ZLA News:

Featured Articles

What not to do when flying within ZLA
By Keith Smith (KS)

Many of the same pilot deviations are repeated on a daily basis within ZLA. In the spirit of providing tactical guidance to pilots that are planning on undertaking a flight within the Los Angeles ARTCC, we have compiled a list of the most common deviations and presented them in a single, compact list.

Tips on Recording Your ATIS
By Andrew Doubleday (AJ)

In an effort to assist those of you guys looking to record your ATIS with a bit of a more professional flavor, I'm going to include some tips for how to properly translate the METAR to voice format and make it sound a bit more realistic.

Tips for Pilots flying ZLA
By Peter Grey (PG)

This is the first of a 3 part series geared to help new and experienced pilots get the most enjoyment flying on VATSIM in the ZLA corridor. This covers the basics of getting setup at an airport, who to contact, the proper use of the voice radio, and helpful information you can provide ATC in the remarks section of your flight plan.

Intermediate Pilot Tips
By Peter Grey (PG)

This second part explains the correct aircraft/airline callsigns, how to determine what the active runway will be for flight planning, the fine points of understanding a SID/STAR and approach plates, correctly flying holding patterns, and advanced METAR decoding.

Advanced Pilot Tips
By Peter Grey (PG)

Part 3 builds on your knowledge introducing some advanced IFR maneuvers, such as flying a DME arc, NDB approaches, and Contact approaches. This also covers proper IFR reports to be made to ATC, as well as helpful hints and tips to properly filing a flight plan. Tips for flying VFR in congested terminal airspace are also explained, and finally some advanced weather decoding, such as Sigmets/Airmets, TAF's, Winds aloft, and filing/understanding Pireps.

A Controller's Guide to Instrument Approaches
By Eric Stearns (ES)

Instrument approach clearances cause a lot of confusion among controllers. If you'd like to learn more about the nuances of these types of clearances, this article is for you.

Controller's Guide to Instrument Approaches (Advanced Topics)
By Eric Stearns (ES)

This companion article discusses topics not addressed in the main article.

Ok, I've read the METAR, now what does all that mean?
By Shawn Goldsworthy (SX)

This is the first in a series of articles detailing the intricacies of aviation weather and weather forecasting. If you have always wanted to know how to decode the METAR from your favorite airport, this article is for you!

IFR departures: Don't I Just Fly Runway Heading?? - A Guide for pilots and controllers
By Eric Sterns (ES)

Pilot errors are common when executing departure instructions, this article is meant to address those areas which seem to cause the most confusion. It is written from both a controller and pilot perspective. If you find yourself confused by this topic or just wanting to get into it a little more deeply, read on.

VFR Part 2: Patterns, short hop, long hop
By Keith Smith (KS)

In this second article, we cover the radio work and basic procedures for conducting 3 VFR flights within ZLA. The first flight is basic pattern work, the second is a short hop between two nearby airports. The last flight utilizes one of the LAX transitions covered in the previous article and makes use of flight following.

VFR Part 1: How to fly over LAX
By Keith Smith (KS)

This is the first of a two part article covering VFR flights in ZLA. It covers the various options for transitioning the LAX Bravo airspace.

Tutorial Flight: San Diego to Las Vegas
By Tom Flanary (TF)

Former ZLA member (currently the ATM for ZOA) Tom Flanary provides new pilots with an excellent tool for learning how to fly using the services of the professional air traffic controllers that ZLA offers. The article also features an audio supplement.

VFR or IFR: That Is the Question
By Marc Sykes (MS)

In his second article, former Facility Chief Marc Sykes provides a tutorial to pilots who find themselves wondering how VFR and IFR are really that different.

For more great articles, check out our article archive.

Schedule for Sat July 5th

Previous Day   Next Day

Los Angeles Center
Chamberlin, Alan (AL) [Voice]
Holding the fort until ES arrives
Local: 11:00am to 1:00pm
UTC/Z: 1800 to 2000
Frequency: 125.800
Edit / Remove

Los Angeles Center
Stearns, Eric (ES) [Voice]
Local: 1:00pm to 4:00pm
UTC/Z: 2000 to 2300
Frequency: 125.800
Edit / Remove

Los Angeles Clearance
Ruiz, Stephen (RZ) [Voice]
Expect oceanic clearance, time...
Local: 1:30pm to 4:00pm
UTC/Z: 2030 to 2300
Frequency: 121.400
Edit / Remove

Socal Approach (Combined)
Stjepanovic, Alex (AT) [Voice]
CTP support: If around on the day...
Local: 2:00pm to 4:00pm
UTC/Z: 2100 to 2300
Frequency: 124.500
Edit / Remove

Los Angeles Ground
Dunk, Charlie (DK) [Voice]
CTP Conga Line fun!
Local: 2:00pm to 4:00pm
UTC/Z: 2100 to 2300
Frequency: 121.650
Edit / Remove

Los Angeles Tower
Bradley, Marvin (BY) [Voice]
CTP Support. Conga..Conga...Conga...I'll bring the music...Uh..yeah..
Local: 2:00pm to 4:00pm
UTC/Z: 2100 to 2300
Frequency: 120.950
Edit / Remove

Socal Approach (San Diego)
Cosgrove, Bobby (BX) [Voice]
w/PG
Local: 6:00pm to 8:00pm
UTC/Z: 0100 to 0300
Frequency: 119.600
Edit / Remove

Las Vegas Approach
Pratt, Zach (ZP) [Voice]
OTS w/ ZS
Local: 7:00pm to 9:00pm
UTC/Z: 0200 to 0400
Frequency: 127.150
Edit / Remove

Las Vegas Tower
Grchan, Brandon (BG) [Voice]
Local: 7:00pm to 10:00pm
UTC/Z: 0200 to 0500
Frequency: 119.900
Edit / Remove

Los Angeles Ground
Ackerman, Bob (XM) [Voice]
Local: 8:30pm to 10:00pm
UTC/Z: 0330 to 0500
Frequency: 121.650
Edit / Remove