socal approach atc's

[Chananya Freedman]

Hello.  I have an interesting question.  I am wondering where the air traffic control buildings for LAX, Burbank, and Van Nuys airports are because I'm interested in getting a tour of at least one of those facilities.  I listen to ATC so much that it'd be interesting to see how it works in action.  Can anyone steer me in the right direction? 
Thanks,

Chananya

[pilot221]

SoCal is located in San Diego. It's only one building.

[tyketto]

Hello.  I have an interesting question.  I am wondering where the air traffic control buildings for LAX, Burbank, and Van Nuys airports are because I'm interested in getting a tour of at least one of those facilities.  I listen to ATC so much that it'd be interesting to see how it works in action.  Can anyone steer me in the right direction? 
Thanks,

Chananya

I am assuming you mean the ATC Towers, right? If you're meaning the TRACON, you're in for a trip down to San Diego (Miramar, to be exact).

As far as the towers, you should be able to get a general feel of where they are on the Airport Diagram. As far as getting to them, there should be signs; if not, you may need to use dead reckoning. Case in point: here is the diagram for Sacramento Mather Field. As you can tell, the Tower is on the far side of the field. If you didn't know better, you'd think you'd have to cross the field to get to it, yet there is a road through the residential neighbourhood behind it to get to it, and it's easy to miss.

So it all depends.. more times than not, it would be easier to call the tower, schedule a tour, and get directions from the manager there.

BL.

[Unbeliever]

I am assuming you mean the ATC Towers, right? If you're meaning the TRACON, you're in for a trip down to San Diego (Miramar, to be exact).

Yup.  SCT is in the San Diego Area, but forget about any tour.  They're still in "9/11 Paranoia" nee "security reasons" mode and don't allow anyone in.  I tried several time to set up a tour, but couldn't, even with my NASA badge.  That's sad, as even Potomac is still doing Rain Checks.

So it all depends.. more times than not, it would be easier to call the tower, schedule a tour, and get directions from the manager there.

Yes. You're more likely to get a tour if you call the tower supervisor ahead of time and find out when the low periods are and get permission beforehand.

--Carlos V.

[tyketto]

I am assuming you mean the ATC Towers, right? If you're meaning the TRACON, you're in for a trip down to San Diego (Miramar, to be exact).

Yup.  SCT is in the San Diego Area, but forget about any tour.  They're still in "9/11 Paranoia" nee "security reasons" mode and don't allow anyone in.  I tried several time to set up a tour, but couldn't, even with my NASA badge.  That's sad, as even Potomac is still doing Rain Checks.

Which I find absolutely hilarious. SCT is in paranoid mode, while NCT is allowing tours as long as you call/schedule a good two weeks in advance. I don't know if my contact at SCT is still there, so I definitely don't know about a tour there. But towers should be fine.

BL.