Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 0; Flight Crew Total 780; Flight Crew Type 700
Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Procedure; Human Factors; Airspace Structure
I was flying to get a transponder check at RYY. En-route I flew over Dobbins airspace; and contacted their controller before entering their airspace. Since my route would take me directly from Dobbins airspace to Cobb County's airspace; I asked the controller if she would hand me off; or if I would need to contact [them] before entry. The controller asked me to stand by; and notify me to change frequency as I was about to enter the airspace. I change the frequency shortly before entering the airspace; but the frequency was busy; and I was not sure if the controller had handed me off or not. The frequency was quite busy; and there was not an opening to speak with ATC until I was already in the airspace; at which point it was clear that my aircraft was disrupting the planned traffic.
C172 pilot reported entering airspace without radio communication due to confusion over an ATC handoff.