Southern California TRACON

The Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control (SoCal TRACON or SCT) (radio callsign: SoCal Approach/Departure) is located in San Diego, California. SCT is a part of the Air Traffic Organization of the US Federal Aviation Administration. SCT sequences and separates air traffic in the Southern California region. It is the busiest air traffic control facility in the world.

SCT serves the following major Southern California airports (in order of volume, Class B & C), in addition to many surrounding satellite airports.

• Los Angeles International Airport - LAX - Los Angeles
• John Wayne Airport - SNA - Costa Mesa
• San Diego Airport - SAN - San Diego
• Marine Corps Air Station Miramar - NKX - San Diego
• Hollywood Burbank Airport - BUR - Burbank
• Ontario International Airport - ONT - Ontario
• Long Beach Airport - LGB - Long Beach

SCT is broken down into six areas and a Traffic Management Unit:

• Burbank Area: Responsible for BUR, VNY, & WHP
• Del Rey Area: Responsible for LAX, TOA & HHR departures
• Los Angeles Area: Responsible for LAX & HHR arrivals
• Coast Area: Responsible for SNA, LGB, FUL, TOA & SLI
• San Diego Area: Responsible for SAN, NKX, NZY, NFG, MYF, SEE, SDM, RNM & CRQ
• Empire Area: Responsible for ONT, AJO, PSP, RIV, SBD, RAL, CNO, EMT, & POC

Each area has five or six individual sectors that are worked by controllers. SoCal TRACON is responsible for the handling of aircraft departing and arriving these airports, generally below 16,000 feet (4,900 m). SCT is responsible for sequencing inbound, separating from crossing and VFR traffic, and departing traffic. Separation is achieved by vectoring traffic and assigning altitudes.

See also

• Northern California TRACON