Falcon 900
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 130; Flight Crew Total 11300; Flight Crew Type 3400
Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Airspace Structure; Airport; Human Factors; Procedure
On descent into BAZ we had transitioned from Houston Center to Austin approach to San Antonio approach. While on frequency with San Antonio approach we were asked 2 times if we had the airport in sight. On the second request we called the field in sight at around 8 miles away and at 4;000 feet MSL. The Controller had given us a 330 degree heading and to maintain 4;000 feet MSL. Shortly after that we were cleared for the visual approach and instructed to contact Tower. Being cleared for the visual approach; we directed the airplane to a point that would allow for left traffic pattern entry on the left downwind while maintaining 4;000 feet verified the Tower frequency and continued inbound.Upon switching over to New Braunfels Tower (BAZ) and at 4;000 feet; I checked in with the Tower Controller and advised we were on the LEFT downwind and on the VISUAL approach. We continued the visual approach and flew the specified left traffic pattern and descended to traffic pattern altitude to join the final for Runway 13. On the base leg; the Tower Controller asked about the previous Controller handing us off to Tower. We advised the Tower Controller that the San Antonio Approach Controller cleared us for the visual approach and switched us to Tower. We continued inbound after being cleared to land and landed without incident. No other traffic in the area or traffic pattern can be recalled.After I queried the Controller about his comment and stated that the handoff may have been a little late. After dropping passenger at the FBO we taxied out and the Tower Controller asked us to give them a call as there was a 'Possible Pilot Deviation.' We parked the aircraft in a safe location and I made a phone call to the Tower. I asked what the possible pilot deviation was and he would not give me a direct answer; only stating that late handoffs happen all of the time from San Antonio approach and that it needed to stop. Three days later I spoke with the BAZ Tower Manager and she stated that this does happen frequently and that it can be a problem; my response was that it may happen frequently but as a pilot there is very little we can do until the airport is in sight and we can safely enter the traffic pattern and communicate as directed by other ATC facilities.
We were on an IFR flight descending into BAZ airport. We were talking to a couple area approach controllers as I remember; San Antonio for sure and maybe Austin. It was VFR and we were level at 4;000 feet and being vectored directly towards BAZ when we called the field in sight approximately 6-7 miles out. They switched us to Tower and when we called them I believe they gave us a 330 heading which would widen out our downwind a little for landing on Runway 13. This widening was unnecessary as we were in a completely normal pattern if not even a little wide already. We were cleared for the visual approach so we completed a normal descent and pattern to Runway 13. There was no other traffic that we heard or were given notice of and the entire approach and traffic pattern and landing was normal.BAZ Tower asked us when we were handed over to him and I cannot remember what the non-flying pilot said exactly but I am sure he stated somewhere around 6-8 miles out. It sounded as if he was upset that he is continually get 'late' hand offs from approach control. We dropped off our passenger; turned the airplane and taxied out for departure. BAZ Controller again mentioned the late hand off and asked us to call a phone number. The Captain did that when we had parked the aircraft at a pad at the approach end of Runway 13. I was not on the call but he sounded like it had a least a slight tone of an accusatory nature towards him. After he was off the call; he said they said that they are accumulating information regarding the continual late hand offs from approach control but also threw out the phrase 'possible pilot deviation.'I cannot fathom what possible pilot deviation there would be and think it is absolutely awful and unprofessional to start throwing that phrase around and scaring pilots when you are actually upset with another controller or upset with how your area procedures affect you and your job. We were at 4;000 feet; well above BAZ class D airspace; at 200 kts well before we ever even descended into the pattern and the class D. We were talking to him (Tower) before we entered the class D. There is nothing at all that happened here other that the Tower Controller wanting to get earlier hand offs from Approach Control and he took it out on my Captain.
Falcon 900 flight crew reported that a late handoff from TRACON to Tower may have resulted in a pilot deviation.