Controller expressed concern regarding lack of automated handoff capabilities between tpa and ZJX.

Attributes
ACN	651221
Time
Date	200503
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : tpa.tracon
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tpa.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Chancellor 414A & C414
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 4 controller radar : 23
ASRS Report	651221
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA
Primary Problem	FAA
Situations
ATC Facility	computer equipment : tpa.tracon

Narrative:

Someone might have died tonight. I was working a C414 flying IFR to int. I was attempting to hand off this flight to jax approach and no one would take the handoff. I answered the line. I had to circle and delay this flight. The pilot did not seem happy. This incident was investigated by our supervisor. They determined that this incident was the result of an ongoing equipment problem. To make a long story short; the aircraft had filed for 12000 ft and was later amended to 10000 ft. The entries were made via the ZMA computer host which is supposed to forward this critical information to the ZJX computer. Many times the information does not forward on to ZJX. This was one occasion. The aircraft was in handoff status to the wrong sector. The jax approach sector could not see the aircraft in handoff status. Solution: fix the 2 center computers so that they communicate with each other.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING LACK OF AUTOMATED HDOF CAPABILITIES BTWN TPA AND ZJX.

Narrative: SOMEONE MIGHT HAVE DIED TONIGHT. I WAS WORKING A C414 FLYING IFR TO INT. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO HAND OFF THIS FLT TO JAX APCH AND NO ONE WOULD TAKE THE HDOF. I ANSWERED THE LINE. I HAD TO CIRCLE AND DELAY THIS FLT. THE PLT DID NOT SEEM HAPPY. THIS INCIDENT WAS INVESTIGATED BY OUR SUPVR. THEY DETERMINED THAT THIS INCIDENT WAS THE RESULT OF AN ONGOING EQUIP PROB. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT; THE ACFT HAD FILED FOR 12000 FT AND WAS LATER AMENDED TO 10000 FT. THE ENTRIES WERE MADE VIA THE ZMA COMPUTER HOST WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO FORWARD THIS CRITICAL INFO TO THE ZJX COMPUTER. MANY TIMES THE INFO DOES NOT FORWARD ON TO ZJX. THIS WAS ONE OCCASION. THE ACFT WAS IN HDOF STATUS TO THE WRONG SECTOR. THE JAX APCH SECTOR COULD NOT SEE THE ACFT IN HDOF STATUS. SOLUTION: FIX THE 2 CTR COMPUTERS SO THAT THEY COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.