2006-06 · NASA ASRS report 700758
INSTRUCTOR PLT DESCRIBED UNAUTH ENTRY INTO FTG CLASS D AIRSPACE DURING ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT FTG TWR AND ADDED COMMENTS REGARDING FTG ATC SVC.
SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO CONTACT FTG TWR. NO REPLY. TRIED SECOND XMITTER AT 6-8 DME. NO RESPONSE. TOLD STUDENT TO INITIATE STANDARD RATE TURN OF 180 DEGS TO KEEP US OUT OF CLASS D AIRSPACE. AT THE TIME WINDS AT FTG WERE ANNOUNCED ON ATIS TO BE 190 DEGS AT 32 KTS. DURING THE TURN WE WERE BLOWN INTO CLASS D AIRSPACE BY ABOUT 1 NM. WE EXITED THE CLASS D AIRSPACE AND CONTINUED ATTEMPTED CONTACT WITH FTG TWR (120.2). FINALLY AT 7.1 DME CONTACT WAS MADE WITH TWR. WE WERE CLRED INTO CLASS D AIRSPACE FOR TOUCH-AND-GOES. AFTER 3 TOUCH-AND-GOES TWR INFORMED US OF CLASS D INTRUSION. WE WERE TOLD INTRUSION WAS 1.2 MI. FTG TWR PERSONNEL LACK ATC RESPONSIVENESS. CONFLICTS ARE OCCURRING ON REGULAR BASIS WITH FLT INSTRUCTORS FROM CENTENNIAL ARPT (APA) AS A RESULT OF WHAT IS OFTEN DESCRIBED AS 'LACK OF RESPONSE;' NON-TIMELY RESPONSE; AND UNUSUAL REQUESTS WHEN TFC IS VERY LIGHT. SUCH AS 'RPT BASE;' THIS TWR AND ITS PERSONNEL ARE CAUSING CONFLICT BOTH IN THE AIR AND WITHIN AIRSPACE. DUE TO INEXPERIENCE OR LACK OF CONCERN. THE LAX NATURE OF FTG TWR LEAVES PLTS WITH YRS OF WORKING WITH ATC WONDERING; 'WHAT IS GOING ON AT FTG THAT CAUSES EXPERIENCED ATC-WISE PLTS ASKING; 'WHAT?''
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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