Narrative:

The boundary between ZNY and ZDC is in the middle of bwi TRACON airspace. Air carrier X, B737, was flashing as a handoff to the arrival controller. In reality it was air carrier Y. They were both on the same code. 2 different airplanes. 2 different ctrs. If the controller accepts the handoff on air carrier X, and the center shows the handoff accepted on air carrier Y, confusion results. This is a dangerous 'glitch' in the system. Long-term solution: we need more codes available for the increasing air traffic. Short-term solution: absolve controllers from any type of operational error caused by this unsafe 'glitch.' callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter alleged that this problem has existed for more than 8 yrs. Events have been documented and addressed with the FAA technical center without resolution. Reporter advised that he is aware of at least 2 FAA ucr's which have been initiated concerning this problem. The reporter believes that the FAA is hoping 'this problem will disappear when we get to the new facility.' bwi will physically move their approach control into the new potomac consolidated TRACON beginning late march/early april of 2003.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BWI APCH CTLR CONCERNED ABOUT RECURRENT DUPLICATE BEACON HDOF SITS THAT FREQUENTLY OCCUR IF ZNY AND ZDC HDOF 2 DIFFERENT TRACKED FLT PLAN ACFT WITH THE SAME BEACON CODE.

Narrative: THE BOUNDARY BTWN ZNY AND ZDC IS IN THE MIDDLE OF BWI TRACON AIRSPACE. ACR X, B737, WAS FLASHING AS A HDOF TO THE ARR CTLR. IN REALITY IT WAS ACR Y. THEY WERE BOTH ON THE SAME CODE. 2 DIFFERENT AIRPLANES. 2 DIFFERENT CTRS. IF THE CTLR ACCEPTS THE HDOF ON ACR X, AND THE CTR SHOWS THE HDOF ACCEPTED ON ACR Y, CONFUSION RESULTS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS 'GLITCH' IN THE SYS. LONG-TERM SOLUTION: WE NEED MORE CODES AVAILABLE FOR THE INCREASING AIR TFC. SHORT-TERM SOLUTION: ABSOLVE CTLRS FROM ANY TYPE OF OPERROR CAUSED BY THIS UNSAFE 'GLITCH.' CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR ALLEGED THAT THIS PROB HAS EXISTED FOR MORE THAN 8 YRS. EVENTS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED AND ADDRESSED WITH THE FAA TECHNICAL CTR WITHOUT RESOLUTION. RPTR ADVISED THAT HE IS AWARE OF AT LEAST 2 FAA UCR'S WHICH HAVE BEEN INITIATED CONCERNING THIS PROB. THE RPTR BELIEVES THAT THE FAA IS HOPING 'THIS PROB WILL DISAPPEAR WHEN WE GET TO THE NEW FACILITY.' BWI WILL PHYSICALLY MOVE THEIR APCH CTL INTO THE NEW POTOMAC CONSOLIDATED TRACON BEGINNING LATE MARCH/EARLY APRIL OF 2003.

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.