What status refers to an aircraft being handed off to a sector in the same center?

The status that refers to an aircraft being handed off to a sector within the same center is the O-12 status. This designation indicates that the aircraft has been approved for handoff to another sector, and the coordination between the sectors has been established. It is vital for maintaining the flow of traffic and ensuring the safe transition of control between air traffic controllers.

In the context of air traffic control, maintaining awareness of the status of an aircraft is crucial, and the O-12 directly pertains to the successful handover process. The other statuses mentioned do not specifically indicate a handoff within the same center; rather, they relate to different phases of airspace management or operational procedures, which may not highlight the same inter-sector transfer that O-12 does. This makes O-12 the appropriate choice for the scenario described in the question.