Commercial Fixed Wing
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 18
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Manuals; Procedure; Airspace Structure
This is an ONGOING problem. Every day; the Traffic Management Unit (TMU) assigns sector R3 flow control where R3 needs to cross EVERY jet into HNL approach at 10000 MSL at 250 knots at BAMBO and have them 10 miles in trail. The problem is that HNL Approach does NOT take the handoffs at BAMBO. When my D-side called today; the coordinator said they do not see the aircraft and to 'keep them coming.' If HNL Approach cannot see an aircraft at 10000; I don't think it should be standard procedure to cross all aircraft at 10000; which is an altitude that HNL Approach cannot see the aircraft. As an R3 person; I am not certified in HNL Approach Airspace; and I'm not comfortable keeping my planes going into an airspace where I do not know their MIAs; MVAs; and I am not looking at all their traffic. I feel this is a safety issue; because I should not be responsible for their airspace; as well as my own airspace.If HNL Approach cannot see an aircraft at 10000; we should be crossing the aircraft at a higher altitude. HNL Approach does not climb aircraft into our airspace at R3; so maybe we should just stop all aircraft at 17000; and let HNL Approach take care of descending the aircraft down into their airspace. The current procedure creates lots of workload; at an already busy sector. It is very distracting to call EVERY aircraft at BAMBO at 10000 for a handoff; and it is a safety issue; especially during the rush when we may need to call 20 planes in a row.
Hawaii Center Controller reported that the flow control directives regarding arrivals to HCF TRACON airspace are unsafe and create extra workload for the controllers.