Boundaries between Approach/Departure and Center

What determines the boundaries between airspace managed by an en-route
ATC center and an approach or departure center? I don't see any clear
indication of which is which on sectionals. There are boxes saying
who to contact for approach, but nothing that shows where the handoffs
between terminal control and center usually occur. Is there a general
rule?

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Mxsmanic wrote in
:

What determines the boundaries between airspace managed by an en-route
ATC center and an approach or departure center? I don't see any clear
indication of which is which on sectionals. There are boxes saying
who to contact for approach, but nothing that shows where the handoffs
between terminal control and center usually occur. Is there a general
rule?

Please don't feed this troll...... He is not flying, only simming.

Allen

Mxsmanic wrote:
What determines the boundaries between airspace managed by an en-route
ATC center and an approach or departure center? I don't see any clear
indication of which is which on sectionals. There are boxes saying
who to contact for approach, but nothing that shows where the handoffs
between terminal control and center usually occur. Is there a general
rule?

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

I'm sure you'd be able to find out the answer to this question by being
in aircraft for 10 hours. Get together with an instrument instructor
and do about 10 flight hours doing departures/enroute/arrivals. Note
down on your sectional where the handoff occurred. That would be the
best way for you to learn the reality of your question. Since of course
you are paying this instrument instructor (and of course renting the
aircraft) I'm sure the quality (and relevance) of the answers will be
much higher. I'd suggest a G1000 C182.

A Lieberma wrote:

Mxsmanic wrote in
:


What determines the boundaries between airspace managed by an en-route
ATC center and an approach or departure center? I don't see any clear
indication of which is which on sectionals. There are boxes saying
who to contact for approach, but nothing that shows where the handoffs
between terminal control and center usually occur. Is there a general
rule?


Please don't feed this troll...... He is not flying, only simming.

Allen

Boy, you have that one right. And, "flying" MSFS isn't even "simming."

Mxsmanic wrote:
What determines the boundaries between airspace managed by an en-route
ATC center and an approach or departure center? I don't see any clear
indication of which is which on sectionals. There are boxes saying
who to contact for approach, but nothing that shows where the handoffs
between terminal control and center usually occur. Is there a general
rule?



It's a secret. You don't have clearance. Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Newps wrote:


Mxsmanic wrote:

What determines the boundaries between airspace managed by an en-route
ATC center and an approach or departure center? I don't see any clear
indication of which is which on sectionals. There are boxes saying
who to contact for approach, but nothing that shows where the handoffs
between terminal control and center usually occur. Is there a general
rule?



It's a secret. You don't have clearance. Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Now, not only does he play pilot, he is playing ATC chief.

Sam Spade writes:

Now, not only does he play pilot, he is playing ATC chief.

I was under the impression that Newps has some experience with both
piloting and ATC, although one can never be sure of anything on
USENET.

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The Air Traffic Control System Command Center owns all controlled
airsapce in the US. They allocate authority to 21 ATC Centers via letters
of authorization (LOA) that specify the lateral and vertical boundaries of
each
center's airspace. The centers divide their airspace up into high alititude
and low altitude areas with each sub-divided into multiple sectors. The
laterial
and vertical boundaries of each sector are designed to handle the particular
geographical area and traffic flows.

Centers delegate authority to the approach / departure radar facilities
(TRACONs)
within their airspace via letters of authorization that define the lateral
and vertical
boundaries of the TRACON's airspace. There are 197 TRACONs in the US as of
the last time I checked.

TRACONs in turn grant airspace autority via LOA to the tower facilities
within
their airspace. Again, laterial and vertical boundaries are defined in the
LOA.

Handoffs occur when a flight crosses a boundary between facilities or
sectors.
None of the charts show all these boundaries. Sectionals show controlled
airspace
associated with an airport terminal area, but there usually multiple sectors
within a
large TRACON. Low altitude IFR En Route charts show the center boundaries,
but not the sector boundaries. Frequencies as charted for the various
sectors in a
general area, but these are not always the frequencies that a flight will be
given during
a handoff. Instrument flights deal with this by simply following the
instructions
given by ATC; eg. "N54321 contact Memphis Center on 134.25." We don't
concern our selves about where the boundaries are, because we will be
prompted
during the hand-off. Also, you may be given a hand-off before or after you
cross
an ATC boundary, depending on controller work load, his ability to
coordinate with
the receiving controller, and aircraft speed.

Should you miss a hand-off or get out of range before a hand-off occurs,
simply find
a center frequency or TRACON frequency within range and call to re-establish
communication. If you are not on the correct frequency, the controller will
get you
to the correct one.



"Mxsmanic" wrote in message
...
What determines the boundaries between airspace managed by an en-route
ATC center and an approach or departure center? I don't see any clear
indication of which is which on sectionals. There are boxes saying
who to contact for approach, but nothing that shows where the handoffs
between terminal control and center usually occur. Is there a general
rule?

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

Good answer. Next question: why isn't all airspace in the United States
controlled airspace?

Ronnie wrote:

The Air Traffic Control System Command Center owns all controlled
airsapce in the US. They allocate authority to 21 ATC Centers via letters
of authorization (LOA) that specify the lateral and vertical boundaries of
each
center's airspace. The centers divide their airspace up into high alititude
and low altitude areas with each sub-divided into multiple sectors. The
laterial
and vertical boundaries of each sector are designed to handle the particular
geographical area and traffic flows.

Centers delegate authority to the approach / departure radar facilities
(TRACONs)
within their airspace via letters of authorization that define the lateral
and vertical
boundaries of the TRACON's airspace. There are 197 TRACONs in the US as of
the last time I checked.

TRACONs in turn grant airspace autority via LOA to the tower facilities
within
their airspace. Again, laterial and vertical boundaries are defined in the
LOA.

Handoffs occur when a flight crosses a boundary between facilities or
sectors.
None of the charts show all these boundaries. Sectionals show controlled
airspace
associated with an airport terminal area, but there usually multiple sectors
within a
large TRACON. Low altitude IFR En Route charts show the center boundaries,
but not the sector boundaries. Frequencies as charted for the various
sectors in a
general area, but these are not always the frequencies that a flight will be
given during
a handoff. Instrument flights deal with this by simply following the
instructions
given by ATC; eg. "N54321 contact Memphis Center on 134.25." We don't
concern our selves about where the boundaries are, because we will be
prompted
during the hand-off. Also, you may be given a hand-off before or after you
cross
an ATC boundary, depending on controller work load, his ability to
coordinate with
the receiving controller, and aircraft speed.

Should you miss a hand-off or get out of range before a hand-off occurs,
simply find
a center frequency or TRACON frequency within range and call to re-establish
communication. If you are not on the correct frequency, the controller will
get you
to the correct one.



"Mxsmanic" wrote in message
...

What determines the boundaries between airspace managed by an en-route
ATC center and an approach or departure center? I don't see any clear
indication of which is which on sectionals. There are boxes saying
who to contact for approach, but nothing that shows where the handoffs
between terminal control and center usually occur. Is there a general
rule?

--
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-----Original Message-----
From: Sam Spade ]
Posted At: Sunday, January 21, 2007 1:44 PM
Posted To: rec.aviation.ifr
Conversation: Boundaries between Approach/Departure and Center
Subject: Boundaries between Approach/Departure and Center

Good answer. Next question: why isn't all airspace in the United
States
controlled airspace?


Let me guess: we haven't paid enough taxes yet and don't own it all?