Small Aircraft; High Wing; 1 Eng; Retractable Gear
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 14200; Flight Crew Type 1000
Communication Breakdown; Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory
Chart Or Publication; Airport
On a VFR flight I obtained flight following from ZSE ARTCC. ARTCC provided VFR flight following and asked what altitude I would be flying at. I advised ARTCC I was level at 1;500 feet. On my direct flight while ARTCC was providing VFR Flight Following Advisories ARTCC asked me to squawk 1200 and handed me off to TRACON by saying 'squawk 1200; contact Approach in your area they cannot pick you up at that altitude and they will assign a new squawk'. I made several attempts to contact TRACON they did not reply. I finally switched to TRACON on a different frequency and they immediately replied; issued me a new squawk; and asked my position. I reported my position at 1;500 feet. They identified me and said proceed to cross over the tower mid-field and enter left downwind for runway 10L.  I acknowledged. Shortly thereafter TRACON mentioned that an airport is now Class D; I replied 'yes I'm aware of that; and that I was under flight following with ARTCC just prior to them handing me off to TRACON'. Prior to that I reviewed my current VFR sectional and IFR approach plates for the airport and no tower frequency was listed. They show CTAF 122.7. I found it unusual to be questioned about class D when I was under flight following from Center and they handed me off to TRACON.
An aircraft was receiving VFR Services from Seattle Center (ARTCC). The ARTCC terminated service with the aircraft and advised them to contact Portland TRACON overlying the aircraft's route. The TRACON advised the aircraft that they had transitioned through UAO's Class D airspace. Even though this designated airspace is not yet published the pilot was aware of it. The pilot believed since he was receiving ATC service from the ARTCC he was allowed to transit this airport's Class D airspace.