Regional Jet 700 ER/LR (CRJ700)
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Airspace Structure; Human Factors; Procedure
I told the CRJ-700 to cross SHIKY at and maintain FL280 as required via LOA with Chicago Center. After observing that the plane had initiated the descent and the RADAR handoff had been taken by the Badger Sector at Chicago; I shipped the CRJ-700 to the G60 Sector. I noticed a few minutes later that the plane had descended to FL240 in my airspace; this is not approved via the LOA. Chicago Center changes the LOA often. Maybe if it stayed the same for awhile it would help.
While working the FLM position; I heard the R13 Controller telling me to; 'Close your ears.' The Controller then goes on to tell a co-worker that ZAU had just descended a CRJ-700 without coordination or approval (via LOA or verbal). The co-worker told the Controller he/she should let the ZAU Controller know what happened. From what I overheard; the ZAU Controller was completely unaware. What's troubling about this event is the Controller's desire to have me 'close my ears.' For some reason; controllers still seem to want to hide and cover up events; even though it's my strong belief that the Controller intended to file a report. There seems to be a continuing 'no harm; no foul' attitude about safety events. For me; this again paints the pathological nature existing; and seemingly growing. Very sad and; as I've said before; quite possibly at some point will result in a severe safety event. Either change the LOA to allow descent on the SHIKY transition of the BULLZ STAR; or at minimum (re)educate the ZAU area about their lack of control for descent on this route. As far as the 'close your ears' aspect of this; it would seem ZMP needs some sort of reinforcement about the benefits of reporting items and having an open attitude towards safety problems and events. The repeated actions of trying to keep things hidden needs to stop somehow.
ZMP Controller described a LOA violation on the part of ZOA when descending an aircraft while still in ZMP's airspace.