ISSUED: July 13, 1997
EFFECTIVE: August 1, 1997

SACRAMENTO TRACON LETTER TO AIRMEN NO. 97-01

SUBJECT: VFR Aircraft Practicing Instrument Approaches

CANCELLATION: August 1, 1999

Sacramento Approach Control is the Federal Aviation Administration facility responsible for separation and sequencing of IFR and VFR traffic to airports in the Sacramento area. VFR aircraft practicing instrument approaches will be provided standard IFR separation. Except for heavy aircraft, 500 feet vertical separation may be applied between VFR aircraft and between a VFR and an IFR aircraft. Controller responsibility for separation begins at the point where the approach clearance becomes effective. After completion of a practice approach, VFR aircraft are not automatically authorized to execute the missed approach procedure. This authorization must be specifically requested by the pilot and approved by the controller. When a missed approach has been approved, the same IFR separation criteria will be provided throughout the missed approach.

Airport where service will be provided ATC Frequency

Beale AFB 125.4
Lincoln 125.4
Marysville 125.4
Mather 127.4
McClellan AFB 119.1
Nevada County 125.4
Oroville 125.4
Rio Vista 125.25
Sacramento Executive 125.25
Sacramento International 134.8

For further information, refer to the Airmen's Information Manual under "Practice Instrument Approaches", or call Sacramento TRACON at (916) 922-9511.

Daniel M. Batliner
Assistant Air Traffic Manager
Sacramento Terminal Radar Approach Control