Center controller also working approach control airspace due to the covid-19 pandemic; reported comm...

Narrative:

We are working approach control airspace as part of a covid-19 mitigation plan. Aircraft X was on approach to ZZZ; which is in approach airspace; when approach called and asked for a block for an approach in ZZZ1. I had previously told a controller at [another facility] that I would not be able to approve that approach because I was blocking for the aircraft into ZZZ. When [other facility] called back and asked again for the block for ZZZ1 I again told them no. The other controller began to question me. I explained the block that I needed and he still seemed confused. I then was trying to get off the line to get back to my traffic. I then said 'if you can keep him clear' and that I couldn't authorize the approach with my rules. [Other facility] then said they could give him an alternate missed approach. While I don't believe I specifically approved the approach my language may have been interpreted as authorizing the approach. At the time I was thinking that the approach may have some procedure that I was not aware of that would allow the approach to run but upon rereading the center SOP I do not believe that would be the case. While I don't believe that the aircraft lost separation with each other or specifically with protected airspace they may have been on approach at the same time which is not allowed by the center SOP.I do not believe that these approaches conflict as published and the restriction can be removed. However; we also need more concise rules about what approaches we can and cannot run. Our procedures were designed for the midnight shift with low traffic and when we run the day shift we face a lot of delays because our rules are not as lenient as the approach controls that usually run the airspace. When I have tried actually determine if these approaches conflict I keep running into problems because I am not sure who to contact and can never get concrete answers. A central office that could evaluate the procedures; or someone in the center specifically trained in approaches who could determine whether or not they conflict would be helpful.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Center Controller also working Approach Control airspace due to the COVID-19 pandemic; reported communication issues with another Approach facility resulting in an airborne conflict.

Narrative: We are working approach control airspace as part of a COVID-19 mitigation plan. Aircraft X was on approach to ZZZ; which is in Approach airspace; when Approach called and asked for a block for an approach in ZZZ1. I had previously told a Controller at [another facility] that I would not be able to approve that approach because I was blocking for the aircraft into ZZZ. When [other facility] called back and asked again for the block for ZZZ1 I again told them no. The other Controller began to question me. I explained the block that I needed and he still seemed confused. I then was trying to get off the line to get back to my traffic. I then said 'If you can keep him clear' and that I couldn't authorize the approach with my rules. [Other facility] then said they could give him an alternate missed approach. While I don't believe I specifically approved the approach my language may have been interpreted as authorizing the approach. At the time I was thinking that the approach may have some procedure that I was not aware of that would allow the approach to run but upon rereading the Center SOP I do not believe that would be the case. While I don't believe that the aircraft lost separation with each other or specifically with protected airspace they may have been on approach at the same time which is not allowed by the Center SOP.I do not believe that these approaches conflict as published and the restriction can be removed. However; we also need more concise rules about what approaches we can and cannot run. Our procedures were designed for the Midnight shift with low traffic and when we run the day shift we face a lot of delays because our rules are not as lenient as the approach controls that usually run the airspace. When I have tried actually determine if these approaches conflict I keep running into problems because I am not sure who to contact and can never get concrete answers. A central office that could evaluate the procedures; or someone in the center specifically trained in approaches who could determine whether or not they conflict would be helpful.

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.

Attributes
ACN	1740811
Time
Date	202004
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Other Instrument Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Other Instrument Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Approach
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 4.5
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Airspace Violation All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Center controller also working approach control airspace due to the covid-19 pandemic; reported communication issues with another approach facility resulting in an airborne conflict.