Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 13
Situational Awareness; Distraction; Confusion; Training / Qualification; Workload; Troubleshooting
ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Procedure; Aircraft
ZZZ TRACON planned to surrender their ZZZ1; ZZZ2; and ZZZ3 sectors to ZZZ ARTCC initially around XA:00 pm local due to facility cleaning of a COVID-19 positive. Area X (controllers and management) objected to the proposed time frame and was able to push the event back to around XD:00 pm local.Shortly before the XD:00 pm acquisition of airspace from ZZZ TRACON; we learned that there would be no radar service to any of the City satellite airports. We were given the following stipulations: No IFR service to ZZZ4; ZZZ5; ZZZ6; ZZZ7; etc. No VFR Flight Following will be provided in ZZZ TRACON's airspace. Any IFR aircraft not willing to cancel IFR and proceed to their satellite destination VFR without any radar service from ATC will be kept out of ZZZ TRACON's and offered an alternate airport for landing in ZZZ Centers airspace.At XI:04z; ZZZ2 ARTCC called ZZZ ARTCC Sector XY to coordinate a possible emergency situation with Aircraft X. The aircraft (a type) was originally off of ZZZ8 to; as ZZZ1 ARTCC stated; 'Somewhere in the midwest' but changed his destination to ZZZ4 because a service center was located there. The issue affecting the flight was with a fuel pump trying to incorrectly pump fuel to a wing (or tank) that it wasn't supposed to. This was not an emergency at the time but serious enough to change the destination and have the aircraft inspected by maintenance.At XI:07z; the aircraft checked on with ZZZ ARTCC sector XY. As the situation developed; it was discovered through management that if the pilot declared an emergency; it would have no impact on the reduced level of service he would receive from ZZZ TRACON enroute to ZZZ4.Shortly after this time; I relieved CPC [Name] at [Sector] XY and began working the sector. Upon realizing the possible developing situation and the corner that I was being put in; I declared to continue under Article 65 of the 2016 FAA/NATCA CBA. My experience painted a picture of a night time; single-engine and (possibly single pilot); IFR flight being operated in IMC; with a fuel pump issue that likely could become an emergency situation; wanting to land at an airport that would have no radar service for the last 45 miles of flight; IFR or VFR. At some point Management requested the pilot provide an alternate airport. In a brief discussion with the pilot on the frequency; I suggested ZZZ because in my mind; it's the only airport that would have any kind of radar service. As the pilot reluctantly continued on to ZZZ4; he was forced to descend to find VFR conditions. It wasn't until he broke out of the clouds below 4;000 feet that he announced he could continue VFR. This now meant that this aircraft had to fly the last 45 miles to ZZZ4 at 3;000 feet. Any level of safety that altitude provides to an aircraft (in distress or otherwise) was forcibly sacrificed. Additionally; to remain clear of the Class Bravo; the flight was vectored to the east of side of the city toward the ZZZZZ way point and then northbound. The pilot mentioned his plan was to fly north from there and then turn west toward ZZZ4 and call the tower when he got 10 miles out. This added additional miles and flight time to the situation. Again: Single-engine (possibly single-pilot); night; IMC; with a mechanical issue and no radar service.At XI:33z; the pilot informed me that he could proceed VFR to ZZZ4; and radar service was terminated by ZZZ ARTCC.Other factors during this ZZZ TRACON COVID cleaning period:VFR aircraft off of ZZZ4 enroute to ZZZ9 could not maintain VFR and needed a short range IFR clearance with an RNAV approach clearance.Volunteer (call sign unknown) aircraft inbound to ZZZ9 requested and received radar vectors to the ILS [runway] X approach.Finally; at the end of the cleaning period; ZZZ TRACON suggested that ZZZ ARTCC just keep the airspace for the rest of the night which was agreed to by ZZZ ARTCC.Consider the impacts of Covid-19 cleaning; not to just the affected facilities but also the flying community.
Center Controller reported underlying TRACON went ATC Zero for COVID cleaning; and described the problems associated with getting an aircraft to a diversionary airport without TRACON services.