Narrative:

On sep/xa/98, a supervisor received a phone call from a winnipeg area control center (zwg) supervisor. He was inquiring why radar handoffs on aircraft entering zwg from ZLC were not being accomplished as required by the LOA. The supervisor then asked me why I was not following the LOA in regards to radar handoffs between ZLC and zwg. I stated that the LOA allows for radar termination and communication change. We then read the available LOA, which does not require a radar handoff. The supervisor then called zwg and explained that there was no provision requiring radar handoffs in the LOA. It was then determined that zwg's LOA is dated dec/15/94 and the version available in the control room at ZLC is dated 1982. However, a signed copy of the LOA dated dec/15/94 is on file in the office of the assistant manager for airspace and procedures at ZLC. The controllers at ZLC were not briefed on the changes of procedure. Due to the fact that the controllers at ZLC are not using a 'new' LOA (that is almost 4 yrs old) creates a situation which could cause or contribute to accidents, incidents, or present a hazard to the flying public. Management at ZLC has been aware of the discrepancy for the last few months yet proper action has not been taken to correct the situation. Proposed solution: create a system whereby management is not allowed to implement changes to procedure without first ensuring that each and every controller has been briefed on the changes.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZLC ARTCC RADAR CTLR MAKES A POINT BTWN HIMSELF AND CZWG RADAR CTLR BY NOT EFFECTING A RADAR HDOF OF AN ACFT PROCEEDING INTO CANADIAN AIRSPACE BY TERMINATING RADAR CONTACT WITH THE ACFT AND XFERRING COM TO THE CZWG CTLR. ZLC SUPVR INVESTIGATION WITH ZLC SECTOR CTLR DETERMINES CURRENT LOA BTWN BOTH FACILITIES HAVE NOT BEEN BRIEFED WITH THE ZLC CTLRS, THOUGH IN EFFECT.

Narrative: ON SEP/XA/98, A SUPVR RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM A WINNIPEG AREA CTL CTR (ZWG) SUPVR. HE WAS INQUIRING WHY RADAR HDOFS ON ACFT ENTERING ZWG FROM ZLC WERE NOT BEING ACCOMPLISHED AS REQUIRED BY THE LOA. THE SUPVR THEN ASKED ME WHY I WAS NOT FOLLOWING THE LOA IN REGARDS TO RADAR HDOFS BTWN ZLC AND ZWG. I STATED THAT THE LOA ALLOWS FOR RADAR TERMINATION AND COM CHANGE. WE THEN READ THE AVAILABLE LOA, WHICH DOES NOT REQUIRE A RADAR HDOF. THE SUPVR THEN CALLED ZWG AND EXPLAINED THAT THERE WAS NO PROVISION REQUIRING RADAR HDOFS IN THE LOA. IT WAS THEN DETERMINED THAT ZWG'S LOA IS DATED DEC/15/94 AND THE VERSION AVAILABLE IN THE CTL ROOM AT ZLC IS DATED 1982. HOWEVER, A SIGNED COPY OF THE LOA DATED DEC/15/94 IS ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT MGR FOR AIRSPACE AND PROCS AT ZLC. THE CTLRS AT ZLC WERE NOT BRIEFED ON THE CHANGES OF PROC. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CTLRS AT ZLC ARE NOT USING A 'NEW' LOA (THAT IS ALMOST 4 YRS OLD) CREATES A SIT WHICH COULD CAUSE OR CONTRIBUTE TO ACCIDENTS, INCIDENTS, OR PRESENT A HAZARD TO THE FLYING PUBLIC. MGMNT AT ZLC HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE DISCREPANCY FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS YET PROPER ACTION HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO CORRECT THE SIT. PROPOSED SOLUTION: CREATE A SYS WHEREBY MGMNT IS NOT ALLOWED TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES TO PROC WITHOUT FIRST ENSURING THAT EACH AND EVERY CTLR HAS BEEN BRIEFED ON THE CHANGES.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.