Date: 201512
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.ARTCC, US
Aircraft: Hercules (C-130)/L100/382
Operator: Military
Flight plan: IFR
Flight phase: Cruise
Airspace: Class E ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Center ZZZ
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Enroute
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Workload
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Automation Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Contributing factors: Procedure; Airspace Structure; Human Factors
Primary problem: Procedure

Narrative: I just took the sectors; and I feel like all the aircraft were calling at the same time. This isn't unusual; but it takes a lot of my focus when I'm just sitting down getting the flick. I had a flight of 5 C130s at 12;000 feet underneath the MOA which was active 12;500 feet and above. I assumed they were looking for a clearance into an airport. As I got busy dealing with all the airplane ride complaints; check-ons and requests the C130s got closer to a higher terrain minimums area that was 13;900 feet. I asked the C130s what their intentions were and he said he wanted to operate in the MOA. We don't clear aircraft into the MOA. That is approach's clearance to issue as we don't control them. So the aircraft was under active airspace and heading towards high terrain. We called approach for the hand off and they said they would call us back and the aircraft entered the area of higher terrain right before or as they finally took the handoff after we had to call back. The aircraft didn't have clearance into the MOA; as they didn't schedule it out before departing. This is really becoming problematic.The TRACON/RAPCON should take control of the airspace underlying the MOA. The Sector being split would have helped. This sector is slow volume wise; but potentially very complex with all the weird airspace and high terrain. It's made even more complex when first taking the sector combined up that has several airplanes and the frequency congestion. The fighter wing needs to file for the MOA in their flight plans prior to departing.If the RAPCON and TRACONs controlled all the airspace underlying the lateral confines of the MOA; as well as cleared aircraft into and out of the airport; the sector would rarely need to be split off. I would highly recommend this being changed.Approach bothers the controllers with idiotic and annoying landline calls; often at the worst possible times. This is a massive annoyance and distraction to the controllers.




Synopsis: Controller worked a military flight of five C130s under the base of a MOA. The flight requested clearance to enter the MOA. A military facility is the controlling agency for the MOA.  The ARTCC Controller attempted to handoff the aircraft to the military controlling agency; but they would not immediately take the handoff. The aircraft was heading for an area of high terrain where the minimum vectoring altitude was 1;500 feet higher than the aircraft. The Controller could not climb the aircraft since the MOA was above. The MOA control facility called back to take the handoff but not in enough time to prevent the aircraft from entering the higher Minimum Vectoring Altitude area.