Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
I took over the sector and was briefed on a B777 southbound over the water and was told that coordination had been taken care of with Sector 15. I began the hand off to Sector 15 and shortly afterward they called me and asked if the aircraft had been coordinated in the YANKEE AREA. I told them I just took over and was not sure if YANKEE AREA coordination had been done. I was told by the Controller being relieved that the aircraft was coordinated with Sector 15; however; the YANKEE AREA was not specifically mentioned during the briefing. In fact; I wasn't even aware the aircraft was in the YANKEE AREA since we are not able to depict the YANKEE AREA on the scope. I was fairly busy with other aircraft in the sector and after the issue with the YANKEE AREA came up I asked for a D-Side to help out otherwise I would have devoted more attention to the situation. Military airspace was going hot in/around my sector in less than 30 minutes and I knew I would be getting even busier having to change another Company aircraft's holding pattern to clear DOLPHIN airspace before it went hot. It appears Sector 15 must have some type of depiction for the airspace on their maps because they were telling me the aircraft was inside the YANKEE AREA. The B Area maps do not have any such depiction on the sector map(s). I had asked previously to have the airspace displayed but it has not been accomplished yet. It appears the D Area was able to get some type of depiction on their scope but the B Area was not included. The B area must absolutely be included since the YANKEE AREA is located mostly in B Area Sector 42! On a side note; generally speaking; only about 10-20% of the B Area controllers even know there is a YANKEE AREA and even fewer know what to do with it. I am not even sure myself if coordination is even required at all while working an aircraft in RADAR vs. NON-RADAR. Depict the YANKEE AREA on the scope so that controllers can ascertain when an aircraft is operating in the YANKEE AREA. The YANKEE AREA needs to be briefed as to when coordination is required. Is coordination required only when NON-RADAR or even when the aircraft is in RADAR CONTACT but still remaining clear of ZAK (Oakland Oceanic) Airspace? Brief controllers when and why coordination is required and be specific when briefing so that everyone fully understands what is required and why! This airspace has been in effect for many years but largely ignored most. Lastly; implement an airspace alert when an aircraft will enter the YANKEE AREA just as if it were entering SUA while active. Other sectors use this method to insure coordination has been completed and then afterwards the alert can be acknowledged as taken care of.
ZSE Controller voiced concern regarding the unclear use of the Yankee Area airspace and the fact the subject airspace is not depicted properly on RADAR displays.