Commercial Fixed Wing
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 25
Distraction; Workload; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
I was working Position X. Position Y was feeding me the arrivals. I was not talking to Aircraft X. He was getting close to ZZZZZ the fix prior to approach. I think Position Y was having a hard time because ZZZ1 sector was busy and not shipping all the aircraft. I pointed to the Aircraft X and told Position Y to give Aircraft X FL190 because I was not talking to that aircraft and he had needed to start down. Consequently; I was not talking to the aircraft in time to get him down. And working without a D-side to make the call; I handed the aircraft off high to ZZZ2 Approach. He should have crossed the boundary at 120 but he was more like 170 crossing. They took the hand off and I switched the aircraft. My recommendation is more D-sides. I know there is COVID and we seem to work with fewer controllers and not have the numbers in the control room as usual. And everyone needs a break. We try to have a good work break balance. Talking to the aircraft in a timely manner would help also. As controllers to do our best in switching aircraft in a timely manner. Maybe a better; faster way to get in touch with the pilot. I think I went through company; the last controller; guard frequency; the supervisor. I think it was another company airline that got a hold of him; or that could have been another instance. Yesterday was busy with weather and the situations are all blurring together. And a D-side could have helped to make the call. I kept my eyes on the other air traffic situations to keep them flowing smoothly as well. Thank God approach took that hand off. The sector would have been 10 times more difficult if I had to spin that aircraft to get him to 120 by ZZZZZ and concentrate on the other issues by myself.
Center Controller reported not being able to talk to an aircraft and the prior sector was having difficulties which left the aircraft high at a crossing restriction.