ZSE controller described a confused relief effort when the relieving controller utilized the exact o...

Narrative:

Signed on and had my data blocks go full bright. The relieved controller's method of tracking NORAC's is to highlight the aircraft he is talking to. My method is the complete opposite (I highlight the ones I am not talking to.) it is very distracting and consumes valuable time right after assuming control of the sector to have to go to each and every aircraft to unwell the data block. We need one simple standardized way to track NORAC's. While changing over to my system of tracking noracs I missed a hand off flashing at me and sector 13 had to call. Later on sector 46 asked if I could try flight abc to sector 13 frequency because they were NORAC. When I checked to see if the aircraft was on my frequency they were still there so I must have converted the dwell but thought I didn't. I thought the aircraft had already been shipped to sector 13 by the controller had being relieved because of the difference in tracking methods and the conversion process. Implement a standard method for tracking NORAC's so that there is no need for switching methods immediately after taking over a sector. In the meanwhile create a function to allow an all aircraft dwell toggle so that I can toggle all data blocks immediately to my dwell method of tracking noracs. If I could toggle all data blocks to the opposite of what they are then that would be great.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZSE Controller described a confused relief effort when the relieving controller utilized the exact opposite procedure regarding data block illuminations; the reporter suggesting a common facility procedure be adopted.

Narrative: Signed on and had my data blocks go full bright. The relieved Controller's method of tracking NORAC's is to highlight the aircraft he is talking to. My method is the complete opposite (I highlight the ones I am NOT talking to.) It is very distracting and consumes valuable time right after assuming control of the sector to have to go to each and every aircraft to unwell the data block. We need one simple standardized way to track NORAC's. While changing over to my system of tracking NORACs I missed a hand off flashing at me and Sector 13 had to call. Later on Sector 46 asked if I could try flight ABC to Sector 13 frequency because they were NORAC. When I checked to see if the aircraft was on my frequency they were still there so I must have converted the dwell but thought I didn't. I thought the aircraft had already been shipped to Sector 13 by the Controller had being relieved because of the difference in tracking methods and the conversion process. Implement a standard method for tracking NORAC's so that there is no need for switching methods immediately after taking over a sector. In the meanwhile create a function to allow an all aircraft dwell toggle so that I can toggle all data blocks immediately to my dwell method of tracking NORACs. If I could toggle all data blocks to the opposite of what they are then that would be great.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1046558
Time
Date	201211
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZSE.ARTCC
State Reference	WA
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types

ZSE controller described a confused relief effort when the relieving controller utilized the exact opposite procedure regarding data block illuminations; the reporter suggesting a common facility procedure be adopted.