Definition
An air traffic facility that combines the functions of an Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and a Radar Approach Control (RAPCON) facility into a single operation. It provides en route air traffic control services for high-altitude aircraft as well as approach and departure control services for one or more airports within its area.
Plain English
A single air traffic control facility that does two jobs at once: it handles aircraft cruising along en route airways, and it also handles aircraft arriving at and departing from nearby airports.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA facility descriptions and ATC discussions where one facility provides both long-range control and local radar approach or departure services.
Derivation
"Combined" because two separate ATC functions are merged. "Center" refers to an ARTCC, which controls aircraft en route between airports. "Rapcon" is short for Radar Approach Control, which handles arrivals and departures near airports. The name simply describes what the facility does — it combines both roles under one roof.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots receive continuous ATC coverage without changing frequencies when transitioning between en route and approach phases.
Intuition Check
Do not read center as simply the middle of an area. Here, Center means an air traffic control facility responsible for a broad region of airspace.
Example Sentence 1
Albuquerque CERAP provides both en route control and approach services for several airports in its airspace.
Example Sentence 2
After leaving the airport traffic area, the aircraft was handed off to the Combined Center-Rapcon for the remainder of the flight.