ZAB Controllers described a Restricted Airspace entry when the active status of the area was confused because of URET informational failure/s; the reporters indicating local procedures must be improved.
Synopsis
ZAB Controllers described a Restricted Airspace entry when the active status of the area was confused because of URET informational failure/s; the reporters indicating local procedures must be improved.
Narrative
AIRCRAFT X was landing SDM; routing when I took over the sector was MOHAK.SDM. He was descending out of FL400 for FL340. I got hand offs on two aircraft just West of MOHAK; one at FL370 and one at FL350. I was briefed that we were to follow the sheet provided for the status of restricted areas because our URET wasn't updating properly; the sheet was provided by out MOS. I was also briefed at that time that R2307 was active FL230 and below. Once the briefing was over I cleared AIRCRAFT X direct IPL.SDM to keep him north of the traffic on J18. I then proceeded to start the hand off to LA31. When the aircraft was already in R2307 the controller at LA31 called asking what altitude we were showing R2307. I advised the controller that we were provided a sheet and that we were showing it active FL230 and below all day. The controller informed me that they were showing it active FL890 and below; upon which I told her that our MOS had called the MOS at ZLA and that we were given the sheet to follow because URET wasn't going to be accurate for at least an hour. The controller said they would check with the MOS again and took the hand off. I shipped AIRCRAFT X and the aircraft was turned South out of the restricted area once the aircraft crossed our common boundary. I told my Supervisor what had happened and they started the process of investigating what was going on; when it was discovered that the sheet that had been provided was the wrong one. Up until a few months ago we would receive a strip to be posted at the sector that depicted the status of the restricted areas. It was a very useful tool since ZLA actually has control of R2308; R2306; R2307; and R2301W; all of which are at least partially in ZAB 42/91/65 airspace. The strip was taken away due to ERAM; it was thought that it needed to happen so that once we transitioned to ERAM it would be one less adjustment for the controllers to get used to. However; we have now been without the strip for at least 8-10 months and ERAM is no closer to being implemented full time. There has been much confusion over the past several months as to what the restricted areas are active to. Our FLM's have been proactive in trying to keep us updated; however; today's events clearly show that there is a flaw in the system. Controllers have to have accurate information in order to ensure airspace separation and safe operation of the aircraft in their airspace.
Second reporter narrative
The ZLA computer had been taken down for maintenance during the mid shift. The restricted areas were not updated in the URET computer. I called and asked the ZLA MOS what was happening with URET and was told he was working on it. The ZLA MOS said to go off the sheet that YUMA faxed over the night before with restricted area status on it. The FLM from the Southwest area asked me to take a copy of the sheet down to the area. The MOS had left a large stack of papers covering the restricted areas and MOA'S and ATCAA'S from the night before; many more than was common. I quickly sorted through and found a sheet from YUMA. I made a copy and took it down to the Southwest Area FLM. I told her to go off the sheet until ZLA could update the URET. Later another Southwest Area FLM asked if we had a sheet for the 18th-19th. I again went through the paperwork and this time found a sheet. I copied the sheet and gave it to a FLM who took it down to the area. The OMIC came and asked what had happened and I told him what I had done. He later came back and said it looks like we had an Operational Deviation. This has been an ongoing problem. ZLA does not make updating the URET a priority and we work off of wrong or stale information. It causes a very unsafe situation and a lot of confusion. URET alerts the controllers as to which restricted areas are active and the altitudes that they are in use. They constantly change throughout the day and we need current information to make good decisions. Recommendation; ZLA should be held accountable to put Military airspace into the URET computer in a timely manner. There is no accountability in the system to date. We have fought this battle and when we complain to the OMIC; they say 'Do we really want to fight this battle again today'. Nothing gets done and everyone is frustrated. We are working in the dark. This would not be a problem if everyone would just do their job in a timely manner. I understand the system was up in plenty of time to keep this error from happening.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.