PA28 INSTRUCTOR; WITH STUDENT; FLEW INTO ENHANCED CLASS B AIRSPACE BELIEVING THAT A CLRNC WAS NOT NEEDED.

Date: 2001-09 · Aircraft: PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior · Phase: cruise

Anomalies: airspace-violation-all-types|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-far

Synopsis

PA28 INSTRUCTOR; WITH STUDENT; FLEW INTO ENHANCED CLASS B AIRSPACE BELIEVING THAT A CLRNC WAS NOT NEEDED.

Narrative

ON 09/MON/01; I FLEW WITH A STUDENT INSIDE THE 'ENHANCED' CLASS B OF DEN WITHOUT A CLRNC FROM ATC. AT THE TIME; I WASN'T AWARE OF THIS FLT BEING IN VIOLATION OF THE NEW AIRSPACE REGULATIONS; AS I WAS MISINFORMED BEFORE THE FLT ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE 'ENHANCED' CLASS B. PRIOR TO THIS FLT; I WAS TOLD THAT THE DIMENSIONS OF CLASS B HAD BEEN CHANGED BACK TO THE ORIGINAL SHAPE AND SIZE WHICH CAUSED ME TO FLY TO/IN OUR ORIGINAL PRACTICE AREA. I STILL REMAINED UNDERNEATH THE ORIGINAL CLASS B AIRSPACE AND WELL CLEAR OF ANY HIGH TFC AREAS. I WAS NOT CONTACTED BY ATC (ON 121.50) DURING OR AFTER THE FLT; AND I ONLY FOUND OUT AFTER THE FLT; THAT THE 'ENHANCED' CLASS B WAS ACTUALLY STILL IN PLACE. I LATER FOUND OUT; THAT QUITE A FEW OTHER PLTS HAD MADE A SIMILAR MISTAKE IN CONNECTION WITH THE 'ENHANCED' CLASS B. I BELIEVE THAT THE GREATEST CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THIS SCENARIO WAS THE FACT THAT THE FAA HAS BEEN CHANGING NUMEROUS REGULATIONS IN THE PAST 2 WEEKS (MANY OF THEM BACK AND FORTH; IE; CROP DUSTING OPS) WHICH HAS CAUSED FAR TOO MUCH CONFUSION. EVEN ATC AND FSS WERE CONTRADICTING EACH OTHER WHEN I TALKED TO BOTH OF THEM ABOUT A PHOTO FLT INSIDE CLASS B. THE FAA NEEDS TO QUIT CHANGING REGULATIONS AND INSTEAD COME UP WITH SOMETHING SOLID THAT ALSO MAKES SENSE.

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