Originally Posted by
bubi352
Keep in mind that you DO NOT need to hear the words "Clear into class B". No where in the regs/AIM does it say you need to hear those words to enter the airspace. If you receive a heading/altitude assignment, this is your clearance into class B. Too often I keep hearing on the radio "Am I clear into class B???" when they clearly received one in the first place.
Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. And at least down here where I live, more often than not the answer to "Am I cleared through the Bravo" is as close to "Hell no" as a controller can get and still continue to be a controller—even if he's given you an altitude and a heading. For your reference, 14 CFR 91.131 reads:
(a) Operating rules. No person may operate an aircraft within a Class B airspace area except in compliance with §91.129 and the following rules:
(1) The operator must receive an ATC clearance from the ATC facility having jurisdiction for that area before operating an aircraft in that area.
All operations within Class B airspace, whether IFR or VFR, MUST be conducted under an ATC clearance (IFR, you'll have one, and you're good with the "Cleared to blah blah", VFR, you'll need to get one). You are not allowed to transit Bravo until you hear the magic words "Cleared through the Bravo airspace" or *similar*. C and D are "Prior radio contact", meaning ATC has called you by name. Completely different standard of contact.