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During the attempted automated handoff of aircraft #1 between approach and the center, the center radar controller used responses that the reporter felt were confusing and were open to interpretation.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 423391 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199811 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : lgc |
| State Reference | GA |
| Altitude | msl single value : 4000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : ztl tracon : csg |
| Make Model Name | PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Route In Use | enroute airway : csg enroute airway : ztl |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller radar : 10 flight time total : 50 |
| ASRS Report | 423391 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Inter Facility Coordination Failure |
Narrative:
The aircraft had departed pim, crossed lgc and was established on V243, level at 4000 ft. We had initiated an automated radar handoff to ZTL, sector 4. When the aircraft was about 5 NM from the airspace boundary, the center sector had not accepted the automated radar handoff. I called the sector by landline and was told that they could not see the aircraft on radar, so non radar was approved. About 10 seconds later, the ARTS iia data block began to flash, indicating that the center sector had accepted the automated radar handoff. I called the sector by landline again and said 'I understand the aircraft is now in radar contact.' she said 'no, non radar is approved.' I told her I was confused because she took the handoff. She said 'I just grabbed the data block.' the radar controller that I was working with agreed that this was a confusing procedure and that we had both seen it before. The center controller seemed to see no problem with it. I have not been able to find a procedure in FAA handbook 7110.65 'grabbing a data block.' it looked very much like the procedure that is defined as an automated xfer of radar identify (handoff). I think this is unsafe because it leaves a question as to whether the aircraft is receiving radar service or not. I have seen this same thing from controllers in other sectors, areas and ctrs. It strikes me as a good refresher/review item for the air traffic bulletin.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: DURING THE ATTEMPTED AUTOMATED HDOF OF ACFT #1 BTWN APCH AND THE CTR, THE CTR RADAR CTLR USED RESPONSES THAT THE RPTR FELT WERE CONFUSING AND WERE OPEN TO INTERP.
Narrative: THE ACFT HAD DEPARTED PIM, CROSSED LGC AND WAS ESTABLISHED ON V243, LEVEL AT 4000 FT. WE HAD INITIATED AN AUTOMATED RADAR HDOF TO ZTL, SECTOR 4. WHEN THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 5 NM FROM THE AIRSPACE BOUNDARY, THE CTR SECTOR HAD NOT ACCEPTED THE AUTOMATED RADAR HDOF. I CALLED THE SECTOR BY LANDLINE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT SEE THE ACFT ON RADAR, SO NON RADAR WAS APPROVED. ABOUT 10 SECONDS LATER, THE ARTS IIA DATA BLOCK BEGAN TO FLASH, INDICATING THAT THE CTR SECTOR HAD ACCEPTED THE AUTOMATED RADAR HDOF. I CALLED THE SECTOR BY LANDLINE AGAIN AND SAID 'I UNDERSTAND THE ACFT IS NOW IN RADAR CONTACT.' SHE SAID 'NO, NON RADAR IS APPROVED.' I TOLD HER I WAS CONFUSED BECAUSE SHE TOOK THE HDOF. SHE SAID 'I JUST GRABBED THE DATA BLOCK.' THE RADAR CTLR THAT I WAS WORKING WITH AGREED THAT THIS WAS A CONFUSING PROC AND THAT WE HAD BOTH SEEN IT BEFORE. THE CTR CTLR SEEMED TO SEE NO PROB WITH IT. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND A PROC IN FAA HANDBOOK 7110.65 'GRABBING A DATA BLOCK.' IT LOOKED VERY MUCH LIKE THE PROC THAT IS DEFINED AS AN AUTOMATED XFER OF RADAR IDENT (HDOF). I THINK THIS IS UNSAFE BECAUSE IT LEAVES A QUESTION AS TO WHETHER THE ACFT IS RECEIVING RADAR SVC OR NOT. I HAVE SEEN THIS SAME THING FROM CTLRS IN OTHER SECTORS, AREAS AND CTRS. IT STRIKES ME AS A GOOD REFRESHER/REVIEW ITEM FOR THE AIR TFC BULLETIN.
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.