ZDV Controller voiced concern regarding an automated hand-off program that allegedly hands off aircraft to the wrong approach control sector.

Date: 2010-03 · Aircraft: Military Trainer · Phase: cruise

Anomalies: atc-issue-all-types|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy

Synopsis

ZDV Controller voiced concern regarding an automated hand-off program that allegedly hands off aircraft to the wrong approach control sector.

Narrative

Aircraft X called to return to BKF and exit the Cheyenne MOA/ATCAA. I started the track and RADAR identified the aircraft. Aircraft was originally assigned FL200 for traffic; but as per the DEN LOA the aircraft was later climbed to FL210 and that was the assigned altitude. I then notice later that the aircraft started handing off to Denver Approach. What I did not notice was that the computer had started handing the aircraft to the wrong Approach Control sector. The aircraft should have handed to S tags or south Departure. The aircraft instead handed to I tag arrivals. This has been an ongoing problem that remains unfixed. Aircraft that are at assigned altitudes do not hand to the right sectors at DEN approach. I feel this is just an adaptation problem that remains unfixed. I took the hand off back and initiated a hand off to S tags. The aircraft was taken by south departure (S tags) before the aircraft had entered their airspace. I have previously filed this type of problem.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.