Narrative:

The center radar sector I was working provides approach control service to rwi airport. WX was MVFR, with a low ceiling (1400-1500 ft overcast). My MVA altitude is 2000 ft with tall ground antennas 8 mi west of the airport (MVA increases to 3200 ft). Over the course of 2 hours, I had 5 aircraft call me VFR in the air off rwi, looking for IFR pickup (clearance). Since the overcast layer was below my MVA, I had to advise these pilots I could not provide service (since they could not climb VFR to 2000 ft -- my MVA). One pilot acted surprised when I told him he'd have to land and call for a clearance on the ground. This same pilot was orbiting the field at 1200 ft while I had another aircraft descending on an ILS. 2 of the aircraft were air taxi aircraft. These pilots are putting their lives in jeopardy by not (apparently) obtaining a WX briefing before departure. In addition, they are perhaps unknowingly asking myself and my co-workers to put their careers on the line by clearing their aircraft without regard to terrain and obstructions. Please remind these pilots to request an IFR flight plan on the ground! -- Especially with it's marginal.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARTCC CTLR COMPLAINT REGARDING PLT'S ATTEMPTING TO PICK UP AN IFR CLRNC AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE AT NON CTLED ARPT WITH A CEILING BELOW MVA. CTLR ADVISED PLTS TO RETURN LAND TO ACQUIRE IFR CLRNC.

Narrative: THE CTR RADAR SECTOR I WAS WORKING PROVIDES APCH CTL SVC TO RWI ARPT. WX WAS MVFR, WITH A LOW CEILING (1400-1500 FT OVCST). MY MVA ALT IS 2000 FT WITH TALL GND ANTENNAS 8 MI W OF THE ARPT (MVA INCREASES TO 3200 FT). OVER THE COURSE OF 2 HRS, I HAD 5 ACFT CALL ME VFR IN THE AIR OFF RWI, LOOKING FOR IFR PICKUP (CLRNC). SINCE THE OVCST LAYER WAS BELOW MY MVA, I HAD TO ADVISE THESE PLTS I COULD NOT PROVIDE SVC (SINCE THEY COULD NOT CLB VFR TO 2000 FT -- MY MVA). ONE PLT ACTED SURPRISED WHEN I TOLD HIM HE'D HAVE TO LAND AND CALL FOR A CLRNC ON THE GND. THIS SAME PLT WAS ORBITING THE FIELD AT 1200 FT WHILE I HAD ANOTHER ACFT DSNDING ON AN ILS. 2 OF THE ACFT WERE AIR TAXI ACFT. THESE PLTS ARE PUTTING THEIR LIVES IN JEOPARDY BY NOT (APPARENTLY) OBTAINING A WX BRIEFING BEFORE DEP. IN ADDITION, THEY ARE PERHAPS UNKNOWINGLY ASKING MYSELF AND MY CO-WORKERS TO PUT THEIR CAREERS ON THE LINE BY CLRING THEIR ACFT WITHOUT REGARD TO TERRAIN AND OBSTRUCTIONS. PLEASE REMIND THESE PLTS TO REQUEST AN IFR FLT PLAN ON THE GND! -- ESPECIALLY WITH IT'S MARGINAL.

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.