Commercial Fixed Wing
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 7
Communication Breakdown; Troubleshooting; Situational Awareness; Distraction; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic
Human Factors; Procedure; Weather
I was working R30. W151 (warning area 151) was active; and there was a line of precipitation that had been causing aircraft to deviate. Many aircraft were requesting to deviate into W151; which we cannot allow. I had taken several point outs from R17 on aircraft heading northwest through my airspace; deviating for weather. In each instance I had referenced W151 when accepting the point out. In the case of Aircraft X; R17 initiated handoff less than one minute from my boundary. There was no coordination done about the aircraft deviating; nor was there information in the 4th line. I called R17 to inquire as to the intentions of Aircraft X before accepting the handoff; because Aircraft X's current heading would result in entry into W151. The controller informed me that Aircraft X was deviating left of course. I told the R17 controller that Aircraft X was deviating into W151 and that I would be unable to accept the hand off. Rather than correcting Aircraft X's course; the R17 controller elected to transfer communications to me (without the hand off completed); whilst leaving Aircraft X on a heading toward W151. I reported the violation of my airspace to my supervisor; and was able to find an acceptable heading for Aircraft X through the weather. I recommend SET (Skill Enhancement Training) for the R17 controller to reinforce the skills needed to issue weather deviations near warning area airspace; and SET to reinforce skills required to effect a hand off. I also feel; since weather deviations toward warning areas is not a rare occurrence; that perhaps a center wide briefing should be given concerning the concept of looking at the 'big picture'; rather than allowing aircraft to deviate into impossible situations (ie; fly through weather or fly through a warning area).
ZJX Controller described a situation where weather was causing deviations. Close by airspace was a warning area that the Controller was trying to keep aircraft out of. Another adjacent Controller gave the reporter an aircraft on a heading to avoid weather but not avoid the warning area. Reporter advised front line manager of violation and aircraft not being handed off correctly.