Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) provides approach control services to several airports in Southern California. Aircraft on Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plans, flying instrument approaches to one of these airports are afforded IFR separation throughout the approach and are entitled to fly the published missed approach, if necessary.

Visual Flight Rules (VFR) aircraft requesting Practice Instrument Approaches (PIAs) should state, “Practice instrument approaches in VFR conditions,” when making a request to Air Traffic Control (ATC).

Aircraft executing PIAs may not fly the published missed approach without prior ATC approval. PIAs will be approved on a workload-permitting basis and will be discontinued when impacting the flow of other arriving and departing IFR or VFR aircraft. Controllers will instruct VFR aircraft to maintain VFR during peak demand periods in order to accommodate user requests.

Pilots intending IFR flight are responsible to request and obtain an IFR clearance.

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

For additional information, please refer to the Aeronautical Information Manual, “Practice Instrument Approaches.”