Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure; Equipment / Tooling
Signed on and had my data blocks go full bright. The relieved Controller's method of tracking NORAC's is to highlight the aircraft he is talking to. My method is the complete opposite (I highlight the ones I am NOT talking to.) It is very distracting and consumes valuable time right after assuming control of the sector to have to go to each and every aircraft to unwell the data block. We need one simple standardized way to track NORAC's. While changing over to my system of tracking NORACs I missed a hand off flashing at me and Sector 13 had to call. Later on Sector 46 asked if I could try flight ABC to Sector 13 frequency because they were NORAC. When I checked to see if the aircraft was on my frequency they were still there so I must have converted the dwell but thought I didn't. I thought the aircraft had already been shipped to Sector 13 by the Controller had being relieved because of the difference in tracking methods and the conversion process. Implement a standard method for tracking NORAC's so that there is no need for switching methods immediately after taking over a sector. In the meanwhile create a function to allow an all aircraft dwell toggle so that I can toggle all data blocks immediately to my dwell method of tracking NORACs. If I could toggle all data blocks to the opposite of what they are then that would be great.
ZSE Controller described a confused relief effort when the relieving controller utilized the exact opposite procedure regarding data block illuminations; the reporter suggesting a common facility procedure be adopted.