
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I departed skypark airport for a VFR flight to toa, ca. I estimated ceiling and visibility at skypark to be 5000 ft and 7-50 mi with visibility (snow shower) lower to the south. I departed and called slc approach for a TCA clearance sbound. The controller said he was unable because slc visibility was reported at 2 mi. I then asked for a vector through the TCA and told him I was instrument rated. He complied and I entered and exited the TCA en route to toa. I wondered later if I was legal to depart skypark which is located under the TCA when slc was reporting 2 mi visibility even though visibility at skypark was good. I called our local FSDO and asked if I was legal. The gentleman said he thought so, but couldn't tell by referring to the new, just-released, airspace charts. I called slc approach and same story -- 'we think so, but we're not sure.' I'm suggesting the new airspace charts should be a little clrer because if the FAA (FSDO) doesn't know, I wonder how I'm supposed to know.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA DEPARTS UNCTLED ARPT BENEATH TCA. REQUESTS CLRNC THROUGH TCA WHICH HAS 2 MI VISIBILITY. CLRED THROUGH.

Narrative: I DEPARTED SKYPARK ARPT FOR A VFR FLT TO TOA, CA. I ESTIMATED CEILING AND VISIBILITY AT SKYPARK TO BE 5000 FT AND 7-50 MI WITH VISIBILITY (SNOW SHOWER) LOWER TO THE S. I DEPARTED AND CALLED SLC APCH FOR A TCA CLRNC SBOUND. THE CTLR SAID HE WAS UNABLE BECAUSE SLC VISIBILITY WAS RPTED AT 2 MI. I THEN ASKED FOR A VECTOR THROUGH THE TCA AND TOLD HIM I WAS INST RATED. HE COMPLIED AND I ENTERED AND EXITED THE TCA ENRTE TO TOA. I WONDERED LATER IF I WAS LEGAL TO DEPART SKYPARK WHICH IS LOCATED UNDER THE TCA WHEN SLC WAS RPTING 2 MI VISIBILITY EVEN THOUGH VISIBILITY AT SKYPARK WAS GOOD. I CALLED OUR LCL FSDO AND ASKED IF I WAS LEGAL. THE GENTLEMAN SAID HE THOUGHT SO, BUT COULDN'T TELL BY REFERRING TO THE NEW, JUST-RELEASED, AIRSPACE CHARTS. I CALLED SLC APCH AND SAME STORY -- 'WE THINK SO, BUT WE'RE NOT SURE.' I'M SUGGESTING THE NEW AIRSPACE CHARTS SHOULD BE A LITTLE CLRER BECAUSE IF THE FAA (FSDO) DOESN'T KNOW, I WONDER HOW I'M SUPPOSED TO KNOW.

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.

Small aircraft departs uncontrolled airport beneath TCA. Requests clearance through TCA which has 2 mi visibility. Cleared through.