How To Get The Right Name And Freq ...

[BFG]

Flying into the LAS area this morning after being out in the boonies we wanted to pick up advisories. The few small strips we'd been at had new info on TRACON in their AF/D pages, and the LAS TAC chart has a box that says "Contact Las Vegas TRACON on 125.6." All very straight forward, but when tuning in I called for LAS Center 1) not knowing there was no LAS Center (my bad), and 2) not knowing it was LAS Approach.

So where do I find what to call that first contact? Or is it always approach when it's listed as TRACON and I'm inbound?

[jx_]

TRACON means Terminal Radar Approach Control
ARTCC means Air Route Traffic Control Center


TRACON = Approach
ARTCC = Center


Why they randomly switch between the term TRACON and APP or ARTCC and CENTER? I have no idea! It's the same thing as far as a pilot is concerned.

[BFG]

Thanks, jx. You heard me mentally struggling with that today, I'm sure.

[jx_]

All that really matters is that you got to the correct frequency, so don't be embarrassed if you mispronounce something like a name. I'd rather correct a radio name than correct a botched procedure any day.

[BFG]

Roger that. Makes two of us.