Hi C folks,
Eric & I were on a call today with NUW controllers about the HOODOO/DIABLO flight plan issues.
NUW was under the impression this was an “occasional” occurrence, maybe a “one off” and requested some flexibility for when these infrequent occurrences happened.
We assured them it has been happening more often than they seem to realize, and that we had a lot of examples (thank you!) to show them for when this was occurring. We also explained that the airspace has been a backup if the weather didn’t cooperate for a VR route, and it wasn’t in the flight plan.
Their request was for us to be flexible with this, ours was for them to tell us what they wanted to do with these situations that were increasing in numbers. I explained that we are stuck between the LOA that says NUW will put the airspace name in the flight plan, and the .65 that says we are not responsible for monitoring the airspace use.
They were not open to the suggestion to just let any aircraft in who requests entry into the airspace with nothing in the remarks. Basically, it’s on them to get their procedures together and figure out what they want to do. Emma has decided she will give them until Wednesday and will follow up with them if she hasn’t heard from them by then.
Until then - here is our guidance….
Follow your heart.
If they don’t have the remarks in their flight plan and are requesting entry - send them home. Clear them in. Either is fine. I asked NUW for a phone number direct to whomever schedules this stuff so (traffic & workload permitting) the CIC/sup can call and verify the flight can enter the airspace until we have a more permanent solution.
Also - please please continue to keep track of the flights that this is occurring with. Without this data, it can totally be interpreted as an “occasional” occurrence. Print out the strip, write the date on it and leave it in my headset box, or if you want to put it on Jackie’s desk, that’s fine, or give it to EY, or if a sup wants to scan it and email it to Airspace, that’s fine. Just please put the date on it!
In other news…. The Article 5 for Thursdays - we need to know within the next week or so, so please let me or a sup know ASAP.
There was something else and now I’ve forgotten. Thank you for your patience and continued great work on the floor, I appreciate you all!!
Have a great rest of your week
Crumbley
360-635-8244