Helicopter
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 18
Situational Awareness; Human-Machine Interface; Distraction; Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors; Procedure
Aircraft X called me and asked if restricted area R2510 was active. On my display it was showing inactive. I told the pilot it was inactive and quickly glanced at the time it was to change and told him that as well.It turns out; whoever was responsible for updating the restricted areas made a mistake so it was showing cold when in fact it was hot. The pilot called in to the front desk to complain about being 'buzzed' by fighter jets when transiting the airspace.When I looked back over my left shoulder to find the time the restricted area was to change; I should have taken a closer look. I would have realized that the board was accurate. It showed the restricted area active; but I didn't look that far. I only looked at the time It was to change. I should have paid closer attention. Although the restricted area should have been displayed as active on my display I could have prevented the incident with a little more awareness.
40 nm west of BWC; I contacted LA Center on Freq. to determine whether R-2510 was 'hot or cold'. I was then told by the Controller that R-2510 was in fact 'cold/inactive'. I was then approved to enter the restricted airspace eastbound to [my] destination. Middle of the airspace (15nm east of BWC); I noted a formation of 4 fighter jet aircraft performing aerobatics with smoke. Upon the jets finishing their maneuver I elected to climb in altitude to about 3000MSL to provide more vertical separation. I then contacted LA Center to confirm again that the airspace was 'cold'; he replied that it was indeed 'cold/inactive'. During this time; one of the four fighter jets approached the helo to recon/ident our aircraft. I reported the event to the controller; where he then contacted resources on his end to further confirm the status of R-2510. The LA Center controller came back and stated 'there are schedule conflicts in the system and the airspace has gone hot/active; but was cold when I was cleared through.' The controller then provided me with a supervisor number where I followed up after landing. It was determined that the pilot was not at fault since he was cleared through the 'thought-to-be' inactive zone.
ZLA Controller and helicopter pilot reported of incorrect information which led to an airspace deviation. The Controller had advised the pilot that the restricted airspace was inactive; approved the flight through the airspace when the airspace was actually active.