Northern California TRACON (NCT, radio communications: NorCal, NorCal Approach and NorCal Departure) is a Air traffic control#Approach and terminal control, terminal radar approach control (TRACON) facility in Mather, Sacramento County, California, Mather, California, that serves the Northern California region. It is a unit of the Air Traffic Organization (ATO) of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is an air traffic control facility that provides safety alerts, separation, and sequencing of air traffic arriving, departing, and transiting the airspace and airports in Northern California. NCT controls airspace over , and serves San Francisco International Airport, Oakland International Airport, San Jose International Airport, Reno International Airport, Sacramento International Airport, plus 19 other smaller airports with airport traffic control towers. NCT is the 3rd busiest TRACON in the US. In 2024, NCT handled 1,522,806, almost as many as Oakland Air Route Traffic Control Center, Oakland Center. NorCal TRACON is the step between local control and an Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), in this case, Oakland Center. San Francisco International Airport is the second largest airport in California and the largest airport serving Northern California. When an arriving aircraft nears the Bay Area, Oakland Center advises it to contact NorCal TRACON. TRACON gives the arrival a descent profile and other landing aid clearances. During busy times, TRACON often has to hold aircraft in the air. After TRACON sets up the flight for an approach to landing, the flight contacts the control tower, air traffic control tower at the arrival airport for landing clearance.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Northern California Tracon Air traffic control in the United States Buildings and structures in Sacramento County, California Aviation in California Rancho Cordova, California Sacramento County, California

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