Narrative:

During a rather busy session as a radar controller, I had a P28A (aircraft X) cherokee at 6000 ft from vxv (volunteer) VOR direct to loz (london, ky) VOR. The aircraft was in automated handoff status to the adjoining center (ZTL) sector well south of the common boundary. The aircraft reached and was crossing the common boundary still in automated handoff status. So I issued the aircraft a 180 degree turn to establish a racetrack type pattern for holding back south of the common boundary and called the appropriate center sector with the handoff. The center sector controller said something to the effect that 'I thought we were already talking to him!' I explained that my ARTS still showed the aircraft in handoff status and asked them to verify they had 'radar contact' with him. The center controller stated 'radar contact.' therefore, I conclude that the center controller had either taken a handoff earlier with my ARTS not displaying that or the aircraft's tag had 'automatic acquired' on the center sector radar scope (which has happened at times) as if they were working the aircraft, resulting in me having to initiate a manual handoff on my part. The aircraft was not in conflict with any aircraft. I later found out that earlier that day another controller at our facility had a handoff problem also with another facility using automation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TYS CTLR COORD WITH ZTL FOR HDOF THAT THEY SAY THEY HAVE ALREADY ELECTRONICALLY ACCEPTED.

Narrative: DURING A RATHER BUSY SESSION AS A RADAR CTLR, I HAD A P28A (ACFT X) CHEROKEE AT 6000 FT FROM VXV (VOLUNTEER) VOR DIRECT TO LOZ (LONDON, KY) VOR. THE ACFT WAS IN AUTOMATED HDOF STATUS TO THE ADJOINING CTR (ZTL) SECTOR WELL S OF THE COMMON BOUNDARY. THE ACFT REACHED AND WAS XING THE COMMON BOUNDARY STILL IN AUTOMATED HDOF STATUS. SO I ISSUED THE ACFT A 180 DEG TURN TO ESTABLISH A RACETRACK TYPE PATTERN FOR HOLDING BACK S OF THE COMMON BOUNDARY AND CALLED THE APPROPRIATE CTR SECTOR WITH THE HDOF. THE CTR SECTOR CTLR SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT THAT 'I THOUGHT WE WERE ALREADY TALKING TO HIM!' I EXPLAINED THAT MY ARTS STILL SHOWED THE ACFT IN HDOF STATUS AND ASKED THEM TO VERIFY THEY HAD 'RADAR CONTACT' WITH HIM. THE CTR CTLR STATED 'RADAR CONTACT.' THEREFORE, I CONCLUDE THAT THE CTR CTLR HAD EITHER TAKEN A HDOF EARLIER WITH MY ARTS NOT DISPLAYING THAT OR THE ACFT'S TAG HAD 'AUTO ACQUIRED' ON THE CTR SECTOR RADAR SCOPE (WHICH HAS HAPPENED AT TIMES) AS IF THEY WERE WORKING THE ACFT, RESULTING IN ME HAVING TO INITIATE A MANUAL HDOF ON MY PART. THE ACFT WAS NOT IN CONFLICT WITH ANY ACFT. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT EARLIER THAT DAY ANOTHER CTLR AT OUR FACILITY HAD A HDOF PROB ALSO WITH ANOTHER FACILITY USING AUTOMATION.

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.