Narrative:

A PC12 called me VFR off dxz requesting an IFR clearance. I issued the PC12 a clearance leaving 130; the MVA in the area is 124; to climb to FL190. I had a slow climbing aircraft at FL210 crossing his path. Very soon after; ZLC flashed a hand off on a cessna at approximately 082 climbing to 140. The two aircraft were head on and both in a MVA of 124. PC12 was climbing at a rate to ensure that he would be IFR entering ZLC's airspace. Cessna was only 5 miles from the sector boundary when ZLC initiated the hand off. I initiated the hand off on PC12 well prior to the boundary. ZLC sector 44 which was working the cessna never called to let me know the status of the cessna. Since the cessna was the over 4;000 ft below the MVA; I believed him to be VFR. I called ZLC sector 44 to ask what kind of clearance the cessna was on and he said that he had an IFR clearance with a VFR climb to 130. I told the ZLC 44 controller that the cessna was point out approved reference the PC12 who would also be IFR at 130. I told ZLC 44 that I would ask the PC12 if he could climb VFR to 150 and then had my d-side and tell them that the PC12 would comply. This is a new and dangerous practice for ZLC. The past practice was for ZLC to call and apreq non radar clearances off cdc due to it's proximity to the ZLC/ZLA boundary. The cessna aircraft usually file V21 which allows them to climb west of cdc and where there is only a 100 MVA. This route is also laterally separated from our dxz departures. A ZLC controller is issuing these aircraft direct MMM which puts them well below the MVA and in conflict with dxz aircraft. This situation has happened on more than this occasion. I don't know what ZLC's plan was if they needed to miss my traffic and/or airspace. Recommendation; aircraft IFR off cdc southbound to ZLA must be apreqed if they will not be above the MVA and IFR entering ZLA's airspace. Another option is to not issue clearances so close to the boundary; but leave the aircraft VFR and release control to ZLA. It is a poor practice to issue clearances for which you have no plan B if the receiving sector cannot accept the hand off.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZLA Controller voiced concern regarding the issuance of an IFR clearances with a VFR climb in high terrain utilized by ZLC; noting a potential conflict in this instance.

Narrative: A PC12 called me VFR off DXZ requesting an IFR clearance. I issued the PC12 a clearance leaving 130; the MVA in the area is 124; to climb to FL190. I had a slow climbing aircraft at FL210 crossing his path. Very soon after; ZLC flashed a hand off on a Cessna at approximately 082 climbing to 140. The two aircraft were head on and both in a MVA of 124. PC12 was climbing at a rate to ensure that he would be IFR entering ZLC's airspace. Cessna was only 5 miles from the sector boundary when ZLC initiated the hand off. I initiated the hand off on PC12 well prior to the boundary. ZLC Sector 44 which was working the Cessna never called to let me know the status of the Cessna. Since the Cessna was the over 4;000 FT below the MVA; I believed him to be VFR. I called ZLC Sector 44 to ask what kind of clearance the Cessna was on and he said that he had an IFR clearance with a VFR climb to 130. I told the ZLC 44 Controller that the Cessna was point out approved reference the PC12 who would also be IFR at 130. I told ZLC 44 that I would ask the PC12 if he could climb VFR to 150 and then had my D-Side and tell them that the PC12 would comply. This is a new and dangerous practice for ZLC. The past practice was for ZLC to call and APREQ Non RADAR clearances off CDC due to it's proximity to the ZLC/ZLA boundary. The Cessna aircraft usually file V21 which allows them to climb west of CDC and where there is only a 100 MVA. This route is also laterally separated from our DXZ departures. A ZLC Controller is issuing these aircraft direct MMM which puts them well below the MVA and in conflict with DXZ aircraft. This situation has happened on more than this occasion. I don't know what ZLC's plan was if they needed to miss my traffic and/or airspace. Recommendation; aircraft IFR off CDC southbound to ZLA must be APREQed if they will not be above the MVA and IFR entering ZLA's airspace. Another option is to not issue clearances so close to the boundary; but leave the aircraft VFR and release control to ZLA. It is a poor practice to issue clearances for which you have no plan B if the receiving sector cannot accept the hand off.

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.