Stratofortress (B-52)
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
I came in to relieve the R-Side; he had no D-Side at the time. However; the R-Side was too busy to give a relief briefing. I asked if he could use the help of a D-Side and he said yes. I stepped in on the D-Side to help out; but was never given a real briefing. At the time a B-52 was breaking off from his flight with his partner who was refueling. The B-52 was requesting the local MOA. The airspace was scheduled to be active on the hour. The R-Side asked me to coordinate the use of the airspace and make the airspace active right then; and also request the MOA to be active on the hour since it wasn't scheduled until then. I called the surrounding sectors and got the airspace; at the same time I was trying to update the B-52's flight plan so that he was routed into the airspace and so that he had a delay in the flight plan. Around 10 past the hour an adjacent sector called to ask if subject area was active. I replied that it was; and at that moment realized that during the confusion I neglected to coordinate the use of the airspace with them. I would dare say that most; if not all controllers; have done like I did and just stepped in on the D-Side to help out without receiving a proper briefing. I also know that I will no longer do that; and I will be sure to receive a proper briefing before doing any coordination or any other control function.
Enroute Controller described an airspace infraction event alleging a hurried attempt to help a R-Side Controller by assisting at the D-Side without a proper briefing caused the event.