N90 approach controller becomes agitated when a C-177 pilot departs and asks to open IFR flight plan...

Attributes
ACN	557014
Time
Date	200208
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 44n.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cardinal 177/177RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 29000 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	557014
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

I was at fault initially! I contacted ATC after takeoff and told them that we were IFR. What I meant to say 'request IFR clearance.' (or activate our IFR flight plan as filed). I had tried to open the flight plan at 44N (on the ground), but there was no radio contact there. This upset the controller and he made us pay for the 'sin' by giving us waypoints and then when we couldn't find and go there immediately he would change our clearance with the critical remark, 'you had your chance.' 'now go to (----) waypoint. This was my first visit to the ny area in a small plane and although I consider myself proficient I didn't know how to instantly find the fixes on the map. He was not that busy and would issue us the instructions and then change them. When I asked how to spell 'loves' intersection... He made some other remark, and sent us to bdr. I was glad when he switched us over to the next person, who was very nice.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: N90 APCH CTLR BECOMES AGITATED WHEN A C-177 PLT DEPARTS AND ASKS TO OPEN IFR FLT PLAN.

Narrative: I WAS AT FAULT INITIALLY! I CONTACTED ATC AFTER TKOF AND TOLD THEM THAT WE WERE IFR. WHAT I MEANT TO SAY 'REQUEST IFR CLRNC.' (OR ACTIVATE OUR IFR FLT PLAN AS FILED). I HAD TRIED TO OPEN THE FLT PLAN AT 44N (ON THE GND), BUT THERE WAS NO RADIO CONTACT THERE. THIS UPSET THE CTLR AND HE MADE US PAY FOR THE 'SIN' BY GIVING US WAYPOINTS AND THEN WHEN WE COULDN'T FIND AND GO THERE IMMEDIATELY HE WOULD CHANGE OUR CLRNC WITH THE CRITICAL REMARK, 'YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE.' 'NOW GO TO (----) WAYPOINT. THIS WAS MY FIRST VISIT TO THE NY AREA IN A SMALL PLANE AND ALTHOUGH I CONSIDER MYSELF PROFICIENT I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO INSTANTLY FIND THE FIXES ON THE MAP. HE WAS NOT THAT BUSY AND WOULD ISSUE US THE INSTRUCTIONS AND THEN CHANGE THEM. WHEN I ASKED HOW TO SPELL 'LOVES' INTXN... HE MADE SOME OTHER REMARK, AND SENT US TO BDR. I WAS GLAD WHEN HE SWITCHED US OVER TO THE NEXT PERSON, WHO WAS VERY NICE.

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.