ZHU controller voiced concern regarding procedures used between ZHU and msya; the radar vs.non-radar...

Narrative:

This is the same as previously reported incidents where msya and ZHU are calling radar/non-radar procedures based on staffing and sectors open/closed. This does not comply with the offshore LOA between msya and ZHU offshore and it is a safety issue! We are denying service to the user whom we promised ads-B too! There was weather and a tropical depression/storm in the msy area and were endangering the safety of the user due to staffing! Why would supervisors agree to non-radar during extreme weather situations! This is ATC zero and not radar/non-radar related! Since the LOA is not being followed and msya is calling non-radar when radar is available the controllers are also confused and because they know there is radar available now they are deviating the ZHU offsh controller they just told to use non-radar procedures. Safety is an issue and causing operational deviations. The LOA between msya and ZHU offshore needs to be followed and radar procedures need to be used to insure safety.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZHU Controller voiced concern regarding procedures used between ZHU and MSYA; the RADAR vs.Non-RADAR applications are dependent upon staffing levels; the reporter noted the current practice is unsafe.

Narrative: This is the same as previously reported incidents where MSYA and ZHU are calling RADAR/Non-RADAR Procedures based on staffing and sectors open/closed. This does not comply with the OFFSHORE LOA between MSYA and ZHU Offshore and it is a safety issue! We are denying service to the user whom we promised ADS-B too! There was weather and a Tropical Depression/Storm in the MSY area and were endangering the safety of the user due to staffing! Why would supervisors agree to Non-RADAR during extreme weather situations! This is ATC ZERO and not RADAR/Non-RADAR related! Since the LOA is not being followed and MSYA is calling Non-RADAR when RADAR is available the controllers are also confused and because they know there is RADAR available now they are deviating the ZHU OFFSH Controller they just told to use Non-RADAR procedures. Safety is an issue and causing operational deviations. The LOA between MSYA AND ZHU OFFSHORE needs to be followed and RADAR procedures need to be used to insure safety.

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	903613
Time
Date	201008
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZHU.ARTCC
State Reference	TX
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Flight Data / Clearance Delivery
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

ZHU controller voiced concern regarding procedures used between ZHU and msya; the radar vs.non-radar applications are dependent upon staffing levels; the reporter noted the current practice is unsafe.