Northern California TRACON
Encyclopedia
Northern California TRACON (NCT) (Terminal Radar Approach Control), or NorCal TRACON for short, is an air traffic control
facility that provides safety alerts, separation, and sequencing of air traffic arriving, departing, and transiting the airspace and airports in northern California. NCT controls airspace over 19000 square miles, and serves Reno, Sacramento International, San Jose, Oakland, and San Francisco airports, plus 19 other airports with air traffic conltrol towers. NCT is the 4th busiest TRACON in America. NorCal TRACON is the step between local control (in an airport
's control tower
) and en-route control (in this case, Oakland Center (ZOA)).
Directing planes to their destinations:
When an arriving aircraft nears the Bay Area, ZOA advises it to contact NorCal TRACON. TRACON gives the arrival a descent profile, ILS
and other landing
aid clearances. During busy times, TRACON often has to hold aircraft in the air. After TRACON gets the flight lined up for landing, the flight contacts the tower
at the arrival airport for landing clearance.
Air traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
facility that provides safety alerts, separation, and sequencing of air traffic arriving, departing, and transiting the airspace and airports in northern California. NCT controls airspace over 19000 square miles, and serves Reno, Sacramento International, San Jose, Oakland, and San Francisco airports, plus 19 other airports with air traffic conltrol towers. NCT is the 4th busiest TRACON in America. NorCal TRACON is the step between local control (in an airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
's control tower
Control tower
A control tower, or more specifically an Air Traffic Control Tower , is the name of the airport building from which the air traffic control unit controls the movement of aircraft on and around the airport. Control towers are also used to control the traffic for other forms of transportation such...
) and en-route control (in this case, Oakland Center (ZOA)).
Directing planes to their destinations:
When an arriving aircraft nears the Bay Area, ZOA advises it to contact NorCal TRACON. TRACON gives the arrival a descent profile, ILS
Instrument Landing System
An instrument landing system is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway, using a combination of radio signals and, in many cases, high-intensity lighting arrays to enable a safe landing during instrument...
and other landing
Landing
thumb|A [[Mute Swan]] alighting. Note the ruffled feathers on top of the wings indicate that the swan is flying at the [[Stall |stall]]ing speed...
aid clearances. During busy times, TRACON often has to hold aircraft in the air. After TRACON gets the flight lined up for landing, the flight contacts the tower
Control tower
A control tower, or more specifically an Air Traffic Control Tower , is the name of the airport building from which the air traffic control unit controls the movement of aircraft on and around the airport. Control towers are also used to control the traffic for other forms of transportation such...
at the arrival airport for landing clearance.