PVT PLT OF A C172 INADVERTENTLY PENETRATED CLASS C AIRSPACE DURING CLBOUT FROM AN UNDERLYING ARPT.
Synopsis
PVT PLT OF A C172 INADVERTENTLY PENETRATED CLASS C AIRSPACE DURING CLBOUT FROM AN UNDERLYING ARPT.
Narrative
I DEPARTED SCH; A CLASS D ARPT LOCATED UNDER THE OUTER RING OF ALBANY CLASS C. (SCHENECTADY COUNTY ARPT; NY) VFR EBOUND ON A XCOUNTRY TRIP. I WAS BUSY SCANNING FOR TFC; ASKING FOR A FREQ FROM SCH AFTER LEAVING THEIR SPACE; AND SUBSEQUENTLY SWITCHING TO ALBANY NY APCH CTL. I MAY HAVE INADVERTENTLY CLBED TO GREATER THAN 2000 FT MSL PRIOR TO LEAVING A SECTION OF THE OUTER RING THAT WENT FROM 2000 FT TO 4300 FT IN ALBANY AIRSPACE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE A DELAYED FREQ CHANGE BEING ISSUED BY SCHENECTADY WHICH I HAD TO ASK FOR. IF I HAD GOTTEN IT EARLIER; I COULD HAVE RAISED ALBANY APCH ON THE RADIO IN A TIMELY FASHION; PRECLUDING ANY POSSIBLE INCURSION. AT THE TIME THIS HAPPENED; I REALIZED THE POSSIBLE CONFLICT; AND THEN DECIDED AGAINST CONTACTING ALBANY APCH AND BRINGING ANY ATC ATTN TO BEAR ON THE SIT. ALSO CONTRIBUTING WAS A LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN CLASS D OPS CONTAINED IN THE OUTER RING OF CLASS C AIRSPACE. THIS FLT WAS A TRAINING FLT THAT WAS IN PART; DESIGNED TO REGAIN PROFICIENCY IN THESE TYPE OPS. I ALSO FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE MUCH SAFER FOR THESE TYPE CLASS D ARPTS; BE REQUIRED TO HAVE 'BRIGHT' RADAR CAPABILITY; COUPLED WITH A PROCEDURAL MANDATE FOR COOPERATING ATC FACILITIES; THAT REQUIRES TIMELY VECTORS AND HDOFS BTWN CLASS D AND C AIRSPACE. THIS WOULD REDUCE PLT WORKLOAD AND AID IN IMPROVED SAFETY FOR ALL INVOLVED.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.