Narrative:

I observed the data block of the BE58, although not the aircraft target, approaching my airspace boundary from the south. I then initiated 2 calls to the low altitude center sector adjacent to my area to inquire about the data block. I did not see the actual aircraft target yet. The sector didn't respond to my calls. After completing a quick air traffic duty, I called them again. Still no response. So I called another sector and asked them to notify the previous low altitude sector to call me. This they agreed to do. Shortly, the low altitude sector called. I told them that 'non radar' was approved for the inbound aircraft which now appeared to be in my airspace. Then after taking an ARTS handoff and having initial contact (radio) with the aircraft, I called the low altitude sector back advising him to be sure and get non radar approval before entering adjacent airspace. A few mins later another controller from that sector called me and thanked me for my help and understanding in the matter. I had the impression that they were in a training (OJT) session with 2 scopes (areas) instead of 1 and may have been distraction by something elsewhere. We need to use good judgement in combining position of operation, whether it be a supervisor or controller decision, and be aware of weak radar coverage areas such as south of my airspace thus utilizing timely coordination. The aircraft involved was alone and no affect to another.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TYS CTLR INITIATES ZTL COORD TO RESOLVE NO RADAR HDOF ON INBOUND, IFR, BE58.

Narrative: I OBSERVED THE DATA BLOCK OF THE BE58, ALTHOUGH NOT THE ACFT TARGET, APCHING MY AIRSPACE BOUNDARY FROM THE S. I THEN INITIATED 2 CALLS TO THE LOW ALT CTR SECTOR ADJACENT TO MY AREA TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE DATA BLOCK. I DID NOT SEE THE ACTUAL ACFT TARGET YET. THE SECTOR DIDN'T RESPOND TO MY CALLS. AFTER COMPLETING A QUICK AIR TFC DUTY, I CALLED THEM AGAIN. STILL NO RESPONSE. SO I CALLED ANOTHER SECTOR AND ASKED THEM TO NOTIFY THE PREVIOUS LOW ALT SECTOR TO CALL ME. THIS THEY AGREED TO DO. SHORTLY, THE LOW ALT SECTOR CALLED. I TOLD THEM THAT 'NON RADAR' WAS APPROVED FOR THE INBOUND ACFT WHICH NOW APPEARED TO BE IN MY AIRSPACE. THEN AFTER TAKING AN ARTS HDOF AND HAVING INITIAL CONTACT (RADIO) WITH THE ACFT, I CALLED THE LOW ALT SECTOR BACK ADVISING HIM TO BE SURE AND GET NON RADAR APPROVAL BEFORE ENTERING ADJACENT AIRSPACE. A FEW MINS LATER ANOTHER CTLR FROM THAT SECTOR CALLED ME AND THANKED ME FOR MY HELP AND UNDERSTANDING IN THE MATTER. I HAD THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY WERE IN A TRAINING (OJT) SESSION WITH 2 SCOPES (AREAS) INSTEAD OF 1 AND MAY HAVE BEEN DISTR BY SOMETHING ELSEWHERE. WE NEED TO USE GOOD JUDGEMENT IN COMBINING POS OF OP, WHETHER IT BE A SUPVR OR CTLR DECISION, AND BE AWARE OF WEAK RADAR COVERAGE AREAS SUCH AS S OF MY AIRSPACE THUS UTILIZING TIMELY COORD. THE ACFT INVOLVED WAS ALONE AND NO AFFECT TO ANOTHER.

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.