If the interface with another facility is down and a southbound KVKS departure is within 15 minutes flying time of the boundary, what is required?

• A. Coordinate with the receiving facility.
• B. Pass the flight plan immediately to the next sector.
• C. No coordination is required due to interface downtime.
• D. Cancel the flight plan and hold.

Answer: (A)

When interfacility data exchange is unavailable, a manual handoff must be made for aircraft near a boundary to ensure continuous separation and awareness. In this scenario, a southbound KVKS departure is within 15 minutes of crossing into the next sector, so you must contact the receiving facility and coordinate the handoff. This ensures the next controller is prepared to accept the aircraft and has the necessary information (position, altitude, route/intent, and estimated boundary crossing time) to maintain safe separation.

Automatic flight plan transfer isn’t available due to the downtime, so you can’t rely on a passive handoff. Coordination is the correct action to ensure a smooth transition. Canceling or holding isn’t indicated unless coordination cannot be completed or safety requires it.