Narrative:

I was working sat position at L30. I had a B737 on a left base for runway 19L; the clearance given was turn left heading 290 to join the final; cleared visual approach runway 19L; the aircraft read back the clearance. As the B737 moved further northbound it looked as if the heading was too far north; so I instructed a B737 to proceed direct to the stratosphere to join the final still cleared visual approach to 19L; then transferred communications to the tower. I also had another aircraft from the final position heading northbound at 70 (another air carrier). I called nellis approach with a point out and they said unable we have departures off runway 21. The clearance given to the other air carrier was turn left heading 255 to join the final; cleared visual approach runway 19L; the aircraft read back and complied. I looked back at the B737; saw he was heading almost directly northbound; I called the tower and told the controller to turn the B737 hard left to join the final. I got off the line and noticed the other air carrier was also going to be within less than 1 mile from nellis; so I instructed the aircraft to turn 5 degrees left to join the final for nellis' approach airspace. He read back the clearance. I then called over my supervisor and began to explain what happened with the B737; looked back at the air carrier and noticed his track was still close to nellis; so I again instructed the aircraft to turn 5 degrees left to join and he read it back and I transferred communications to the tower. I was using the ptl feature on both aircraft and both aircraft appeared to turn when instructed. The airspace constraints leave a narrow hole for arriving aircraft when nellis approach has control of the A4 airspace. The distance between the southern most portion of A4 and the airspace of the final is approximately 3.6 miles. Therefore; aircraft have to remain 1 south of A4 and 1 mile north of finals airspace leaving approximately 0.6 miles for an aircraft to travel through while making an approach. Recommendation; the airspace needs a redesign; or at least give L30 the ability to control A4 or all aircraft attempting an approach to runway 19L/right need to remain on the arrival designed to accommodate the approach.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: L30 Controller described a probable airspace deviation with Nellis AFB during LAS 19 and Nellis 21 operations. Reporter stated the current airspace is in need of re-design and/or procedures changed to prevent future occurrences.

Narrative: I was working SAT position at L30. I had a B737 on a left base for Runway 19L; the clearance given was turn left heading 290 to join the final; cleared visual approach Runway 19L; the aircraft read back the clearance. As the B737 moved further northbound it looked as if the heading was too far north; so I instructed a B737 to proceed direct to the stratosphere to join the final still cleared visual approach to 19L; then transferred communications to the Tower. I also had another aircraft from the final position heading northbound at 70 (another Air Carrier). I called Nellis Approach with a point out and they said unable we have departures off Runway 21. The clearance given to the other Air Carrier was turn left heading 255 to join the final; cleared visual approach Runway 19L; the aircraft read back and complied. I looked back at the B737; saw he was heading almost directly northbound; I called the Tower and told the Controller to turn the B737 hard left to join the final. I got off the line and noticed the other Air Carrier was also going to be within less than 1 mile from Nellis; so I instructed the aircraft to turn 5 degrees left to join the final for Nellis' Approach airspace. He read back the clearance. I then called over my Supervisor and began to explain what happened with the B737; looked back at the Air Carrier and noticed his track was still close to Nellis; so I again instructed the aircraft to turn 5 degrees left to join and he read it back and I transferred communications to the Tower. I was using the PTL feature on both aircraft and both aircraft appeared to turn when instructed. The airspace constraints leave a narrow hole for arriving aircraft when Nellis Approach has control of the A4 airspace. The distance between the southern most portion of A4 and the airspace of the final is approximately 3.6 miles. Therefore; aircraft have to remain 1 south of A4 and 1 mile north of finals airspace leaving approximately 0.6 miles for an aircraft to travel through while making an approach. Recommendation; the airspace needs a redesign; or at least give L30 the ability to control A4 or all aircraft attempting an approach to Runway 19L/R need to remain on the arrival designed to accommodate the approach.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.