GA PLT COMPLAINT ABOUT LACK OF ASSISTANCE FROM THE TWR CTLRS IN GETTING A CLRNC THROUGH THE BWI CLASS B AIRSPACE.

Date: 1998-09 · Aircraft: PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior

Anomalies: other-unspecified

Synopsis

GA PLT COMPLAINT ABOUT LACK OF ASSISTANCE FROM THE TWR CTLRS IN GETTING A CLRNC THROUGH THE BWI CLASS B AIRSPACE.

Narrative

DEPARTING FROM MARTIN STATE ARPT N OF BALTIMORE IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF CLASS B AIRSPACE IMMEDIATELY TO THE S. AT THE BEGINNING OF A FLT FROM MARTIN STATE ARPT TO VIRGINIA DURING THE TAXI PHASE; I REQUESTED A VFR TRANSITION BE WORKED WITH BALTIMORE APCH FOR A SBOUND DEP. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT POSSIBLE AND THAT I COULD CONTACT BALTIMORE APCH AFTER TKOF. THE MARTIN TWR CTLRS APPARENTLY WANTED TO TURN ME TOWARDS THE CLASS B AIRSPACE AFTER TKOF. BALTIMORE'S CLASS B AIRSPACE OVERLIES MARTIN STATE ARPT AND STAIR-STEPS DOWN TOWARDS BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON INTL AND ALLOWS A PLANE AT 1000 FT PATTERN ALT APPROX 7 MI TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE BALTIMORE APCH CTLRS AND REQUEST PERMISSION TO ENTER CLASS B AIRSPACE. THIS IS APPROX 3 MINS IN MY ACFT AND; IN MY OPINION; IT IS TOO SHORT TO MAKE CONTACT WITH BALTIMORE APCH. IT HAS IN THE PAST TAKEN APPROX 35 MI TO GET A CLB CLRNC THROUGH BALTIMORE'S CLASS B AIRSPACE. I REQUESTED FROM THE MARTIN TWR CLARIFICATION ON DEP PROC AND REQUESTED A L DOWNWIND DEP TO REMAIN CLR OF CLASS B AIRSPACE. THE RESPONSE FROM THE MARTIN TWR WAS CURT AND UNPROFESSIONAL AS WELL AS CONFUSING. THEY REMINDED ME THIS WAS NOT MY ORIGINAL DIRECTION OF FLT AND SEEMED UNWILLING TO HELP FACILITATE A SMOOTH SBOUND TRANSITION. IN FACT; EARLIER WHEN CONTACTING MARTIN GND FOR A TAXI CLRNC FROM THE TRANSIENT RAMP TO THE REFUELING STATION; I WAS CHASTISED FOR CONTACTING GND AND TOLD THIS WAS A 'NON MOVEMENT' AREA; AND THERE WAS NO REASON TO CONTACT GND CTLRS. THIS KIND OF ATTITUDE ADDED STRESS AND CONFUSION TO THE COCKPIT AND; IN MY OPINION; AFFECTS THE SAFETY NOT ONLY OF MY FLT; BUT OTHERS IN THE AREA. WHILE I HAVE NEARLY 10 YRS OF FLYING EXPERIENCE AND HOLD COMMERCIAL AND INST RATINGS AND UNDERSTAND OTHER DEP OPTIONS; STUDENT PLTS AND PVT PLTS MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THESE OPTIONS AROUND THIS PARTICULAR ARPT. IN MY 6 YRS OF FLYING IN THE AREA; I HAVE HEARD OTHER PLTS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THIS SAME TWR. AS FOR ME PERSONALLY; UNTIL THIS TIME I HAVE NEVER HAD TROUBLE WITH ANY CTLRS IN MY FLYING EXPERIENCE AND WAS FRUSTRATED WITH THE LACK OF HELP FROM THESE TWR CTLRS. IN THE FUTURE; TO SOLVE THIS PROB; I WILL NO LONGER REQUEST A SBOUND TRANSITION; BUT WILL TRANSITION SEBOUND UNTIL OUTSIDE OF MARTIN'S AIRSPACE PRIOR TO REQUESTING CLB CLRNC THROUGH BALTIMORE'S CLASS B AIRSPACE.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.