Question for the real pilots

On Apr 12, 5:28 pm, C Booth wrote:
I was flying out of VGT last month (North Las Vegas) heading back to
SLC in an Aztec after a great round of Golf. After getting VFR
clearance from ground to MMM (Mormon Mesa Vortac) which is ENE of
Vegas. Cleared for takeoff and given a heading from the tower, then
handed off to Nellis aproach. The controler gives me heading and asks
intention and sounds like she has marbles in her mouth. I ask her to
repeat instructions and finally get her instructions read back. I am
squawking a descreat code and continuing to follow instructions from
Nellis getting vectored out of the way of inbound F-18's and even a
B-2. All of a sudden out of the blue she calls me and asks me if I
have class B clearance. I gulp hard a couple of times, in all the
vectors and hand offs I realize that I have not received clearance...I
fess up and say noooo. She says "Well, you're right smack in the
middle of Class B airspace". That's it, no instructions. I say,
"Well..., can I get clearance now, or do you want me to go somewhere?"
She gives me the clearance. Whew, first time that has ever happened
to me. I am usually very careful not to bust airspace. Needless to
say I was embarassed but in other instances where I have been vectored
into Class B, such as in this instance, I have always been given the
clearance. I know that it is my responsibility to get the clearance
before flying into the airspace, but if they are giving vectors to
penetrate the airspace, are they at fault as well? Maybe I should
file a NASA report just to be safe, what do you think?

Just thought an aviation based thread might be good for the group.

Cbooth
SEL MEL Instrument

Hello

You should file a NASA report promptly. I doubt anything will come of
it, but a NASA report in any event will go into the data base on Class
Bravo incursions (inadvertant) and will work out to both the system
and other benefits (not to mention some possible ones for you).

I have read your post a few times...it has been so long since I flew
VFR out there but...a couple of questions come to mind if you are
interested in pursuing this.

My trick in dealing VFR with class B airspace is on the initial call
up to request "clearance through the Bravo" in ANY event if you even
think that you are going to come anywhere close to it. "Radar
contact" and "Clearance through the Bravo" seem the same but they are
not...particularly when you are not landing at the Bravo "surface"
airport.

I doubt anything will come of it because the controller made an
internal error (I believe I have asked some FSDO people about this and
have a name that will tell me on the record what the controller
"internal policies" are to perfunctory clear you through if they start
giving vectors) by giving and you accepting vectors and then
"discovering" that you were "smack dab" in the middle of the
airspace. This is true particularly on a "handoff" from a tower
controller.

A NASA report would be a good plan

Robert CFII/MEI ATP