INEXPERIENCED PLT OF C182 SKYDIVE DROP ACFT FAILS TO ADVISE ATC PRIOR TO INITIATING DROP IN LIT TRACON AIRSPACE.

Narrative

I WAS THE PLT OF A CESSNA 182 WITH 2 SKYDIVERS; THE ACFT OWNER AND HIS FRIEND. I TOOK OFF FROM THE GRASS STRIP NEAR XA00 CENTRAL TIME. I CONTACTED LITTLE ROCK APCH ONCE AIRBORNE AND RECEIVED A SQUAWK AND A VECTOR TO CLB. AFTER REACHING 5000 FT MSL; THE CTLR STATED THAT I MAY CLB WHENEVER I LIKE AND TO HOLD MY JUMPERS AND RPT WHEN READY. I REPLIED 'WILL RPT WHEN READY.' I THEN MADE A CIRCLING CLB ABOVE OUR DROP ZONE AS THE JUMPERS READIED TO EXIT THE AIRPLANE. I THOUGHT THAT I HAD MADE THE PROCEDURAL 1-MIN CALL AND LET THE JUMPERS DIVE FROM THE PLANE. I THEN CALLED APCH AND STATED 'DIVERS AWAY.' THE CTLR REPLIED BACK THAT HE HAD TOLD ME TO HOLD MY JUMPERS AND RPT WHEN READY. HE ALSO STATED THAT IF I HAD MADE THE CALL THAT THEY WERE READY; HE WOULD HAVE TOLD ME TO KEEP THE JUMPERS DUE TO TFC. I FELT SICK REALIZING THE MISTAKE THAT I HAD MADE; COULD HAVE COST SOMEONE THEIR LIFE. THE CTLR STATED THAT ONCE ON THE GND; I NEEDED TO CONTACT THE CTL FACILITY AND ASK FOR THE SUPVR. THANKFULLY; NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HAD I REALIZED THAT I HAD NEVER MADE THE CALL; AND TFC WAS PRESENT; I NEVER WOULD HAVE LET THEM OPEN THE DOOR. MY OWN SAFETY; AS WELL AS THE SAFETY OF OTHERS; IS ALWAYS A GREAT CONCERN TO ME; ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO AN AIRPLANE. I SPOKE WITH THE OWNER OF THE AIRPLANE; AND WE PLACED A PLACARD INSIDE THE PLANE THAT READS 'RPT 1-MIN BEFORE DOOR IS OPENED' TO ENSURE THE CALL WILL BE MADE. ALSO; THE THOUGHT OF LOSING THE LICENSE THAT I HAVE WORKED SO HARD AND SPENT SO MUCH MONEY FOR; THE DREAMS OF WHAT I HOPE TO BECOME; AND MOST OF ALL; A FRIEND; SERVES AS A REMINDER OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN SAFETY IS COMPROMISED.