ZMA controller voiced concern regarding miami approach control's lack of timely responses to hand of...

Narrative:

Air carrier X was [getting] handed off to miami approach. Miami approach was not taking handoff; so I called on the land line trying to get miami approach to take handoff; I called at least three times. Approach controller did not take handoff or answer line. I got off land line and issued a left 360 to air carrier X. I then got on land line and tried to tell approach that air carrier X was making a left 360 and tried to make a point-out. Miami approach still did not answer line. Finally; after a few calls on the land line; the approach controller got on line and stated; 'air carrier Y point out approved making one 360.' I responded with; 'it is air carrier X not air carrier Y;' and got no response. Miami approach then took handoff as the aircraft was in his left 360. I do not know if the 2-1/2 mile buffer was violated prior to approach taking the handoff or stating 'point out approved.' I do not believe that air carrier X ever got into miami approach airspace. Miami approach always takes handoffs very late; so you have very little time to determine if they are going to take handoff or if you are going to have to spin the aircraft. Most of the time they do take handoff; but when they don't it is very hard to remain outside of the 2-1/2 mile buffer. Also; miami approach very rarely answers [the] line in a timely manner if they do at all.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZMA Controller voiced concern regarding Miami Approach Control's lack of timely responses to hand off attempts; adding that this behavior could easily result in airspace infractions.

Narrative: Air Carrier X was [getting] handed off to Miami Approach. Miami Approach was not taking handoff; so I called on the land line trying to get Miami Approach to take handoff; I called at least three times. Approach Controller did not take handoff or answer line. I got off land line and issued a left 360 to Air Carrier X. I then got on land line and tried to tell Approach that Air Carrier X was making a left 360 and tried to make a point-out. Miami approach still did not answer line. Finally; after a few calls on the land line; the Approach Controller got on line and stated; 'Air Carrier Y point out approved making one 360.' I responded with; 'It is Air Carrier X not Air Carrier Y;' and got no response. Miami Approach then took handoff as the aircraft was in his left 360. I do not know if the 2-1/2 mile buffer was violated prior to Approach taking the handoff or stating 'point out approved.' I do not believe that Air Carrier X ever got into Miami Approach airspace. Miami Approach always takes handoffs very late; so you have very little time to determine if they are going to take handoff or if you are going to have to spin the aircraft. Most of the time they do take handoff; but when they don't it is very hard to remain outside of the 2-1/2 mile buffer. Also; Miami Approach very rarely answers [the] line in a timely manner if they do at all.

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	973526
Time
Date	201110
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZMA.ARTCC
State Reference	FL
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B757-200
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

ZMA controller voiced concern regarding miami approach control's lack of timely responses to hand off attempts; adding that this behavior could easily result in airspace infractions.