A320 flight crew exits class B airspace while on visual approach to msp.

Attributes
ACN	461985
Time
Date	200001
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl single value : 3700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : m98.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 12l other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	461985
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 1600
ASRS Report	461980
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : exit non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were cleared for visual runway 12L msp. Approximately 14 NM from touchdown, we began descent to land visually runway 12L msp. Upon reaching 3700 ft, ATC advised us that we had descended below class B airspace. We should have maintained at or above GS and that traffic was below us. We immediately climbed to 4000 ft unaware of precisely where the floor of the class B airspace was. I feel that ATC should have given us a minimum altitude to maintain until a DME from msp was reached to descend to the runway. The responsibility to know where class B airspace is puts a burden on the pilot that in the final phase of flight is unacceptable to my operation. Until I find out whether or not it is the pilot's responsibility to know where the floor of class B airspace is, I will not accept visual approachs to any class B airports.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 FLC EXITS CLASS B AIRSPACE WHILE ON VISUAL APCH TO MSP.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED FOR VISUAL RWY 12L MSP. APPROX 14 NM FROM TOUCHDOWN, WE BEGAN DSCNT TO LAND VISUALLY RWY 12L MSP. UPON REACHING 3700 FT, ATC ADVISED US THAT WE HAD DSNDED BELOW CLASS B AIRSPACE. WE SHOULD HAVE MAINTAINED AT OR ABOVE GS AND THAT TFC WAS BELOW US. WE IMMEDIATELY CLBED TO 4000 FT UNAWARE OF PRECISELY WHERE THE FLOOR OF THE CLASS B AIRSPACE WAS. I FEEL THAT ATC SHOULD HAVE GIVEN US A MINIMUM ALT TO MAINTAIN UNTIL A DME FROM MSP WAS REACHED TO DSND TO THE RWY. THE RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW WHERE CLASS B AIRSPACE IS PUTS A BURDEN ON THE PLT THAT IN THE FINAL PHASE OF FLT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO MY OP. UNTIL I FIND OUT WHETHER OR NOT IT IS THE PLT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW WHERE THE FLOOR OF CLASS B AIRSPACE IS, I WILL NOT ACCEPT VISUAL APCHS TO ANY CLASS B ARPTS.

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.