Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 10; Flight Crew Total 6000; Flight Crew Type 800
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown; Human-Machine Interface
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Exited Penetrated Airspace
Procedure; Chart Or Publication; Human Factors; Airspace Structure
On a VFR flight to L71 at 4000 MSL/1300 AGL I contacted MHV (Mojave) Tower from a position approximately 6 miles SSW of that airport for permission to transit their Class C airspace. The Tower Controller inquired if I was aware of a TFR which impacted their facility. I was not; and although I had both ForeFlight fed by ADS-B/in running on an iPad and a GPS with XM weather; both of which display TFRs; neither was showing any. Uncertain what the situation was; I immediately reversed course and on the advice of the Tower Controller contacted Joshua Approach; who also seemed somewhat uncertain about the status of the TFR; but after some consultation with his supervisor advised me he could clear me through to my destination if I could complete the flight within 15 minutes. I could and he did. While I do not believe I initially penetrated the TFR prior to contacting the Tower Controller and was subsequently cleared through it by Joshua; some days later I received a phone call from a friend who in turn had spoken casually with another individual who asked if he knew [my name] flying [aircraft N-number] and said he had noted my ADS-B return inside the TFR. Hence this report. The situation was somewhat unusual as I have come to depend on the 'live' airspace depictions and find them very dependable. I suspect the TFR was somehow not distributed in the same way as normal TFRs. In any case; I will start making it a habit to download a formal briefing.
GA Pilot reported nonstandard TFR dissemination resulting in TFR violation.