General Requirements

POC: Facility Advisory Board	Date: 2007-10-15
Code: ZLA-GEN	Version: 2.33

1. PURPOSE.

This Policy establishes the general requirements to which controllers must adhere when plugging into any control position within the Los Angeles ARTCC (ZLA).

2. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

The Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR) for this Policy is the ZLA Facility Advisory Board. This Policy was originally drafted by David Hendleman, ZLA Facility Chief, on November 27,2002 , and approved by Dane Penington, VATUSA Western Regional Director. This Policy shall be maintained, revised, updated or cancelled by the ZLA Facility Advisory Board or any organization that supersedes, replaces or assumes the FAB responsibilities. Any suggestions for modification/amendment to this Policy should be sent to the FAB for review.

3. DISTRIBUTION.

All active controllers on the ZLA ARTCC Roster.

4. BACKGROUND.

Research has demonstrated that certain general requirements must be met before traffic may be managed in a safe and orderly manner.

5. REQUIREMENTS.

a) General Requirements.

1. Individuals plugging into any control position in ZLA must have been issued “operating initials” by the ZLA Air Traffic Manager or his appointee.
2. Individuals plugging into any control position in ZLA must comply with the requirements of the ZLA Position Restrictions Table located at www.laartcc.org.
3. No individual may plug into any control position in ZLA unless the ZLA Crew Roster located at www.laartcc.org indicates that the individual has met all requirements for that control position.
4. Unless specifically authorized by the ZLA Air Traffic Manager, no individual may plug into any control position in ZLA if the ZLA Crew Roster located at www.laartcc.org indicates that the individual is on a leave of absence.
5. Individuals may only control traffic within the lateral and vertical airspace boundaries of the controller's position.
6. Individuals must comply with all published VATSIM and ZLA Policies and Procedures while plugged into any control position within ZLA.

Plugging in/Position Relief

1. Prior to plugging into any control position in ZLA, individuals must plug in as an observer using their ZLA "operating initials.” They must contact the controller manning the position immediately above that they intend to work to coordinate the position availability.

It should also be noted that an instructor or mentor logged on as _I_ or _M_ is not considered to be actively controlling, and therefore cannot coordinate position check-ins.

2. When logging on to assume a new position, individuals should immediately contact the controllers working the position directly above and below their current position, as well as any adjacent radar sectors. This allows coordination between positions, alerting all controllers to the new position opening, and increasing efficiency.

3. When logging on to relieve a controller working a current position, the control transfer should occur as per the Position Relief Briefing SOP.

Minimum Time Requirements

When logging on to control at any position within ZLA, it is suggested that controllers devote a minimum of 30 minutes to controlling. While real-world events will sometimes preclude this time requirement, it is suggested that everyone attempt to adhere to the minimum set forth herein. Exceptions may be made for providing temporary relief in unanticipated heavy traffic situations (eg. logging in as LAX_DEL for a few minutes during a fly-out to help an overburdened LAX_GND).

Leaving a Position/Logging Off

Whenever possible, before leaving the position, advise the CiC of your intentions sufficiently in advance so that a replacement controller may be substituted where possible. In addition, contact the controllers immediately above and below your current position to advise them of your intentions.

Recent Experience

1. No person who would otherwise be authorized to plug into any control position within ZLA shall do so, without Instructor or Mentor supervision, unless he has controlled in ZLA in a control position commensurate with his controller rating for at least one continuous hour in the previous 90 days.
2. If the requirements in item #1 have not been met, the individual must request, receive, and pass a recertification exam (over-the-shoulder) administered by the ZLA Air Traffic Manager, Instructor or Mentor prior to plugging into any control position in ZLA without Instructor or Mentor supervision.
3. Failure to pass the practical exam outlined in item #2 due to a single operational error (“deal”), or for any other reason, shall result in mandatory additional training followed by another practical exam prior to plugging into a control position in ZLA without Instructor or Mentor supervision.

Sector File Usage

The only sector file authorized for active ZLA controlling positions is the current version of the ZLA sector file, available from the Downloads page at the Los Angeles ARTCC website, www.laartcc.org. This file is regularly updated by the ZLA staff, and certified by the ZLA Facility Engineer. Any and all "local" sector files (eg. Los Angeles Tower, Van Nuys Tower, etc.) previously offered are, as of January 2005, unsupported by ZLA, and controllers should now use the current ZLA file regardless of the position being worked.

Frequency Usage and Beacon Code Assignment

The following frequencies and beacon code assignment ranges shall be used when plugging into control positions within ZLA.

