Lack of ATC coordination and traffic advisories in complex airspace.

Attributes
ACN	576203
Time
Date	200303
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pne.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl.tracon tracon : n90.tracon tower : pne.tower tower : ewr.tower
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level cruise : enroute altitude change
Route In Use	enroute other
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 1400
ASRS Report	576203
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Inter Facility Coordination Failure Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I initially tried to obtain flight following from ewr at 2000 ft. Coordination was not possible, and I was terminated shortly thereafter. I obtained a new squawk code from TRACON, but was terminated just before trenton. I transitioned through ttn class D airspace with the tower. Once clear, I contacted philadelphia approach requesting, once again, flight following to ilg. I was told to contact pne for transition. I called pne saying that I was en route to ilg at 2000 ft. I was asked if able to maintain 2000 ft throughout the area. I replied affirmatively. I was instructed to proceed directly to ilg, told to report abeam the tower, and was not given a squawk code. I reported abeam pne tower at 2000 ft, and was told to continue. Shortly thereafter, I realized that at 2000 ft, I was already in phl class B airspace. I immediately descended below 1500 ft and called pne for a frequency change. On the second attempt, I was simply told that frequency change was approved. I continued the flight below phl class B airspace. I am aware of my responsibilities as PIC in regard to navigation and airspace procedures. Nevertheless, due to the extreme proximity of airports and the overlap of different airspace classes, I expected more support and better coordination among the ATC bodies involved.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LACK OF ATC COORD AND TFC ADVISORIES IN COMPLEX AIRSPACE.

Narrative: I INITIALLY TRIED TO OBTAIN FLT FOLLOWING FROM EWR AT 2000 FT. COORD WAS NOT POSSIBLE, AND I WAS TERMINATED SHORTLY THEREAFTER. I OBTAINED A NEW SQUAWK CODE FROM TRACON, BUT WAS TERMINATED JUST BEFORE TRENTON. I TRANSITIONED THROUGH TTN CLASS D AIRSPACE WITH THE TWR. ONCE CLR, I CONTACTED PHILADELPHIA APCH REQUESTING, ONCE AGAIN, FLT FOLLOWING TO ILG. I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT PNE FOR TRANSITION. I CALLED PNE SAYING THAT I WAS ENRTE TO ILG AT 2000 FT. I WAS ASKED IF ABLE TO MAINTAIN 2000 FT THROUGHOUT THE AREA. I REPLIED AFFIRMATIVELY. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO PROCEED DIRECTLY TO ILG, TOLD TO RPT ABEAM THE TWR, AND WAS NOT GIVEN A SQUAWK CODE. I RPTED ABEAM PNE TWR AT 2000 FT, AND WAS TOLD TO CONTINUE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I REALIZED THAT AT 2000 FT, I WAS ALREADY IN PHL CLASS B AIRSPACE. I IMMEDIATELY DSNDED BELOW 1500 FT AND CALLED PNE FOR A FREQ CHANGE. ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT, I WAS SIMPLY TOLD THAT FREQ CHANGE WAS APPROVED. I CONTINUED THE FLT BELOW PHL CLASS B AIRSPACE. I AM AWARE OF MY RESPONSIBILITIES AS PIC IN REGARD TO NAV AND AIRSPACE PROCS. NEVERTHELESS, DUE TO THE EXTREME PROX OF ARPTS AND THE OVERLAP OF DIFFERENT AIRSPACE CLASSES, I EXPECTED MORE SUPPORT AND BETTER COORDINATION AMONG THE ATC BODIES INVOLVED.

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.