Small Transport
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 12
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown; Training / Qualification
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance
Manuals; Company Policy; Human Factors; Airspace Structure; ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings
Guam ARTCC has a habit of telling aircraft going into TNI to call GSN ATCT and cancel IFR; even though TNI is not in GSN ATCT (Air Traffic Control Tower) airspace. There is no procedure covered in the LOA and it is merely something that has been passed down unofficially in training. The ATM has told people to stop doing this last year; but since we have a few new people; no training order; and an SOP that is 8 years old it is obviously overlooked. Anyway; Aircraft X was cleared on a visual approach to TNI (uncontrolled airport that is located in ZUA airspace). About 20 minutes later; I asked if he had canceled and the R-side said 'I told him to call GSN ATCT to cancel IFR.' I called GSN; and they advised someone had called; but had no idea who it was (why would they) and that someone had said they had landed. Apparently; that is good enough for Guam ARTCC; so the R-side and the CIC took that as Aircraft X closed out their IFR plan about 30 minutes after he was supposed to land. The issue I have besides the fact of our lackluster procedures is that we don't put in the effort for airports such as TNI and GRO because the majority of folks here have no experience with an uncontrolled airport; the procedures of giving clearances or getting IFR cancelations. We give IFR clearances out of GRO on an old landline that says GRO FSS (even though they no longer exist); it is merely a line that goes into the FBO at the GRO airport and it's the guy that just put gas on the plane wanting to go give the pilot his clearance. People here believe it to be a FSS; even though it has been closed since the early turn of the century; but no one got rid of the line or briefed it here so people just assume it is a FSS.We are able to talk to aircraft on the ground at TNI and GRO; but because it is not trained on how to do these things out here; people come up with shortcuts and just do not do it correctly. Train the proper way to conduct operations in and out of uncontrolled airports.
ZUA Center Controller reported controllers use incorrect procedures to determine IFR cancellations of aircraft flying into uncontrolled airports.