Center Operations Manager reported Center took over airspace from the TRACON due to TRACON frequency outages. Another Center Controller reported an aircraft flew below the minimum terrain requirements due to the controller's lack of training and lack of published procedures to follow when Center was working with unfamiliar TRACON airspace.
Synopsis
Center Operations Manager reported Center took over airspace from the TRACON due to TRACON frequency outages. Another Center Controller reported an aircraft flew below the minimum terrain requirements due to the controller's lack of training and lack of published procedures to follow when Center was working with unfamiliar TRACON airspace.
Narrative
ZZZ TRACON once again lost their frequencies and we assumed their airspace. We have no training working this airspace; it is not safe for us to do it. Close the airspace when ZZZ TRACON loses their frequencies. ZZZ Tower called for a release on Aircraft X. I had no traffic and released them climbing to 11000 ft. The aircraft checked on assigned southwestern heading that was not coordinated with me. Due to working someone else's airspace that I was not trained for and have no business working; I was unfamiliar with the procedures and assumed this was normal and that I would clear them on course once above the MIA. The aircraft requested on course and I told them unable and explained to them that they were below the MIA. After that they informed me if they remained on that heading; they would run into terrain; and that they could maintain their own terrain and obstruction avoidance. I allowed them to proceed on course. ZZZ ARTCC should not be taking the X airspace when the frequencies go down unless in the event of an emergency outage to maintain safety. The procedure that dictates we take it was written back when a majority of the controllers had experience working those airports before the X airspace existed. That is no longer the case. You might as well be telling me to go work traffic in the east or the north because of a few of their controllers got COVID. It's not my airspace; I'm not trained on it; or practiced at working it. ZZZ Tower is clearly not trained to work with us either or this wouldn't have happened. Stop making us take the X airspace for a protracted period of time on a whim just because they lose a few frequencies. It's ZZZ TRACON's airspace; make them find a way to work it. Or ground all GA when it happens and let us 1 in; one out of the bigger airports.
Second reporter narrative
For the past few days; at least since Date; the frequencies for X airspace portion of ZZZ TRACON have been in and out. On Date 1; the frequencies completely quit working in the X airspace and ZZZ had to assume this portion [of] ZZZ TRACON's airspace. Today; we had an aircraft depart ZZZ [Airport]. There is a procedure spelled out in a document between ZZZ Tower and ZZZ TRACON that allows DVA's (Diverse Vector Area) to be used. ZZZ Tower tried to apply the same procedures with ZZZ ARTCC; and we cannot do it. We don't have these procedures spelled out in any LOA between ZZZ Tower / ZZZ ARTCC; and nobody is trained on how to do this.We need to figure out a more stable frequency platform for the X airspace. These frequencies are notorious for not being stable for very long. We need to add an LOA between ZZZ Tower / ZZZ ARTCC that spells out procedures for when ZZZ assumes the X airspace portion of ZZZ TRACON's airspace. We need to add training to the northwest specialty that will help them work the X airspace portion of ZZZ TRACON's airspace when we assume it. There are very few controllers that are able to work that airspace. I don't feel any are proficient at it.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.