A terminal ATC facility that uses radar and nonradar capabilities to provide approach control services to aircraft arriving, departing, or transiting airspace controlled by the facility. It provides radar ATC services to aircraft operating in the vicinity of one or more civil and/or military airports in a terminal area. The facility may provide services of a ground controlled approach (GCA); i.e., ASR and PAR approaches. A radar approach control facility may be operated by FAA, USAF, US Army, USN, USMC, or jointly by FAA and a military service. Specific facility nomenclatures are used for administrative purposes only and are related to the physical location of the facility and the operating service generally as follows:
- Army Radar Approach Control (ARAC) (US Army).
- Radar Air Traffic Control Facility (RATCF) (USN/FAA and USMC/FAA).
- Radar Approach Control (RAPCON) (USAF/FAA, USN/FAA, and USMC/FAA).
- Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) (FAA).
- Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) (FAA). (Only those towers delegated approach control authority.)
Source FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary · checked 2026-08-25