Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
CMH Approach declared ATC Zero. I took over CMH airspace as per the current plan; LTL had coordinated with CMH Approach thinking they were supposed to take the airspace. This wasted at least 3 minutes and created much confusion. I had an aircraft inbound to DAY within 20 NM of the airport at an altitude of 090 and descending. After wasting more time trying to figure out how to call DAY Tower my D-Side began to pass the inbound flight plan to the Tower. The aircraft was low and close to the airport at this time; I am unaware if Tower already had the flight plan. If they only got it from us they got it late. My D-Side then told me that the Tower called RADAR on the aircraft. I asked him 'Are you sure they said RADAR' he said yes; so I switched the aircraft over to Tower without issuing an approach or terminating RADAR. I would like to have some sort of training on how to correctly take over; and work CMH Approach airspace. This is the second time I have had to do so and I have NEVER been given any type of training on how to do this except a CBI on were to find the contingency plan; which I did NOT have time to find let alone read when I am told I have just acquired airspace I haven't been trained to work. I would like to see checklists at the sector on properly handling CMH Approach ATC Zero as well. A map of the airspace would really be nice. Plus recurrent training on working with VFR towers.
ZID Controller voiced concern regarding the lack of training regarding contingency operations; describing a recent CMH's declaration of ATC Zero and the confusion that ensued.