ZHU controller described an unauthorized airspace entry event. The reporter alleged a new airspace b...

Narrative:

An E145 was in sequence; but very high. The aircraft was vectored off course to descend; then re-cleared on the arrival. Because of inadequate radar; an agreement was made to ignore established mileage requirements to make a hand off; and instead; the controller making the hand-off just let the aircraft proceed into another controllers airspace without a hand off. Despite having this unsafe procedure in effect; I was told I had a deviation for reasons beyond my pay grade. Houston approach can only see aircraft seven miles from the boundary and houston center could not keep the aircraft out of their airspace from that point. Something had to give and in this case it was safety. Put the boundaries back to the previous position and let safety be the important component of ATC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZHU Controller described an unauthorized airspace entry event. The reporter alleged a new airspace boundary; inadequate RADAR coverage by I90 and utilizing an impromptu procedure caused the event.

Narrative: An E145 was in sequence; but very high. The aircraft was vectored off course to descend; then re-cleared on the arrival. Because of inadequate RADAR; an agreement was made to ignore established mileage requirements to make a hand off; and instead; the controller making the hand-off just let the aircraft proceed into another controllers airspace without a hand off. Despite having this unsafe procedure in effect; I was told I had a deviation for reasons beyond my pay grade. Houston Approach can only see aircraft seven miles from the boundary and Houston Center could not keep the aircraft out of their airspace from that point. Something had to give and in this case it was safety. Put the boundaries back to the previous position and let safety be the important component of ATC.

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	902003
Time
Date	201008
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZHU.ARTCC
State Reference	TX
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

ZHU controller described an unauthorized airspace entry event. The reporter alleged a new airspace boundary; inadequate radar coverage by I90 and utilizing an impromptu procedure caused the event.