Large Transport
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 1
Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Time Pressure
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Human Factors; Procedure
While working the Granite arrival sector; the Lake arrival sector was receiving aircraft from LA center over the LUXOR waypoint on the GRNPA arrival. The airport was on Configuration 3; landing runways 25; and 19. Departures off of runway 1; fly east and climb directly at the arrivals from LUXOR in this configuration. This event is an example of an ongoing problem with LA center delaying communications transfer of aircraft handed off to L30 TRACON on a routine basis until aircraft are at or inside L30 TRACON boundary. Due to this continuing routine late communication transfer the aircraft in question was not vectored and issued descent in a timely manner and turned on his last assigned route right into departure traffic; creating an unsafe condition. This unsafe condition continued as the aircraft was finally on the Lake sectors frequency at an altitude and speed and location that made it impossible for a descent and landing on runway 25; so was therefore vectored to the other runway 1 impacting the traffic already destined for that runway. A complex situation was made very difficult and unsafe due to routine delay of aircraft communication change by LA center.I have worked as an ATCS for [many] years. In all those years it has been reasonable and customary for aircraft to be changed to the receiver's frequency as soon as possible after completion of radar handoff. LA center sectors 6; 7; 8 and 16 routinely delay the communications change of completed handoffs until the aircraft are at or inside L30 TRACON boundary. This delay causes aircraft to be delayed and or rerouted and causes increased complexity and decreased safety as a result.If there is a valid reason for this delay in communications change and that reason is systemic; than a systemic change must be made to allow immediate communication change upon completion of handoff. If there is an individual valid reason for the delay in communications change then coordination of that reason must be given so planning can take place. In the absence of the above corrective fixes; there is no valid reason for the delay and it must be eliminated.
L30 TRACON Controller reports of an ongoing situation where the overlying Center sector is not transferring communications of aircraft until at the sector boundary or inside L30's airspace. Reporter states this happens often and leaves aircraft high or in conflict with other traffic.