Narrative:

On monday I checked NOTAMS and called FSS for a flight to retrieve my plane. A friend was flying me down and we were to fly back in our separate airplanes. The NOTAMS showed that the runway was closed; except by prior permission; due to workers in the vicinity of the runway. A phone number was given to be used to gain permission. The weather went down to IFR conditions and we scrubbed the flight on monday. Leg-1 (I was right-seat passenger in bonanza...pilot not flying). On wednesday the weather was VFR and once again I checked NOTAMS (online) and the same NOTAM was in effect that prior permission was required before landing and to call the phone number to gain permission. I called the number right before takeoff near mid day and the gentleman said no problem to come on down. I told him we'd be there in approximately 1 1/2 hours. Upon reaching the pattern; the gentleman on unicom (same person that I spoke to via phone) said that 'the FAA has been here since we talked and doesn't want anyone taking off or landing.' I then called down to the hangar where I was picking up my plane and told him the situation; he said he'd send a worker down to the FBO to see what could be done. We observed his truck leave the hangar and proceed to the FBO; then a few minutes later; the same truck drove out to the runway and we observed the workers move away from the runway. We were then told that the FBO said to proceed and land and quickly takeoff; to minimize the disturbance; which is what we did. No workers were in the vicinity of the runway at the time of landing; and nobody was endangered. Leg-2 (I was pilot flying) I was told to minimize disturbance to those working on the runway to quickly depart. I intentionally back taxied only part of the way down the runway; as I could see the workers at the end. I did not want to endanger anyone and there was more than adequate room for departure. I departed and went to my home airport. Upon arriving at my home airport; I called the shop where my airplane was being worked on; and he said he talked to the FBO personnel and that the NOTAM was going to be changed to reflect that the airport was completely closed for three hours that afternoon. We were in and out prior to the NOTAM change which completely closed the airfield. I feel like there were a lot of barriers to communication (the NOTAM; FBO personnel; relaying that we were ok to land; etc.) that prevented a good flow of information as to whether there were any issues with our operation into and out of airports. I think the subsequent change to the NOTAM reflecting complete closure of the airfield help correct potential problems with subsequent operations.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A pilot was flown with permission into an airport which listed 'prior permission' and then departed in his own aircraft only to discover later that the FAA NOTAMed the airport closed following his departure.

Narrative: On Monday I checked NOTAMS and called FSS for a flight to retrieve my plane. A friend was flying me down and we were to fly back in our separate airplanes. The NOTAMS showed that the runway was closed; except by prior permission; due to workers in the vicinity of the runway. A phone number was given to be used to gain permission. The weather went down to IFR conditions and we scrubbed the flight on Monday. LEG-1 (I was right-seat passenger in Bonanza...pilot not flying). On Wednesday the weather was VFR and once again I checked NOTAMS (online) and the same NOTAM was in effect that prior permission was required before landing and to call the phone number to gain permission. I called the number right before takeoff near mid day and the gentleman said no problem to come on down. I told him we'd be there in approximately 1 1/2 hours. Upon reaching the pattern; the gentleman on UNICOM (same person that I spoke to via phone) said that 'The FAA has been here since we talked and doesn't want anyone taking off or landing.' I then called down to the hangar where I was picking up my plane and told him the situation; he said he'd send a worker down to the FBO to see what could be done. We observed his truck leave the hangar and proceed to the FBO; then a few minutes later; the same truck drove out to the runway and we observed the workers move away from the runway. We were then told that the FBO said to proceed and land and quickly takeoff; to minimize the disturbance; which is what we did. No workers were in the vicinity of the runway at the time of landing; and nobody was endangered. LEG-2 (I was pilot flying) I was told to minimize disturbance to those working on the runway to quickly depart. I intentionally back taxied only part of the way down the runway; as I could see the workers at the end. I did not want to endanger anyone and there was more than adequate room for departure. I departed and went to my home airport. Upon arriving at my home airport; I called the shop where my airplane was being worked on; and he said he talked to the FBO personnel and that the NOTAM was going to be changed to reflect that the airport was completely closed for three hours that afternoon. We were in and out prior to the NOTAM change which completely closed the airfield. I feel like there were a lot of barriers to communication (the NOTAM; FBO personnel; relaying that we were OK to land; etc.) that prevented a good flow of information as to whether there were any issues with our operation into and out of airports. I think the subsequent change to the NOTAM reflecting complete closure of the airfield help correct potential problems with subsequent operations.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.