Military
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 3.5
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance
Airspace Structure; Human Factors; Manuals; Procedure
To begin there was an Altitude Reservation (ALTRV) for the flight for which I don't recall being briefed. I was working the position by myself with no radar assist. TRACON called to coordinate Aircraft X a flight of 5. They coordinated the flight and a block altitude of 10;000 feet thru 12;000 feet. I read the flight plan information and saw the remarks mentioned ALTRV and Military Authority Assumes Responsibility for Separation of Aircraft (MARSA). The aircraft checked in flight of 5 in the altitude block.I went back to my traffic and asked the aircraft its requested altitude to which he replied block altitude 21;000 feet thru 23;000 feet. I told the aircraft I had its request. I went back to my departures and asked Aircraft X if it was on a heading because its route did not appear to be following the flight plan. The pilot responded 'were on a heading 110.' I read his flight plan and cleared it to the next fix I recalled seeing on the flight plan. I cleared Aircraft X in the block 21;000 feet thru 23;000 feet. I coordinated all the information that was given to me by TRACON and also what was on the strip that the aircraft was going to an ALTRV.Three or four hours later I was informed that the aircraft was never MARSA and that it began refueling operations; all this happened out of my sector. I was informed that I should of declared MARSA for the aircraft and that I should of cleared him into the ALTRV for refueling operations for which I do not agree.In accordance to FAA publication 7110.65 paragraph 2-1-11 section b. It states verbatim. 'ATC facilities do no invoke or deny MARSA. Their sole responsibility concerning the use of MARSA is to provide separation between military aircraft engaged in MARSA operations and other nonparticipating IFR aircraft.' After further looking into the matter. The ALTRV for which I do not recall being briefed on begins in TRACON airspace and it is their responsibility to clear them in and have them report MARSA; so I never questioned it. The only thing I that was a concern to me was the route in which the aircraft was on because it's heading did not appear to follow the ALTRV so I cleared the aircraft from its heading to next point I recall being on its flight plan.The most important thing I can state about this incident is the lack of planning and information. This is not a type of operation that is done on a daily basis. As such I believe everything from phraseology to the actual procedures should be reviewed in advance for this type of operation. ARTCC is getting into the habit of throwing you a piece of paper and saying 'good luck' without giving proper or accurate information and it needs to stop! I never questioned TRACON because there was a flight of five in the block 10;000 feet to 12;000 feet on what appeared to be an ALTRV that begins in their airspace. So from reading the strip I believe they are MARSA already on a route; why would I question anything? Unless he was off course and the aircraft was so I gave the aircraft what I thought was the next fix. As for what happened later outside of my airspace. I never cleared the aircraft to refuel and since when does the military start refueling on their own in an ALTRV for which he apparently was never cleared for?The reason for so many errors in my opinions is the lack of planning; coordination and procedures; the lack of appropriate staffing in the area; also no radar assist to receive information while the radar controller is trying to separate traffic. I may have cleared the aircraft to a fix unintentionally and I own that. But just like I accept responsibility when it comes down to it; it starts from the top. Improper dissemination of information to the supervisors and to the controllers and at that point it's a matter of 'survival' working with the scraps of information given.
An Air Traffic Controller reported conflicting information regarding proper procedures for clearing military aircraft into block altitudes and for an Altitude Reservation (ALTRV).