Narrative:

Because of recent events and possible terrorist threats we have a new requirement at ZAB that says you must put a check mark in the empty box next to the aircraft call sign in uret while working the r-side alone. I was working 20/63 combined with average traffic slowly building. Air carrier X had entered my sector eastbound to dfw and I neglected to place a check mark next to the call sign. As I went back to uret to place a check mark in another aircraft call sign I noticed that air carrier X did not have the check mark and I was sure without doubt that air carrier X had indeed checked on the frequency and that I had responded. It turns out that air carrier X did not check on my frequency. When it came time to ship air carrier X to fort worth center I did not receive a reply. After another attempt or two I notified my supervisor that I was not talking to air carrier X; as required; and didn't recall at this point if I had a d-side or not; but if I did; one of us promptly called sector 19 and requested they try shipping air carrier X to ink. Air carrier X took the frequency change. Air carrier X had flown through my airspace without being on my frequency for a period of 15 to 20 minutes. Once it was identified that air carrier X was not on my frequency the process to get air carrier X to the correct frequency was probably less than two minutes. I was briefed that terrorist action was expected in the near future and making sure the aircraft are on the appropriate frequency is more important now than ever. I understand the importance and I agreed. This has been a recurring problem for a long time. I also found out that the previous sector working air carrier X had training with a new r-side developmental with low traffic and no d-side. When that developmental shipped air carrier X to my frequency another sector called for coordination involving something else and 19 never received a reply from air carrier X. I know my level of awareness and it is higher than average and I was able to make that mistake. While working busy traffic alone in sector 87 the next day I was more aware and asked several aircraft that had already checked on my frequency weather or not they had indeed checked on my frequency because when I went to uret there was no check mark and I wasn't going to trust my memory. This made me even busier than I already was and it can become a distraction. What's worse were the many times I shipped aircraft that I knew 100% to be on my frequency to the next sector and got no reply on the first or even second attempt. It's adding unnecessary confusion and stress. One aircraft even commented; 'thanks for waking us up;' when I issued a standard traffic call. To top it off after another sector takes radar on an aircraft; the aircraft gray's out in uret; and drops off; so if you ship one of these aircraft and they don't reply you have no idea weather or not you had placed a check mark in the box next to the call sign in uret in the first place. This check mark system is becoming an ineffective distraction and that makes it a safety issue. We need a better system than a check mark on uret to ensure aircraft are on the correct frequency. I don't know what that system could be but I'm aware of our technology and I'm sure we can come up with a huge improvement over our current system which doesn't account for human error. I don't think manning d-sides in every position that has average traffic or more is a fix to this situation. It is too easy for qualified pilots and controllers to make mistakes leading to this type of error again and again; even more so when working busy traffic levels. It is important for aircraft safety and awareness of terrorist action that these mistakes are ended completely.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZAB Controller described failed communications event with traffic transitioning assigned airspace; Reporter noting new URET contact procedure is adding confusion; stress and distractions to an already complex environment.

Narrative: Because of recent events and possible terrorist threats we have a new requirement at ZAB that says you must put a check mark in the empty box next to the aircraft call sign in URET while working the R-side alone. I was working 20/63 combined with average traffic slowly building. Air Carrier X had entered my sector eastbound to DFW and I neglected to place a check mark next to the call sign. As I went back to URET to place a check mark in another aircraft call sign I noticed that Air Carrier X did not have the check mark and I was sure without doubt that Air Carrier X had indeed checked on the frequency and that I had responded. It turns out that Air Carrier X did not check on my frequency. When it came time to ship Air Carrier X to Fort Worth Center I did not receive a reply. After another attempt or two I notified my supervisor that I was not talking to Air Carrier X; as required; and didn't recall at this point if I had a D-side or not; but if I did; one of us promptly called sector 19 and requested they try shipping Air Carrier X to INK. Air Carrier X took the frequency change. Air Carrier X had flown through my airspace without being on my frequency for a period of 15 to 20 minutes. Once it was identified that Air Carrier X was not on my frequency the process to get Air Carrier X to the correct frequency was probably less than two minutes. I was briefed that terrorist action was expected in the near future and making sure the aircraft are on the appropriate frequency is more important now than ever. I understand the importance and I agreed. This has been a recurring problem for a long time. I also found out that the previous sector working Air Carrier X had training with a new R-side developmental with low traffic and no D-side. When that developmental shipped Air Carrier X to my frequency another sector called for coordination involving something else and 19 never received a reply from Air Carrier X. I know my level of awareness and it is higher than average and I was able to make that mistake. While working busy traffic alone in sector 87 the next day I was more aware and asked several aircraft that had already checked on my frequency weather or not they had indeed checked on my frequency because when I went to URET there was no check mark and I wasn't going to trust my memory. This made me even busier than I already was and it can become a distraction. What's worse were the many times I shipped aircraft that I knew 100% to be on my frequency to the next sector and got no reply on the first or even second attempt. It's adding unnecessary confusion and stress. One aircraft even commented; 'thanks for waking us up;' when I issued a standard traffic call. To top it off after another sector takes RADAR on an aircraft; the aircraft gray's out in URET; and drops off; so if you ship one of these aircraft and they don't reply you have no idea weather or not you had placed a check mark in the box next to the call sign in URET in the first place. This check mark system is becoming an ineffective distraction and that makes it a safety issue. We need a better system than a check mark on URET to ensure aircraft are on the correct frequency. I don't know what that system could be but I'm aware of our technology and I'm sure we can come up with a huge improvement over our current system which doesn't account for human error. I don't think manning D-sides in every position that has average traffic or more is a fix to this situation. It is too easy for qualified pilots and controllers to make mistakes leading to this type of error again and again; even more so when working busy traffic levels. It is important for aircraft safety and awareness of terrorist action that these mistakes are ended completely.

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.