We're gearing up for another fun LAX FNO. To help make things easier, I'm including some briefing notes for everyone. The ZLA airspace has undergone a number of procedure changes dubbed "Metroplex" over the last year or so. Here are some notes to help make everyone's participation fun, knowledgeable and efficient!

https://laartcc.org/article/arriving-into-lax-with-metroplex

LAX is the 2nd busiest airport in the U.S. and the 4th in the world! Come join us in keeping up that reputation on Friday night, Nov. 3!

Welcome, Mason. I, too, and a RW pilot. You'll find plenty others like us and also RW controllers. Glad to have you!

Hey, Bill. Good question.

For RNAV approaches, you will typically be cleared direct a fix depicted on the approach plate. You will start the approach from that fix. That fix can be an initial approach fix (IAF), an intermediate fix (IF) or a navigational beacon (e.g., VOR). You will typically be given your distance from the fix, a clearance direct to the fix, an altitude crossing restriction and then the approach clearance.

You should expect to conduct the procedure turn unless:

• you are cleared direct a fix with a leg notated with "NoPT"; or,
• you are cleared "straight-in" XXX approach by the controller.

Typically, the controller will have you to complete the procedure turn because:

• your course intercept angle upon reaching the IAF or IF is greater than 90 degrees (this is required by the 7110.65W); or,
• you're really high and he's letting you use the procedure turn to descend.

If there is an IAF on the approach, you should expect to be cleared direct an IAF. If the controller is going to clear you direct an IF even though there is an IAF, he has to tell you which fix to expect at least 5 miles prior to you reaching that fix.

Using the RNAV RWY 19L approach as the example, I'll go over each scenario.

As noted above, you can be cleared direct LAS VOR, any initial approach fix (IAF) or intermediate fix (IF). You can start the approach at the LAS VOR specifically because of that solid line and arrow and instructions on how to reach HAMIG. You can also be vectored to final, but I'll leave that out for now.

I'll go over each scenario.

LAPIN or SUVIE
"AAL119, 6 miles from [LAPIN or SUVIE], cleared direct [LAPIN or SUVIE], cross [LAPIN or SUVIE] at or above 7,000. Cleared RNAV runway 19L approach."

HAMIG
You: "Vegas Approach, AAL119, 12,000 with information G, request RNAV runway 19L approach"
ATC: "AAL119, Vegas approach, expect RNAV runway 19L approach, expect direct HAMIG" (Since HAMIG is both an IAF and IF, you should be prepared to go direct without being told. But, I personally would let the pilot know.)
You: "Expecting direct HAMIG, AAL119."
ATC: "AAL119, 7 miles from HAMIG, cleared direct HAMIG, cross HAMIG at or above 5,300, cleared straight-in RNAV runway 19L approach."
You: "Cleared direct HAMIG, cross HAMIG at or above 5,300, cleared straight-in RNAV runway 19L approach."

Note: HAMIG is on the procedure turn and the "NoPT" notation is absent on that leg. You must then complete the PT. But, in this example, the controller cleared you "straight-in" because he does not want you to complete the procedure turn. If he does not clear you straight-in, he expects you to complete the procedure turn.

LAS VOR
"N172SP, 8 miles from Las Vegas VOR, cleared direct Las Vegas VOR, cross Las Vegas VOR at or above 6,300, cleared RNAV runway 19L approach.

Note: In this case, you must complete the procedure turn because:

• the "NoPT" notation is absent on that leg; and,
• the controller did not (and cannot) clear you "straight-in" because your course intercept angle at HAMIG is greater than 90 degrees

When there's a procedure turn and you're unsure of whether or not to use it, it's always good to ask. It's better to ask than to do something the controller isn't expecting.

What Will said.

Also, for pilots flying in, take a look at the new ILS RWY 25L transitions.
http://155.178.201.160/d-tpp/1705/00237IL25L.PDF

If you have one of the newer AIRACs, you should have the new ILS RWY 25L IAFs. (If you have the ANJLL1 or HLYWD1 arrivals, you've got these.)

There are three IAFs used on ILS runway 24R and 25L approaches for arrivals coming from the east: CRCUS, SEAVU and CLPUR. The ANJLL and HLYWD STARs feed to CRCUS and SEAVU. You'll likely hear this from your approach controller: "Descend via the ANJLL1/HLYWD1 arrival, at SEAVU/CRCUS, cleared ILS runway 24R/25L approach."

Now, specifically check out the new CLPUR IAF (initial approach fix). If things get busy, your friendly approach controller may let you know to expect CLPUR for ILS runway 25L approach. You should continue the arrival, but setup your FMS to take the CLPUR IAF. You'll get instructions on when to proceed direct CLPUR and be cleared on the approach.

Why? The CLPUR IAF moves 25L arrivals a little further south. This keeps them separated from 24R arrivals so they can be run side by side. This means more efficient flow for everyone.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Sounds like a great event!  Question -- have you arranged for CTR staffing for all the enroute Centers that the flights will be passing through?

We're putting all of that together now based on the routes. One route involves different and fewer ARTCCs than the other.

Calling all GA and VFR pilots! Come enjoy some springtime sunshine in Southern California! ZLA will be staffing up the Southern California (SoCal) TRACON for 4 hours.

Date: Sunday, April 30
Time: 1700-2100 PDT / 2000-0000 EDT / 2359-0400Z

Everyone loves flying heavy metal into LAX or LAS. But, remember that commercial flights only use roughly 560 of the 5200 airports in the U.S. That means GA flights have better access to many smaller cities and communities around the country!

So, throw some water on your Cessna Skyhawks and your Piper Warriors. Get those annuals done. Dust off those VFR charts, and get back to the basics!

The Menu
IFR TEC Routes
Closed Traffic practice (get those landings spot-on!)
VFR flight following
Class Bravo transitions (remember you cannot enter Bravo airspace without a clearance!)
Practice Instrument Approaches (VFR and IFR)

Focus Airports
SCT San Diego Area:
KCRQ (McClellan-Palomar Airport)
KMYF (Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport)
KRNM (Romona Airport)
KSDM (Brown Field Municipal Airport)
KSEE (Gillespie Field Airport)