Date: 201512
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZBW.ARTCC, NH
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Descent
Airspace: Class E ZBW
ATC / advisory: Center ZBW
Second aircraft: Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Enroute
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Workload; Communication Breakdown
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Contributing factors: Procedure; Human Factors; Airspace Structure
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: Working sectors with an average traffic volume. I'm watching Aircraft X flash at New York TRACON; Newark Area and they have still not taken the handoff. I think this is odd because they have taken the last few from me without any issues; Aircraft X is level at 7000 feet and at the appropriate speed. So I call for the handoff; and get no reply over the line. I look up above me to the TSD (A zoomed out picture of our area which shows New York traffic as well). The New York approach controller only has 3 airplanes. I had to make a few clearances and I call again on the handoff; no response at all. Now I have the Controller-In-Charge's attention because he hears me calling for handoffs and not getting a response. I have to spin to the airplane now to avoid hitting New York approach airspace; I didn't think it was worth even calling for a point out because they were not picking up the line. I thought maybe they had the speaker turned down and could not hear me calling which frequently happens and is a separate issue with New York Approach. Aircraft X turns his aircraft 180 degrees in the other direction to avoid hitting New York approach airspace. Still nothing from the New York approach controller; the Controller-In-Charge is now calling New York Approach to figure why A) They are not taking handoffs and B) Why they are not answering the line. While the Controller-In-Charge is on the phone with the supervisor down in New York Approach the controller comes on the line and says 'you gotta ship the guy over SAX.' I get on the line and say 'that would have been nice to know; I can't read your mind.' The New York approach controller tells me to put Aircraft Y on a 080 heading and ship him; which I do. Now I am turning out 4 airplanes going to Newark Airport because the New York approach controller can't simply pick up the line and say request communications on Aircraft X. As the Controller-In-Charge stated on the line with the New York approach control supervisor I'm tired of playing this game. This is not how you control traffic; this is not how you work together; and this is not safe. New York approach works under their own rules which compromise safety constantly. Examples are turning off frequencies and not monitoring them when combined up; turning the speaker down on position to not hear other facilities calling; the example above when they need something (aircraft communications; need Boston ARTCC to hold aircraft) their solution is to let the next aircraft auto-handoff until it creates an unsafe situation or no notice holds.Four aircraft we vectored and one 180 degrees in the wrong direction because this New York Approach controller couldn't pick up the line the request communications with the aircraft. He wasn't busy; he was trying to teach me a lesson? So next time when I don't know if I shipped the aircraft or the aircraft didn't take the frequency change without me knowing I will figure it out? This is pathetic; there are people on these planes; companies paying money for fuel. There are enough delays into Newark without things like this happening. I'm tired of them creating unsafe situations for no reason.




Synopsis: N90 TRACON would not take a handoff from ZBW ARTCC. The Center Controller had to issue delaying vectors to the aircraft and subsequent in trail aircraft to avoid N90 TRACON airspace.