Small Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 300; Flight Crew Total 27000; Flight Crew Type 30
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Procedure; Airspace Structure; Company Policy; Human Factors; Manuals
I departed for a skydiving climb in Class B airspace. I called approach twice and got ignored both times. I assumed the controller was busy and that he would see my permanent squawk code and reply since he asked if I would be back up and I told him that I would be back up in 10 minutes. We have a Letter Of Agreement (LOA) with TRACON to operate in their Class B as long as we stay on our designated squawk code; stay south east of the extended runway centerlines below 14;000 feet. It was my understanding that this LOA was authorized would act as our Class B clearance in writing. I saw this LOA in person and felt that I was authorized to enter Class B airspace so when the controller failed to respond to my two previous calls I did not keep calling him because I thought that he may have more pressing traffic to tend to and that he would see my discreet squawk code and know that I would be climbing to the west away from the airport as usual. This all happened during shift change. The male controller did notice me about a minute after my last call to him and he was then replaced by a lady controller that asked me to contact TRACON about a possible deviation. We are blessed to have the best controllers. I am not sure what was going on with this controller today but I will be more persistent in establishing contact from now on.
I was CIC (Controller in Charge) in the TRACON and was in process of getting the training team to move from Departure Sectors to Arrival Sectors. I took over Departure and noticed a tag underneath a descending business jet in the Class B airspace. I moved the tag on the business jet and noticed Aircraft X in the Class B airspace without permission. Aircraft X is a skydive airplane that does operations about 4 miles southwest of the International Airport. I transmitted; 'Aircraft X are you airborne in Class B airspace?' He replied 'yes; we called you a couple times and you didn't respond; we thought something was wrong.' I then told him 'you can't do that!' It didn't seem to bother him. Shortly after this; another controller relieved me and I instructed her to issue a Brasher warning to contact the TRACON. He never called. Had I or another Controller been working this position earlier the business jet would have been lower by 4000 feet which would have resulted in a near midair. The business jet passed over the departing traffic approximately 4000 feet.This has been a recurring problem with this company; primarily another pilot/owner. I recommend that parachute operations this close to an international airport should cease. This operation frequently goes up to 11;500 feet and routinely delays arrival and departure traffic. They also frequently go past the lateral limits we issue. This is a very dangerous operation that should be relocated at least 15 to 20 miles away from the airport.
Skydiving pilot and TRACON Controller reported the skydiving aircraft entered Class B clearance without a clearance from ATC.