Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 18
Confusion; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Procedure; Manuals; Human Factors
A long standing culture is that 'nobody cares' if a VFR enters another facility's airspace without a handoff/pointout.  This has been a source of debate at this facility for over 20 years.During OJT (On Job Training) a VFR flight-following [aircraft] was approaching the receiving facility but not in handoff status. OJTI (On Job Training Instructor) told the trainee to commence it or manually coordinate the handoff. The Controller on Flight Data asked; 'Does a VFR need approval to enter center's airspace? It's VFR. There is no separation standard.' OJTI stated that Chapter 5 of the 7110.65 states that no aircraft under your control can enter another facility/sector's airspace without a handoff or pointout; and that it does not differentiate between IFR or VFR.Aircraft X departed and climbing to 17;500 feet. NAS VFR flights do not auto-handoff and the OJT was distracted by an aircraft that was telling us about an unknown aircraft following it in close proximity. Tower called down to tell Data that Aircraft X was climbing unrestricted; OJT did not know that. OJTI saw Aircraft X approaching the top of our airspace and told the trainee to hand it off or stop the climb; the aircraft climbed into center airspace before it could occur. No loss of separation with other aircraft.The 7110.65 Chapter 4 is IFR. The 7110.65 Chapter 5 is radar. Chapter 5 of the 7110.65 states that no aircraft under your control can enter another facility/sector's airspace without a handoff or pointout; and that it does not differentiate between IFR or VFR. Some controllers maintain that VFR aircraft under one's control need no handoff/pointout to enter another facility/sectors airspace.I expect this to be unambiguously clarified; briefed; and enforced.
Controllers had a disagreement over the requirement to hand off a VFR aircraft from a TRACON to an ARTCC.