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