1997-04 · NASA ASRS report 366311
INSTRUCTOR PLT QUESTIONS THE REQUIRED PROC FOR OPERATING VFR IN RESTR AIRSPACE WHEN THE AIRSPACE IS NOT IN USE. AERO CHART INDICATES TO CONTACT THE NEAREST FSS FOR INFO.
I WAS ASSISTING THE NEW OWNER OF A MAULE M5-210C IN FERRYING THE ACFT FROM DEN TO SEA. FOR THE PORTION OF THE FLT FROM DEN TO BYI; I WAS THE PIC. THIS WAS PRIMARILY DUE TO MY EXPERIENCE IN FLYING IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. THE NEW OWNER WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH FLYING IN THE NW AND REQUESTED TO BE THE PIC FROM BYI TO SEA. AT ABOUT XX30 WE WERE IN CRUISE FLT BTWN PENDLETON; WA; AND THE DALLES; OR; WHEN I NOTICED THE PIC WAS ON A DIRECT COURSE THROUGH THE BOARDMAN; OR; R-5701 AND R-5706 RESTR AIRSPACE. PRIOR TO ENTERING THE RESTR AIRSPACE I INFORMED THE PIC THAT A CLRNC FROM ZSE WAS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO ENTER THE AIRSPACE IN QUESTION. THE PIC INFORMED ME THAT THE SECTIONAL INDICATED THAT THE AIRSPACE WAS ONLY RESTR MONDAY-FRIDAY AND AT OTHER TIMES BY NOTAM. SINCE FSS DID NOT INDICATE THAT THE AIRSPACE WAS ACTIVE THEN IT WAS ALRIGHT TO TRANSITION THE RESTR AREAS WITHOUT A CLRNC. I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT A CLRNC WAS ALWAYS REQUIRED REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT IT (THE RESTR AIRSPACE) WAS ACTIVE OR NOT. IN DISCUSSING THIS SIT WITH SEVERAL OTHER INSTRUCTORS IT WAS FELT THAT A CLRNC WAS ALWAYS REQUIRED. THE AIM CLRLY INDICATES WHAT THE PROCS ARE WITH ACFT ON IFR CLRNCS. THE PROCS ARE NOT AS CLR FOR VFR OPS AND ARE SUBJECT TO DIFFERENT INTERPS SUCH AS I ENCOUNTERED. TO MAKE THE SIT EVEN MORE CONFUSING I TELEPHONED ZSE TO OBTAIN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE APPROPRIATE VFR PROCS. I WAS INFORMED THAT ZSE ONLY EXPECTED TO BE CONTACTED FOR A CLRNC DURING THE TIMES LISTED IN THE SECTIONAL OR WHEN INDICATED BY NOTAM. THE MORE I INQUIRE INTO THIS ISSUE THE MORE CONFUSING IT BECOMES. EITHER THERE IS A LOT OF CONFUSION AND/OR MISUNDERSTANDING REGARDING RESTR AIRSPACE OR THERE ARE REGIONAL DIFFERENCES AND PROCS ASSOCIATED WITH RESTR AIRSPACE. IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL IF THE AIM WAS AMENDED TO PROVIDE THE CORRECT; UNQUESTIONABLE; VFR PROCS FOR ENTERING AND TRANSITIONING SUA SUCH AS RESTR AREAS. I WILL CONTINUE INVESTIGATING WHAT THE CORRECT PROCS ARE IN ORDER TO PASS THE INFO ALONG TO STUDENTS AND ASSOCIATES.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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