Definition
An FAA air traffic control facility that combines the functions of an Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and a radar approach control (RAPCON) into a single facility. A CERAP provides en route air traffic control services for aircraft transiting its airspace at higher altitudes, as well as approach and departure control services for aircraft arriving at or departing from airports within its area of responsibility.
Plain English
A single FAA control facility that does two jobs at once: handling aircraft cruising through a wide area of airspace, and handling aircraft climbing out of or descending into nearby airports.
Context Anchor
You may see this term in FAA facility descriptions or hear it used when discussing which air traffic control facility is responsible for an area.
Derivation
Built from Center (the en route ARTCC role) and RAPCON (Radar Approach Control). The blend reflects exactly what the facility does: one location performing both center-level and approach-level control.
Why Pilots Care
A pilot flying through a CERAP’s airspace receives both en route and approach services from the same facility, often on a single frequency, which simplifies communications in remote or oceanic regions.
Example Sentence 1
Guam CERAP provided both en route and approach control services to the inbound flight.
Example Sentence 2
After leaving the airport traffic pattern, the flight remained with the CERAP until handed off to the next center.