Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) provides approach control service to several airports in Southern California.  All aircraft flying an instrument approach to one of these airports on an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plan will be afforded IFR separation throughout the approach and are entitled to fly the published missed approach, if necessary.

Visual Flight Rules (VFR) aircraft desiring Practice Instrument Approaches (PIA's) should request, "practice instrument approaches in VFR conditions," when making a request to Air Traffic Control (ATC).  Aircraft executing a PIA may not fly the published missed approach without prior ATC approval.  PIA's will be approved on a workload permitting basis and will be discontinued when the flow of other arriving and departing IFR or VFR aircraft is impacted.  Controllers will instruct VFR aircraft to maintain VFR during peak demand periods in order to accommodate user requests.  If a pilot wishes to proceed in accordance with instrument flight rules, it is incumbent upon the pilot to specifically request and obtain an IFR clearance.  PIA's will be provided IFR separation from the point at which the approach clearance becomes effective at the following airports:

John Wayne/Santa Ana (KSNA) on frequency 121.3.

Ontario (KONT) on frequency 127.25.

Burbank (KBUR) - Aircraft requesting PIA's to Burbank Airport should contact "SoCal Approach" on the appropriate VFR area frequency, as depicted on terminal area or sectional aeronautical charts.

Due to airport proprietor restrictions, PIA’s are not authorized at Los Angeles International (KLAX) or San Diego Lindbergh (KSAN) airports.

This Letter to Airmen supersedes all previous Letters to Airmen on the same subject published by Southern California TRACON.

For further information, please refer to the Aeronautical Information Manual.