PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 9
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert
Airspace Structure; Procedure
Aircraft X was an IFR overflight. I was the OJTI and my Developmental took the handoff on the aircraft. As the aircraft crossed the boundary; I realized he was leaving an 085 MVA into an 080 MVA. We were already talking to the aircraft when he was in the 085 MVA and the aircraft was level at 080. This is my fault for not catching it sooner. This was never an [issue] in the past. Recently ZAB has been allowing overflights to enter our airspace level at 080. The lowest IFR altitude for ELP should be at least 090 due to all the terrain we have. The rumor mill told me it's in the process of being put into our LOA with ZAB that the lowest usable altitude for ELP is 090. This can take months to get through all the approvals it needs.
ELP Tracon Controller reported a developmental controller took handoff on aircraft at an altitude below the MVA.