Definition
An air traffic control facility that uses radar to provide separation, sequencing, and guidance to aircraft arriving at, departing from, or transiting through the airspace surrounding one or more busy airports. Approach Control handles arriving traffic from the en route environment down to the airport, while Departure Control handles aircraft from takeoff up to the en route environment. The same facility, often called a TRACON, typically performs both functions.
Plain English
The radar controllers who handle aircraft in the busy airspace close to an airport — guiding them in for landing or out after takeoff, before they hand off to or receive them from the en route controllers.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying when a pilot is handed off from the tower to departure control after takeoff, or from en route control to approach control before landing.
Derivation
Approach refers to aircraft approaching the airport to land; Departure refers to aircraft departing the airport after takeoff. Control reflects the facility's role in actively controlling the movement and separation of those aircraft.
Why Pilots Care
Proper use keeps arriving and departing traffic safely separated and prevents delays or go-arounds caused by traffic conflicts.
Intuition Check
Do not read “control” as meaning the controller flies the airplane. The pilot still flies the aircraft; Approach/Departure Control gives traffic and route instructions in the airport area.
Example Sentence 1
After takeoff, the tower instructed the pilot to contact Departure Control on 124.35.
Example Sentence 2
Approach Control gave the arriving flight a heading to intercept the localizer.