Narrative:

IFR clearance and void time received from terre haute FSS. In climb, when communication had been established with laf approach, I told copilot to advise that climb was possible in VFR conditions-- approach controller said, 'say again.' either I or copilot repeated our message. Approach controller replied that our IFR clearance was cancelled. Then his OJT instrument got on the line to set us straight. It was never our intention or desire to cancel our flight plans, merely advise that climb was possible in VFR conditions (field was recently IMC). There are enough problems inherent in the ATC system west/O compounding them with smart-alecky responses by controllers who apparently have lost sight of their function in the system. Maybe this clown thinks that an adversarial relationship with pilots is something to brag about in the break room, but it certainly doesn't contribute to the safe, efficient operation of the ATC system.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CPR SMT FLT CREW COMPLAINT ABOUT ATC HANDLING DURING DEP FROM MCX TALKING TO LAF TRACON.

Narrative: IFR CLRNC AND VOID TIME RECEIVED FROM TERRE HAUTE FSS. IN CLB, WHEN COM HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED WITH LAF APCH, I TOLD COPLT TO ADVISE THAT CLB WAS POSSIBLE IN VFR CONDITIONS-- APCH CTLR SAID, 'SAY AGAIN.' EITHER I OR COPLT REPEATED OUR MESSAGE. APCH CTLR REPLIED THAT OUR IFR CLRNC WAS CANCELLED. THEN HIS OJT INSTR GOT ON THE LINE TO SET US STRAIGHT. IT WAS NEVER OUR INTENTION OR DESIRE TO CANCEL OUR FLT PLANS, MERELY ADVISE THAT CLB WAS POSSIBLE IN VFR CONDITIONS (FIELD WAS RECENTLY IMC). THERE ARE ENOUGH PROBS INHERENT IN THE ATC SYS W/O COMPOUNDING THEM WITH SMART-ALECKY RESPONSES BY CTLRS WHO APPARENTLY HAVE LOST SIGHT OF THEIR FUNCTION IN THE SYS. MAYBE THIS CLOWN THINKS THAT AN ADVERSARIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH PLTS IS SOMETHING TO BRAG ABOUT IN THE BREAK ROOM, BUT IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T CONTRIBUTE TO THE SAFE, EFFICIENT OPERATION OF THE ATC SYS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.