Date: 201811
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: ZHU.ARTCC, TX
Aircraft: Pilatus Undifferentiated
Flight plan: VFR
Flight phase: Descent
Airspace: Class E ZHU
ATC / advisory: Center ZHU; TRACON AUS
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Enroute
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness; Workload
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Procedure

Narrative: Aircraft X was flying from Austin Approach airspace through San Antonio Approach Control airspace to 8T6 Live Oak County airport in ZHU Houston ARTCC airspace. The aircraft began flashing to ZHU at the boundary of Austin's Approach airspace when it should have flashed to San Antonio Approach. I mistakenly took the handoff at 5;500 MSL when my airspace didn't start until 9;000 MSL and the aircraft was going to fly through San Antonio's Approach airspace for another 65 NM.After noticing that I took the handoff on accident and had track control; I flashed the aircraft to San Antonio Approach quickly. At this time; the aircraft was already about 8 miles into San Antonio's airspace and his route of flight took him through multiple returns of moderate and heavy precipitation as well as beneath a military operating area (RAN1B 060-220) that San Antonio controlled with multiple military aircraft transitioning to and from as well as local practice approach aircraft in the area around. Aircraft X called on my frequency and I shipped him to San Antonio Approach 127.1 frequency for traffic advisories.Not long after San Antonio Approach took the handoff; they began flashing Aircraft X back to me with another 50 miles to fly through weather and below the military operating area. I gave it a few minutes; thinking it may have been a mistake again but as Aircraft X began flying due west to avoid weather (further into San Antonio Approach Control's airspace); they continued to flash the aircraft to me at ZHU sector 56 and 92. The weather was wide spread throughout my airspace and I was having to find new routes of flight for aircraft that would not take them through weather and coordinate the routes with adjacent sectors. As I was working; San Antonio continued to flash the aircraft to my sector which became a distraction for me as I was vigilant and looking for conflicts due to the multiple deviations for weather.I called the Churn Departure/south east MOA sectors and asked that they take the handoff back thinking they may not realize it was flashing but got no answer. I waited and called again and someone answered the line and only responded 'OK' by a controller who did not leave give their initials but turned out to be [initials removed]. They continued to flash the aircraft. I called to ask for the initials of the controller and a different controller answered and after being combative stated his initials were '[initials removed]' and that he had taken a point-out on that aircraft. I tried to explain that the aircraft was going to be in their airspace for a while and it would be better for them to help the pilot with advisories; but they hung up the line. They continued to flash the aircraft; so I took the handoff. The San Antonio Approach Controller switched Aircraft X to me with at least another 48 miles to fly as the aircraft was deviating left and right trying to navigate through the weather. I did my best to advise the aircraft of the weather; however; I had no pilot reports on any of that weather since I had not worked any aircraft in that airspace belonging to San Antonio Approach (000-130 MSL).I was disappointed at the lack of concern the San Antonio controllers had for the VFR pilot trying to navigate through the weather. I reported the incident to my Supervisor and he agreed that the pilot would've been better served by the Approach Controller giving advisories through their airspace. This seems to be a common occurrence for San Antonio Approach Control controllers to handoff aircraft flying through their airspace an access of 50 or 60 miles and them only taking a point out or handing them off. In this case; it was especially unsafe to do so due to the transitioning aircraft; bad weather; and my own workload of having to plan for weather deviations.I would recommend that we express the importance of providing service to aircraft transitioning through our own airspace and ask that the San Antonio controllers work the aircraft that transition their airspace since they would be able to give a better account of the airspace; local traffic and weather they have in their area of responsibility.




Synopsis: ZHU Center Controller reported a procedural problem with AUS Approach Control that continually takes point outs on aircraft that fly long distances in the Approach Control airspace.