GENERAL AVIATION PLT IS CONFUSED REGARDING SECTIONAL DEPICTION OF CYXX AIRSPACE NEAR HIS DESTINATION 38W.

Date: 2007-05 · Aircraft: Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer · Phase: cruise

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

Synopsis

GENERAL AVIATION PLT IS CONFUSED REGARDING SECTIONAL DEPICTION OF CYXX AIRSPACE NEAR HIS DESTINATION 38W.

Narrative

I TOOK OFF FROM ZZZ AND FLEW DIRECTLY TO LYNDEN; WA; 38W ON AN EASTERLY HDG. I WAS MODE C EQUIPPED. I PROCEEDED TO LYNDEN AND LANDED. I BELIEVE THAT THE HIGHEST ALT I OBTAINED WAS LESS THAN 2000 FT FOR THE TRIP. LATER; IT OCCURRED TO ME TO FURTHER EXAMINE MY SECTIONAL CHART (SEATTLE). THE SECTIONAL CHART WAS CURRENT BY THE WAY. I NOTICED THAT THERE IS A BLUE DOTTED LINE EXTENDING ABOUT 15 NM W FROM THE ABBOTSFORD; BC (CYXX) CLASS D AIRSPACE AND PASSING JUST S OF THE BLAIN ARPT. I THOUGHT AT THAT TIME THAT I HAD VIOLATED THAT CLASS D AIRSPACE BECAUSE I HAD NOT BEEN IN CONTACT WITH ABBOTSFORD TWR. THAT DISTURBED ME BECAUSE I METICULOUSLY EXAMINED THE CHART BEFORE THE FLT -- THE BLUE LINE IS OBSCURED AND IT IS VERY NEAR TO THE VANCOUVER CLASS C MAGENTA LINE ON THE CHART. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE CHART; HOWEVER; I BECAME EVEN MORE CONFUSED. THE CHART DENOTES; FOR THE ABBOTSFORD CLASS D AIRSPACE; THAT CLASS D CANAL ZONE EXCLUDES THE UNITED STATES. THERE IS ANOTHER NOTE IN THE CANADIAN SIDE OF THE WESTWARD EXTENSION OF THE CANAL ZONE BOUNDARY THAT NOTES '125/25;' DENOTING THAT THE CLASS D STARTS AT 2500 FT MSL AND EXTENDS TO 12500 FT MSL. SO; FROM THE CHART; IT IS UNCLR WHETHER THERE IS A REAL CLASS D CANAL ZONE IN THE UNITED STATES FOR ABBOTSFORD; BRITISH COLUMBIA. IF THERE IS A CLASS D CANAL ZONE; IT IS UNCLR WHERE THE FLOOR AND CEILING OF THAT AIRSPACE IS. THE CHART SHOULD BE IMPROVED TO CLRLY DENOTE THE EXISTENCE AND BOUNDARIES OF THE CANAL ZONE IN THE UNITED STATES; IF ANY. I LATER CONSULTED WITH A FRIEND WHO IS AN ATP CAPT; AND HE WAS AS CONFUSED AS I.

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