Narrative:

I was working sector 48 at ZTL and received this strip: coi - zef - myef. This type of event happens on a regular basis. Natfix (national fix program) now lets the host process a flight plan to virtually any fix in the NAS. This is perceived as an asset in direct routings; but it took out the logic check that requiring one fix per center provided. We now routinely have 'overdue' aircraft and no one checks for them. For a PA31 to get to north carolina would mean that this aircraft would have to be way overdue at somebody's sector. One day an aircraft will actually be lost and no one will miss him.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZTL CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING NATIONAL FIX PROGRAM (NATFIX) PROC THAT COULD LEAD TO FAILURE TO DETECT OVERDUE ACFT DATA.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING SECTOR 48 AT ZTL AND RECEIVED THIS STRIP: COI - ZEF - MYEF. THIS TYPE OF EVENT HAPPENS ON A REGULAR BASIS. NATFIX (NATL FIX PROGRAM) NOW LETS THE HOST PROCESS A FLT PLAN TO VIRTUALLY ANY FIX IN THE NAS. THIS IS PERCEIVED AS AN ASSET IN DIRECT ROUTINGS; BUT IT TOOK OUT THE LOGIC CHK THAT REQUIRING ONE FIX PER CTR PROVIDED. WE NOW ROUTINELY HAVE 'OVERDUE' ACFT AND NO ONE CHKS FOR THEM. FOR A PA31 TO GET TO N CAROLINA WOULD MEAN THAT THIS ACFT WOULD HAVE TO BE WAY OVERDUE AT SOMEBODY'S SECTOR. ONE DAY AN ACFT WILL ACTUALLY BE LOST AND NO ONE WILL MISS HIM.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.