Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZAB) (radio communications: Albuquerque Center) is located at 8000 Louisiana Boulevard, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. The Albuquerque ARTCC is one of 22 Air Route Traffic Control Centers in the United States.
The primary responsibility is the separation of overflights, and the expedited sequencing of arrivals and departures along STARs (Standard Terminal Arrival Routes) and SIDs (Standard Instrument Departures) for the airspace over most of Arizona and New Mexico, as well as parts of Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas. Albuquerque Center is the 16th busiest ARTCC in the United States. In 2024, Albuquerque Center handled 1,799,593 aircraft.
ZAB covers an area that includes one class Bravo airport. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) in Phoenix, AZ
ZAB also includes five class Charlie airports. Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) in Albuquerque, NM El Paso International Airport (ELP) in El Paso, TX Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport (AMA) in Amarillo, TX Tucson International Airport (TUS) in Tucson, AZ Davis Monthan Air Force Base (DMA) in Tucson, AZ
Control location
Subdivision ZAB's airspace is divided both geographically and altitudinally.
ZAB's primary subdivisions are known as specialties. There are five different specialties known as the North, East, Southeast, Southwest and Northwest. Each specialty is broken down further into 7 or 8 sectors.
By altitude, ZAB comprises 39 sectors (6 ultra-high sectors, 17 high-altitude sectors, 12 low-altitude sectors, and 4 low-high sectors). The vertical strata of these sectors vary greatly depending on the terrain, the geographic location covered, and the variety of traffic the controllers work.
North specialty
*SANLO (16) | SANDIA | 132.8/346.35 | SFC - FL280 LAVLO (17) | LAVAN | 124.325/288.25 | SFC - FL280 BLKUH (58) | BLACK ROCK | 126.925/353.85 | FL370+ ABQHI (68) | ALBUQUERQUE | 134.6/251.15 | FL290 - FL360 OTOHI (79) | OTTO | 118.65/269.475 | FL370+ GUPHI (93) | GALLUP | 120.55/285.4 | FL290 - FL360 CNXLH (94) | CORONA | 133.65/284.6 | SFC - FL360
East specialty *BGDLO (15) | BORGER | 127.85/285.475 | SFC - FL280 PANHI (70) | ESPAN | 120.95/263.1 | FL290+ KENHI (71) | KENTO | 133.05/269.35 | FL290 - FL360 CIMUH (72) | CIMARRON | 128.225/291.6 | FL370+ LVSHI (95) | LAS VEGAS | 125.075/279.5 | FL290 - FL360 TCCHI (96) | TUCUMCARI | 128.675/360.8 | FL370+ AMAHI (97) | AMARILLO | 134.75/239.25 | FL290 - FL360 DHTUH (98) | DALHART | 132.125/307.05 | FL370+
Southeast specialty DMNLO (19) | DEMING | 128.2/285.5 | SFC - FL350 SFLLO (20) | SALT FLAT | 135.875/292.15 | SFC - FL270 CVSLO (21) | CANNON | 126.85/285.6 | SFC - FL350 ROWHL (23) | ROSWELL | 132.65/257.6 | SFC+ *ELPHI (63) | EL PASO | 120.975/278.3 | FL280 - FL350 FSTUH (78) | FORT STOCKTON | 133.225/270.35 | FL360+ TXOHI (87) | TEXICO | 132.325/251.1 | FL360+ SUNHI (89) | SUNLAND | 125.525/269.45 | FL360+
Southwest specialty GBNLO (42) | GILA BEND | 126.45/288.3 | SFC - FL250 TUSLO (46) | TUCSON | 125.4/269.3 | SFC - FL250** SVCLO (47) | SILVER CITY | 134.45/327.15 | SFC - FL230 TFDLO (49) | STANFIELD | 125.25/307.3 | SFC - 11,000' PHXUH (65) | PHOENIX | 132.45/371.9 | FL340+ CIEUH (80) | CIMARRON | 126.225/341.7 | FL340+ SSOHI (90) | SAN SIMON | 133.0/281.5 | FL240 - FL330 *GBNHI (91) | GILA BEND | 135.15/350.2 | FL260 - FL330 **except over Sector 49 (12,000' - FL250)
Northwest specialty HIPHI (37) | HIPII | 134.325/259.3/263.05/279.55 | FL240 - FL290 MIALH (38) | MIAMI | 132.9/239.05 | SFC - FL310 FOSLH (39) | FOSIL | 135.725/339.8 | SFC - FL310 *DRKLO (43) | DRAKE | 128.45/298.9 | SFC - FL230 INWLO (45) | WINSLOW | 127.675/306.2 | SFC - FL290 PAYHI (50) | PAYSON | 128.125/317.75 | FL320+ INWHI (67) | WINSLOW | 133.925/282.35 | FL300+ PRCHI (92) | PRESCOTT | 135.325/370.9 | FL300+
*Mid Shift Sector
See also List of U.S. Air Route Traffic Control Centers List of flight information regions and area control centers
References
External links Albuquerque Center Weather Service Unit (CWSU) (NWS/FAA) Albuquerque ARTCC NOTAMs