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
Long Beach Airport - LGB - Long Beach
San Diego International Airport - SAN - San Diego
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar - NKX - San Diego
Hollywood Burbank Airport - BUR - Burbank
Ontario International Airport - ONT - Ontario
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 . SCT is responsible for sequencing inbound, separating from crossing and VFR traffic, and departing traffic. Separation is achieved by vectoring traffic and assigning altitudes.