Find KLAX ATC frequencies for ATIS, clearance, ground, tower and SoCal Approach, with north/south runway guidance and simulator fixes.
At Los Angeles International (KLAX), use 133.800 MHz for arrival ATIS and 135.650 for departure ATIS; Ground 121.650 north or 121.750 south; Tower 133.900 north or 120.950 south; and SoCal Approach commonly 124.500 north or 128.500 south. Always use the frequency assigned by ATC or the applicable chart.
KLAX ATC frequency list
For Aviation & Real-World Flying and simulator use, these are the principal published VHF voice frequencies at KLAX.
| Service | Frequency (MHz) | Normal use |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival D-ATIS | 133.800 | Arrival runway, approach, weather and airport information |
| Departure D-ATIS | 135.650 | Departure runway, weather and airport information |
| Clearance Delivery | 121.400 | IFR clearance before taxi |
| Ground North | 121.650 | North runway complex: 06L/06R and 24L/24R |
| Ground South | 121.750 | South runway complex: 07L/07R and 25L/25R |
| Tower North | 133.900 | North-complex take-offs, landings and runway crossings |
| Tower South | 120.950 | South-complex take-offs, landings and runway crossings |
| Additional Tower | 119.800 | Published additional channel; use only when assigned |
| SoCal Approach | 124.500 / 128.500 | Common north and south final-approach sectors respectively |
| SoCal Departure | 124.300 / 125.200 | Common departure-sector frequencies; use the assigned hand-off |
All frequencies above are in MHz and use VHF AM. A radio may display 133.800 as 133.80; that is the same channel. Our KLAX airport charts and communications information provide the airport diagram and relevant procedures alongside the frequency data.
ATC is not one separate KLAX frequency. It is the collective service provided by Clearance Delivery, Ground, Tower and SoCal Approach or Departure. SoCal TRACON also operates other sector frequencies around Los Angeles, and an arrival may be handed through several of them before reaching 124.500 or 128.500.
Which KLAX frequency should I use at each stage?
Departures normally begin with departure ATIS, while arrivals begin with arrival ATIS and then follow each controller’s hand-off.
- Copy ATIS: use 135.650 before departure or 133.800 before arrival, and record the information code.
- Obtain clearance: departing IFR aircraft normally contact Clearance Delivery on 121.400 unless using an assigned data-clearance method.
- Taxi on the assigned Ground channel: use 121.650 for the north complex or 121.750 for the south complex, but do not change merely because the taxi route crosses the airport.
- Change to Tower when instructed: the usual channels are 133.900 north and 120.950 south. Remain on Ground until handed off unless a published procedure says otherwise.
- Follow the airborne hand-offs: departures contact the assigned SoCal Departure sector; arriving aircraft remain with SoCal Approach until transferred to the appropriate Tower.
If the distinction between each position is unclear, our explanation of what Ground, Tower, Approach and Departure control covers the hand-off sequence without duplicating the KLAX frequency list.
Why does KLAX have two Ground and Tower frequencies?
KLAX divides traffic between physically separate north and south runway complexes, allowing controllers to manage a very busy airport without placing every aircraft on one channel.
The frequency follows the controller responsible for the aircraft, not simply its position on the map. A long taxi, runway crossing or operational reconfiguration can therefore produce an unexpected hand-off. A mistake we see constantly in simulators is selecting the south Ground channel solely because the parking stand is south of the terminal area; the clearance or active runway is the better guide.
Why does my flight simulator show a different KLAX frequency?
A simulator can display different KLAX frequencies when its airport, navigation or ATC database uses another data cycle, or when an online controller has combined several sectors onto one channel.
- Offline built-in ATC: use the frequency shown in the simulator’s ATC instruction if you want its automated controller to answer.
- Online ATC: use the controller’s assigned frequency; combined Approach or Departure sectors often use one channel instead of every real-world sector frequency.
- Chart-based simulation: check the applicable procedure and the latest available FAA charts for KLAX rather than relying on a saved flight or an old add-on airport.
- No response after tuning: confirm that the frequency is in the active COM window, the correct COM radio is selected for audio, and the standby frequency has actually been swapped to active.
Is the KLAX approach frequency the same as the ILS frequency?
No. SoCal Approach frequencies such as 124.500 and 128.500 are voice channels entered in a COM radio; an ILS frequency is a navigation signal entered or selected through the NAV or flight-management system.
The assigned Approach frequency can change during an arrival, while the ILS frequency is tied to a specific runway procedure. Do not enter an ILS frequency into COM1 or use an Approach voice frequency as the localiser frequency—both mistakes result in an apparently silent or unusable signal.