ZKC controller described an airspace incursion event when descending an aircraft due to light chop; ...

Narrative:

An A320 checked on frequency at FL360 requesting ride reports as he had been in continuous light chop for the last 50 miles. After checking with the next sector west of mine; and the sector above for reports at FL380; the A320 requested FL340. I entered the altitude in the computer; trial planned it on uret; pointed out the aircraft to ZMP sector P39 whose airspace the aircraft was above and coordinated descending to FL340. I issued the clearance and after getting a smooth report out of FL355; I relayed this to the ZMP sector working FL350-FL380. Only after the A320 had leveled at FL340 did it occur to me that I did not coordinate with the sector working FL350-FL380 for the portion of the descent between FL360 and FL350. No further incident. [Contributing to the problem is the fact] 4 of the 5 surrounding sectors have different sector altitude splits.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZKC Controller described an airspace incursion event when descending an aircraft due to light chop; noting airspace altitude layering at adjoining sectors contributed to this event.

Narrative: An A320 checked on frequency at FL360 requesting ride reports as he had been in continuous light chop for the last 50 miles. After checking with the next sector west of mine; and the sector above for reports at FL380; the A320 requested FL340. I entered the altitude in the computer; trial planned it on URET; pointed out the aircraft to ZMP sector P39 whose airspace the aircraft was above and coordinated descending to FL340. I issued the clearance and after getting a smooth report out of FL355; I relayed this to the ZMP sector working FL350-FL380. Only after the A320 had leveled at FL340 did it occur to me that I did not coordinate with the sector working FL350-FL380 for the portion of the descent between FL360 and FL350. No further incident. [Contributing to the problem is the fact] 4 of the 5 surrounding sectors have different sector altitude splits.

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	929402
Time
Date	201101
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZKC.ARTCC
State Reference	KS
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Airspace Violation All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

ZKC controller described an airspace incursion event when descending an aircraft due to light chop; noting airspace altitude layering at adjoining sectors contributed to this event.