Narrative:

I was working dir 39 at abq ARTCC. Got handoff from sector 93 (FL270 and above, my sector FL240 and above) on medium large transport X at FL280. Aircraft checked on frequency, said ride was rough, requested descent. I called 93 for control of medium large transport X, and medium large transport Y which was being handed to me at the time at FL280. 93 released control of both aircraft. Releasing the land-line, I issued medium large transport X pilot's discretion descent to FL240, not realizing that sector 17 (below 93) owned FL260 and below. When medium large transport Y checked on frequency. I advised pilot that aircraft ahead had reported rough ride and issued pilot's discretion descent to FL240. Both aircraft violated sector 17's airspace. Sector 17 called and asked if I knew they were in his airspace, at which time I realized that was the case. I spent the first 6 yrs of my ATC career at oak ARTCC, and had become used to all sectors being equally stratified, and force of habit led me to forget that sector 17 had different altitudes. I had been certified on sector 39 for about 2 weeks, and have also certified on 3 other sectors at abq ARTCC in the time I have been assigned here (since 12/X/90). I do not know how this deviation could have been avoided, except to suggest that where sectors are differently stratified adjacent to one another, training should emphasize that fact, and instructors should attempt to create situations that make it especially memorable.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARTCC RADAR CTLR DESCENDED 2 ACFT THROUGH ANOTHER CTLR'S AIRSPACE WITHOUT COORD.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING DIR 39 AT ABQ ARTCC. GOT HDOF FROM SECTOR 93 (FL270 AND ABOVE, MY SECTOR FL240 AND ABOVE) ON MLG X AT FL280. ACFT CHKED ON FREQ, SAID RIDE WAS ROUGH, REQUESTED DSNT. I CALLED 93 FOR CTL OF MLG X, AND MLG Y WHICH WAS BEING HANDED TO ME AT THE TIME AT FL280. 93 RELEASED CTL OF BOTH ACFT. RELEASING THE LAND-LINE, I ISSUED MLG X PLT'S DISCRETION DSNT TO FL240, NOT REALIZING THAT SECTOR 17 (BELOW 93) OWNED FL260 AND BELOW. WHEN MLG Y CHKED ON FREQ. I ADVISED PLT THAT ACFT AHEAD HAD RPTED ROUGH RIDE AND ISSUED PLT'S DISCRETION DSNT TO FL240. BOTH ACFT VIOLATED SECTOR 17'S AIRSPACE. SECTOR 17 CALLED AND ASKED IF I KNEW THEY WERE IN HIS AIRSPACE, AT WHICH TIME I REALIZED THAT WAS THE CASE. I SPENT THE FIRST 6 YRS OF MY ATC CAREER AT OAK ARTCC, AND HAD BECOME USED TO ALL SECTORS BEING EQUALLY STRATIFIED, AND FORCE OF HABIT LED ME TO FORGET THAT SECTOR 17 HAD DIFFERENT ALTS. I HAD BEEN CERTIFIED ON SECTOR 39 FOR ABOUT 2 WKS, AND HAVE ALSO CERTIFIED ON 3 OTHER SECTORS AT ABQ ARTCC IN THE TIME I HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED HERE (SINCE 12/X/90). I DO NOT KNOW HOW THIS DEVIATION COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED, EXCEPT TO SUGGEST THAT WHERE SECTORS ARE DIFFERENTLY STRATIFIED ADJACENT TO ONE ANOTHER, TRNING SHOULD EMPHASIZE THAT FACT, AND INSTRUCTORS SHOULD ATTEMPT TO CREATE SITUATIONS THAT MAKE IT ESPECIALLY MEMORABLE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.