Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 5
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance
Airspace Structure; Chart Or Publication; Manuals
New Letter of Agreement (LOA) between TRACON and ARTCC went into effect. LOA briefings were conducted for a simplified LOA that allowed for greater control on arrival and departure aircraft to minimize coordination between TRACON and ARTCC. However; a previous segment of the LOA; one giving TRACON control for descents outside the lateral boundaries of the airspace to 10;000 feet on a STAR was inadvertently dropped from the new LOA. While the intent was not to remove that section; it was. We didn't get briefed on the missing section and have been operating under the previous provision that gave us control for descents to 10;000 feet. This has likely resulted in many dozens of airspace Operational Deviations.We just now are getting pre-position face to face briefings to suspend this practice until a new; amended LOA containing the dropped provision is signed and put into effect.Develop a facility 'area team' to have a team of controllers and supervisors meet; at the same time; to review all LOA/SOP changes to minimize the risk of overlooked items of this nature. I would recommend a Front Line Manager/Controller/Staff person team be implemented and given official time to all meet in committee to review proposed changes.
A revision to a Letter of Agreement (LOA) was published. Previous preapproved coordination rules were accidentally omitted from the new LOA. The rule allowed TRACON controllers to descend aircraft while still in ARTCC's airspace. Controllers were not briefed on the omission and continued to operate under the previous rule which no longer existed in the new publication.