Narrative:

On apr/sun/03, I flew from lvj to gls. The WX was perfect: blue sky, no wind, etc. I am very familiar with the area and since gls is only 25 NM from lvj, I did not get a briefing. As I approached gls (approximately 4 NM), I noticed no other aircraft on the airport frequency (123.05). I listened to ASOS, and broadcasted my intention to land at gls. A few mins later, I had my radio checked by unicom. As I got closer to the airport (approximately 2 NM), I noticed another aircraft over the airport. Looking more carefully, I noticed the other aircraft performing acrobatics! I realized I needed to get out of there. So, I went around gls on a radius of about 2 NM and then returned to lvj. I landed at lvj and obtained a briefing which contained a NOTAM stating the airspace closed at gls due to an air show. A 5 NM radius and a new frequency had been established. I failed to get information on gls before going there, but I think that the show controllers could have advised me on the standard frequency (123.05) when I broadcasted my intentions to land there. An advisory on the standard airport frequency would have been helpful to aircraft in the vicinity. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter clarified that he called gls unicom because it was strangely quiet. The operator confirmed that his transmission was loud and clear, but failed to advise regarding the status of the airport. Reporter now realizes that the unicom individual has no official standing and was not responsible for doing so, but a heads up would have been nice.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF C172 ON A VFR PLEASURE FLT WITHOUT A PREFLT BRIEFING UNKNOWINGLY ENTERED A TFR AREA OVER GLS BEFORE DISCOVERING AIR SHOW IN PROGRESS.

Narrative: ON APR/SUN/03, I FLEW FROM LVJ TO GLS. THE WX WAS PERFECT: BLUE SKY, NO WIND, ETC. I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA AND SINCE GLS IS ONLY 25 NM FROM LVJ, I DID NOT GET A BRIEFING. AS I APCHED GLS (APPROX 4 NM), I NOTICED NO OTHER ACFT ON THE ARPT FREQ (123.05). I LISTENED TO ASOS, AND BROADCASTED MY INTENTION TO LAND AT GLS. A FEW MINS LATER, I HAD MY RADIO CHKED BY UNICOM. AS I GOT CLOSER TO THE ARPT (APPROX 2 NM), I NOTICED ANOTHER ACFT OVER THE ARPT. LOOKING MORE CAREFULLY, I NOTICED THE OTHER ACFT PERFORMING ACROBATICS! I REALIZED I NEEDED TO GET OUT OF THERE. SO, I WENT AROUND GLS ON A RADIUS OF ABOUT 2 NM AND THEN RETURNED TO LVJ. I LANDED AT LVJ AND OBTAINED A BRIEFING WHICH CONTAINED A NOTAM STATING THE AIRSPACE CLOSED AT GLS DUE TO AN AIR SHOW. A 5 NM RADIUS AND A NEW FREQ HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED. I FAILED TO GET INFO ON GLS BEFORE GOING THERE, BUT I THINK THAT THE SHOW CTLRS COULD HAVE ADVISED ME ON THE STANDARD FREQ (123.05) WHEN I BROADCASTED MY INTENTIONS TO LAND THERE. AN ADVISORY ON THE STANDARD ARPT FREQ WOULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL TO ACFT IN THE VICINITY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR CLARIFIED THAT HE CALLED GLS UNICOM BECAUSE IT WAS STRANGELY QUIET. THE OPERATOR CONFIRMED THAT HIS XMISSION WAS LOUD AND CLR, BUT FAILED TO ADVISE REGARDING THE STATUS OF THE ARPT. RPTR NOW REALIZES THAT THE UNICOM INDIVIDUAL HAS NO OFFICIAL STANDING AND WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING SO, BUT A HEADS UP WOULD HAVE BEEN 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.