High Desert TRACON - E10

ABX_Air_767 Newcomer Victorville, CA

Does anyone have information on it?? I know that it's at EDW but I'm not too familiar with it. I am going to the PEPC at LAX on April 23rd and that is the facility I am interviewing for but I'm not too familiar with it. If there is anyone out there that works there I'd like to hear from you!!

Ryan
ABX Air 767

SnowAviation Senior Member Escondido, CA

Ryan, I've never worked there but I have been there and everyone that
I've spoken to that worked there has had nothing but good stuff to say
about the facility. The location has some drawbacks but if you like the
desert then you'd probably like it out there.

The one strange thing about High Desert is the automation system,
unless they have changed it, is a oddball system called Rehost. It is
kinda like STARS and kinda like ARTS, but from what I've seen it's much
better than either.

Ed

Roddy_Piper Resident Knucklehead Vegas baby

High Desert Tracon, or Joshua, is located on Edwards AFB. i believe it's a level 8 approach control. i'd have to look that up. You'll own the airspace that is the R2508 complex, except for that airspace given to SPORT approach control (also on Edwards AFB) or China Lake approach control.

You'll deal with Oakland Center and LA Center a lot. When the restricted areas are active it's pretty much a game of "if your not military then stay out". However, when the complex is not active you could get a lot of aircraft that are looking to shortcut the complex between northern California and Vegas/Phoenix mostly. So your workload goes up during those times.

The odd thing about Joshua is that you work on the base but aren't allowed to live on the base. If you live in the Antelope Valley (Palmdale, Lancaster, Rosamond, Quartz Hill, etc) then your looking at a 30ish minute commute to work. You could live north of the base in California City, North Edwards, Boron, Mojave, etc but there isn't anything out there. From the guard shack at the edge of the base to your facility is at least 10-20 minutes, so depending on how far out from the base you live you can add on that much more driving time.

There's a girl on here, chromecowgirl37, that is also slated to go there.

I worked at EDW Tower for 8 years, so i'm more or less familiar with the area and the operation.

ABX_Air_767 Newcomer Victorville, CA

Thanks for the info guys. I don't mind living in the High Desert, my wife and I have been living in Victorville for about 3 years now and like it. We both moved up from Fontana and we like the weather up here much better. I did get a rough estimate from my house just to the EDW gate and its roughly 55 miles from my house. I don't mind it so much because it is just a straight shot from 395 to the 58. When I was with DHL I worked at the hub at MARCH AFB and that was nearly 75 miles one way.

Ryan
ABX Air 767

Roddy_Piper Resident Knucklehead Vegas baby

it's been 5 years since i've lived there but i know there is a way to cut about 20 minutes off your commute by going in the south gate entrance. i don't wanna steer you wrong, but i'm pretty sure Palmdale blvd is the name of the south entrance. then it eventually dumps you on the 138/18 that takes you to the 15 near Adelanto/Apple Valley/Victorville.

whenever you eventually get to work the first day, someone will know the route. it's all roads that you can easily got 60+ and is much shorter than going 10 minutes north to leave the base, then 20 minutes east to four corners, then 35 minutes south on 395. there is a faster way, i just don't remember the names of the roads to do it.

whenever we went to Ontario Mills or ONT airport we always took this route. it was easily 20 minutes faster than the route you mentioned.

ABX_Air_767 Newcomer Victorville, CA

Wow, thanks I will have to check into that because I would like to be able to save as much time and gas as possible.

CDundee Newcomer

South Gate entrance is on 120th St. East just north of Ave E.

Roddy_Piper Resident Knucklehead Vegas baby

it's DOD GS-12. i believe. their only open when the base wing is flying. M-F 7-5, rarely SAT's.

RadarContact Scope Dope High Desert TRACON

Just wanted to update a little info on this place since I've got my feet wet now and there are some others in the pipeline coming here.

Anyway what Roddy said earlier was mostly correct. The interesting thing I found here is the complex is more or less a giant free-for-all. Most of the area are MOA's with some Restricted dabbled in. There are really 2 "sides" of the control room if you will. One is the range sectors where you will be mostly taking care of advisories for the military a/c as well as VFR a/c transitioning the area. The other sector is handling the NAS airspace on the South end of the complex, which covers the area surrounding WJF, PMD, VCV and their associated satellite airports. While these airports arent' major hubs by themselves there seems to be well enough traffic to keep busy on the sector when you include all the overflights going into LA cutting through.

As for places to live, other than what was already covered I wanted to throw out the possibility of living in Tehachapi. We have decided to plant roots there, we are liking the small town feel and the fact that it's more in the mountains than in the desert. It's a bit of a drive (~45min) but worth it to me. Everyone comments how beautiful it is "up there" when I tell them where we are living.

My $.02

SKC Newcomer CA

I concur with everything RadarContact said.