The rule about point outs to ZHU/ZFW that may be accomplished after a handoff is started or an aircraft has entered holding applies to which scenario?

• A. When the aircraft is inbound to the sector.
• B. When there is no data block available.
• C. A handoff has started or the aircraft has entered holding.
• D. When the weather is degraded.

Answer: (C)

Point outs to ZHU/ZFW are a coordination step used to keep the receiving center informed during the transfer of an aircraft. This can be done after a handoff has started or once the aircraft has entered holding because, in those moments, the handoff process is already underway and the receiving facility needs timely, current information to maintain safe separation and proper sequencing as control shifts. The action ensures the next sector has essential data even if the full data exchange isn’t complete yet. Being inbound to the sector isn’t the trigger for this exception, and the lack of a data block or degraded weather aren’t the specific conditions that enable this point-out rule.