ARTCC controller voiced concern regarding a scheduled contingency test that reportedly was not plann...

Narrative:

I was made aware via airspace and procedures bulletin that there would be a test event for ZZZ approach to go ATC 0. I gave my concern to the operations manager that this test that was to take place the following day; was not planned out well and I did not feel; for a test procedure only; (not an emergency); we were as prepared as we needed to be. The supervisor looked up some procedures for guidelines to be followed and some phraseology to use to issue approaches. This is something we do not do in our area. On the test morning I was the one to run the sector; I had 2 or 3 departures and an arrival. I issued the arrival a visual approach clearance. After the test was over we read the contingency plan and come to find out we are not qualified to run the approaches or take the airspace due to equipment and personal limitations. I am not sure what I violated but I know this was not the correct procedure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARTCC Controller voiced concern regarding a scheduled contingency test that reportedly was not planned out very well; noting on post review a number of procedures were not followed.

Narrative: I was made aware via Airspace and Procedures Bulletin that there would be a test event for ZZZ Approach to go ATC 0. I gave my concern to the Operations Manager that this test that was to take place the following day; was not planned out well and I did not feel; for a test procedure only; (not an Emergency); we were as prepared as we needed to be. The Supervisor looked up some procedures for guidelines to be followed and some phraseology to use to issue approaches. This is something we do not do in our area. On the test morning I was the one to run the sector; I had 2 or 3 departures and an arrival. I issued the arrival a visual approach clearance. After the test was over we read the contingency plan and come to find out we are not qualified to run the approaches or take the airspace due to equipment and personal limitations. I am not sure what I violated but I know this was not the correct procedure.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	859859
Time
Date	200911
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	No Aircraft
Person 1
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

ARTCC controller voiced concern regarding a scheduled contingency test that reportedly was not planned out very well; noting on post review a number of procedures were not followed.