Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 12; Flight Crew Total 471; Flight Crew Type 52
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Exited Penetrated Airspace
Human Factors; Procedure
I was [heading to] VNY Van Nuys Airport. The flight plan in my GPS navigator was designed to keep me clear of WHP and BUR airspace. At about 20 NM northeast of VNY; I contacted VNY Tower to inform them of my intention to land. I was instructed 'Fly direct to Van Nuys and squawk [code]'. I turned to fly direct to VNY. It was very hazy outside; and so I took extra time looking outside to visually locate the airport. It was too hazy to see VNY at that moment. I looked back at my instrument panel and at my GPS moving map page and realized I was just inside WHP airspace (a few hundred feet). I was unsure if VNY Tower intended me to fly through the airspace; but if only to be on the safe side; I steered out of it. I then realized that I had also flown into BUR airspace. I was at about 3400 feet MSL indicated and quickly descended below 3000 feet. I proceeded to VNY without further issues. I was near the local mountains; outside of any normal terminal traffic routes and there was no traffic within a 7.5NM radius; as indicated by the traffic awareness system on my moving map display.I'm still not sure if VNY Tower intentionally instructed me to fly through WHP and BUR airspace and that's why they assigned me a transponder code; just as ATC would have; or if they intended me to steer clear of WHP and VNY airspace and assigned me a transponder code for another reason.I could have of course steered clear of the airspace anyway. An additional way to have avoided the situation would have been if VNY tower had instructed me to 'Proceed on course until clear of Whiteman and Burbank airspace; then fly direct to Van Nuys airport; squawk [code]' or if he intended me to fly through those airspaces; to instruct me 'Proceed through Whiteman and Burbank airspace directly to Van Nuys airport; squawk [code]'
GA pilot reported a communications breakdown with ATC regarding clearance resulted in airspace violations.