NOTE: Beacon Codes are automatically generated based upon the current ZLA POF file

LOS ANGELES CENTER SECTORS	Frequency	Lowest Beacon	Highest Beacon
Los Angeles Center (Combined)	125.80	7201	7377
Los Angeles Center (A)	135.30	7201	7224
Los Angeles Center (B)	127.10	7225	7240
Los Angeles Center (C)	133.20	7241	7277
Los Angeles Center (D)	135.25	7301	7340
Los Angeles Center (E)	119.95	7341	7360
Los Angeles Center (F)	127.35	7361	7377
SOCAL APPROACH - Los Angeles
Los Angeles West/Combined Approach	124.50	1001	1060
Los Angeles North Approach	128.50	1001	1060
Los Angeles South Approach	124.90	1001	1060
Los Angeles Feeder Approach	124.05	1001	1060
Los Angeles South Tower	120.95	1001	1060
Los Angeles North Tower	133.90	1001	1060
Los Angeles Departure	124.30	1001	1060
Los Angeles South Ground	121.65	1001	1060
Los Angeles North Ground	121.75	1001	1060
Los Angeles Clearance	121.40	1001	1060
Santa Monica Tower	120.10	4730	4747
Hawthorne Tower	121.10	4560	4567
Torrance Tower	135.60	4570	4577
Fullerton Tower	119.10	4560	4567
SOCAL APPROACH - Burbank
Burbank Approach	134.20	1061	1077
Burbank Tower	118.70	1061	1077
Burbank Ground	123.90	1061	1077
Burbank Clearance	118.00	1061	1077
Van Nuys Tower	119.30	4601	4617
Whiteman Tower	135.00	4501	4507
SOCAL APPROACH - Empire
Empire Approach	127.25	6701	6724
Ontario Tower	120.60	6701	6724
Ontario Ground	121.90	6701	6724
Ontario Clearance	118.10	6701	6724
Chino Tower	118.50	4775	4777
El Monte Tower	121.20	4770	4774
Brackett Tower	118.20	5310	5317
Riverside Tower	121.00	5320	5327
SOCAL APPROACH - San Diego
San Diego Approach	119.60	1301	1327
San Diego Tower	118.30	1301	1327
San Diego Ground	123.90	1301	1327
San Diego Clearance	125.90	1327
Palomar Tower	118.60	5140	5147
Montgomery Tower	119.20	5130	5137
Camp Pendleton Tower	128.78	5160	5167
Miramar Tower	135.20	5150	5157
North Island Tower	135.10	5170	5177
Brown Tower	126.50	5330	5337
Gillespee Tower	120.70	5340	5347
SOCAL APPROACH - Coast
Coast Approach	121.30	6725	6777
John Wayne Tower	126.80	6725	6760
John Wayne Tower	119.90	6725	6760
John Wayne Ground	120.80	6725	6760
John Wayne Clearance	118.00	6725	6760
Long Beach Tower	119.40	6761	6777
Long Beach Ground	133.00	6761	6777
Long Beach Clearance	118.15	6761	6777
Los Alamitos Tower	123.85	5350	5357
SANTA BARBARA/MUGU APPROACH
Santa Barbara Approach	125.40	4620	4637
Santa Barbara Tower	119.70	4620	4637
Santa Barbara Ground	121.70	4620	4637
Santa Barbara Clearance	132.90	4620	4637
Mugu Approach	124.70	4530	4537
Oxnard Tower	134.95	4540	4547
Camarillo Tower	128.20	4550	4557
San Luis Obispo Tower	124.50	4660	4677
Santa Maria Tower	118.30	4701	4717
BAKERSFIELD/JOSHUA APPROACH
Bakersfield Approach	118.80	4750	4757
Bakersfield Tower	118.10	4750	4757
Joshua Approach	124.55	4760	4767
Edwards Tower	120.70	4760	4767
Mohave Tower	127.60	5120	5127
Palmdale Tower	123.70	5301	5307
Victorville Tower	118.35	5360	5367
Fox Tower	120.30	4510	4517
PALM SPRINGS/YUMA APPROACH
Palm Springs Approach	126.70	4640	4657
Yuma Approach	124.70	4520	4527
Bullhead City Tower	123.90	5101	5107
Palm Springs Tower	119.70	4640	4657
Palm Springs Ground	121.90	4640	4657
Palm Springs Clearance	128.35	4640	4657
Yuma Tower	119.30	4520	4527
LAS VEGAS APPROACH
Las Vegas East/Combined Approach	127.15	1330	1377
Las Vegas West Approach	133.95	1330	1377
Las Vegas Departure	125.05	1330	1377
Las Vegas Tower	119.90	1301	1377
Las Vegas Ground	121.10	1301	1377
Las Vegas Clearance	118.00	1301	1377
North Las Vegas Tower	125.70	5370	5377
Nellis Approach	126.65	1330	1377
Nellis Tower	118.30	1330	1377
Grand Canyon Tower	119.00	5110	5117