An air traffic controller reported a rocket launch protected airspace within a TRACON boundary. The ...

Attributes
ACN	1337244
Time
Date	201603
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	AMA.TRACON
State Reference	TX
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Champion Citabria Undifferentiated
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	VFR Route
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Aero Commander 500 Series
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	VFR Route
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Function	Approach
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 6.0
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Airspace Violation All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

TRACON was providing VFR radar advisories to both aircraft listed; ARTCC sector called TRACON and asked if we were aware that the rocket launch area in TRACON's airspace was active surface to 28;500 feet; because both aircraft were on a heading to enter the airspace. TRACON was not aware it was active and never received a call from the user for the rocket area nor was there a NOTAM that was issued for any airport nor nav-aid in a 50 mile radius of TRACON airspace. The airspace went active and TRACON was unaware of its use until ARTCC notified TRACON two and a half hours later. I have called flight service station twice and talked to their supervisor to voice my concerns. Both times the supervisor did nothing to fix the issue. The NOTAMS issued a year ago showed the NOTAMS under ZZZ VORTAC; now are hidden under different facilities are not seen by TRACON controllers. The NOTAM about the airspace should be attached/listed under the VORTAC which is in TRACON airspace. The notams reference the air space position using radial and DME off the VORTAC so it should be listed under the VORTAC notams.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An Air Traffic Controller reported a rocket launch protected airspace within a TRACON boundary. The TRACON was working two aircraft heading toward the airspace and had not been advised the airspace was in use.

Narrative: TRACON was providing VFR radar advisories to both aircraft listed; ARTCC Sector called TRACON and asked if we were aware that the Rocket Launch Area in TRACON's airspace was active surface to 28;500 feet; because both aircraft were on a heading to enter the airspace. TRACON was not aware it was active and never received a call from the user for the rocket area nor was there a NOTAM that was issued for any airport nor nav-aid in a 50 mile radius of TRACON airspace. The airspace went active and TRACON was unaware of its use until ARTCC notified TRACON two and a half hours later. I have called Flight Service Station twice and talked to their supervisor to voice my concerns. Both times the supervisor did nothing to fix the issue. The NOTAMS issued a year ago showed the NOTAMS under ZZZ VORTAC; now are hidden under different facilities are not seen by TRACON controllers. The NOTAM about the airspace should be attached/listed under the VORTAC which is in TRACON airspace. The NOTAMs reference the air space position using radial and DME off the VORTAC so it should be listed under the VORTAC NOTAMs.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

An air traffic controller reported a rocket launch protected airspace within a TRACON boundary. The TRACON was working two aircraft heading toward the airspace and had not been advised the airspace was in use.