ZFW controller utilizes nonstandard procedures to effect handoff.

Attributes
ACN	471106
Time
Date	200004
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival star : cedar creek enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival star : cedar creek enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 16
ASRS Report	471106
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Intra Facility Coordination Failure Operational Deviation
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : ftw.comrdo

Narrative:

The dallas ft worth approach control and the ZFW, quitman specialty, were not operating under late night operation procedures. I assigned air carrier X to proceed direct howdy intersection and the cedar creek 4 arrival. I then assigned air carrier X a descent clearance to 11000 ft at pilot's discretion. I initiated the handoff of air carrier X to the next center sector 'donnie intermediate.' in late night conditions at ZFW it is not uncommon to switch an aircraft before the next controller takes the handoff (within this facility). It's kind of a polite way to get the receiving controller's attention to take the handoff, rather than screaming out, 'handoff!' so, before the handoff was completed, I switched air carrier X to the donnie controller. The donnie controller had asked for control to turn the arrs direct the airport, and I gave him control to do so. I believe I should have stayed with the book procedures and verbally verified the handoff prior to switching the aircraft to the next controller.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZFW CTLR UTILIZES NONSTANDARD PROCS TO EFFECT HDOF.

Narrative: THE DALLAS FT WORTH APCH CTL AND THE ZFW, QUITMAN SPECIALTY, WERE NOT OPERATING UNDER LATE NIGHT OP PROCS. I ASSIGNED ACR X TO PROCEED DIRECT HOWDY INTXN AND THE CEDAR CREEK 4 ARR. I THEN ASSIGNED ACR X A DSCNT CLRNC TO 11000 FT AT PLT'S DISCRETION. I INITIATED THE HDOF OF ACR X TO THE NEXT CTR SECTOR 'DONNIE INTERMEDIATE.' IN LATE NIGHT CONDITIONS AT ZFW IT IS NOT UNCOMMON TO SWITCH AN ACFT BEFORE THE NEXT CTLR TAKES THE HDOF (WITHIN THIS FACILITY). IT'S KIND OF A POLITE WAY TO GET THE RECEIVING CTLR'S ATTN TO TAKE THE HDOF, RATHER THAN SCREAMING OUT, 'HDOF!' SO, BEFORE THE HDOF WAS COMPLETED, I SWITCHED ACR X TO THE DONNIE CTLR. THE DONNIE CTLR HAD ASKED FOR CTL TO TURN THE ARRS DIRECT THE ARPT, AND I GAVE HIM CTL TO DO SO. I BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE STAYED WITH THE BOOK PROCS AND VERBALLY VERIFIED THE HDOF PRIOR TO SWITCHING THE ACFT TO THE NEXT CTLR.

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.