AVIATION ENGLISH-I

PLT2001
WEEK 13

INSTRUCTOR:EDA TUNÇ
Mean sea level(MSL
The global Mean sea
level(MSL) is a type of
vertical datum that is used as
the standard sea level at
which atmospheric pressure
is measured to calibrate
altitude and, consequently,
aircraft ight levels
Height above mean sea level
(AMSL) is the elevation (on
the ground) or altitude (in the
air) of an object, relative to
the average sea level datum.
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Altitude values expressed in MSL are measured

against the sea level, which makes it a constant
value regardless of the terrain you’re ying
over. The sea level may not be exactly constant
throughout the whole world, but the universally
accepted value of the sea level was determined
by studying the seasonal and short-term
variations of tides over a very long period

AGL stands for Above Ground Level and is

basically the altitude measured from the ground
directly below. Despite MSL being considered
the “true” altitude, AGL is more commonly used
in aviation. The altimeter of your aircraft, use
the AGL values when ying near an established
facility or the aircraft’s takeoff point
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Airspace class
The world's navigable airspace is divided into three-dimensional segments, each
of which is assigned to a speci c class. Most nations adhere to the classi cation
speci ed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and described
below, though they might use only some of the classes de ned, and signi cantly
alter the exact rules and requirements. Similarly, individual nations may also
designate special use airspace (SUA) with further rules for reasons of national
security or safety

Each national aviation authority determines how it uses the ICAO classi cations in
its airspace design. In some countries, the rules are modi ed slightly to t the
airspace rules and air traf c services that existed before the ICAO
standardisation
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ICAO definitions:
On March 12, 1990, ICAO adopted the current airspace classi cation scheme.The
classes are fundamentally de ned in terms of ight rules and interactions between
aircraft and air traf c control (ATC). Generally speaking, the ICAO airspaces allocate
the responsibility for avoiding other aircraft, namely either to ATC (if separation is
provided) or to the aircraft commander (if not)
Some key concepts are
• Separation: Maintaining a speci c minimum distance between an aircraft and
another aircraft or terrain to avoid collisions, normally by requiring aircraft to y at
set levels or level bands, on set routes or in certain directions, or by controlling an
aircraft's speed
• Clearance: Permission given by ATC for an aircraft to proceed under certain
conditions contained within the clearance
• Traf c information: Information given by ATC on the position and, if known,
intentions of other aircraft likely to pose a hazard to ight
• Flight rules: Aircraft can operate under visual ight rules (VFR) or instrument ight
rules (IFR). There is also an intermediate form, special visual ight rules (SVFR)
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Denmark Germany
• Class A is generally used above In Germany, Classes A and B are not used at all. Class C is used
FL195 for Airspace above ight level (FL) 100 (or FL 130 near the Alps)
up to FL 660. Airspace is divided into lower airspace below FL 245
• Class B is not used
and upper airspace above FL 245
• Class C is used for busy terminal • Class A is not used
areas, namely Billund TMA and • Class B is not used
København TMA. All airspace • Class C is used for controlled zones above and around airports
above FL195 is also class C and for airspace above FL 100 (or FL 130 near the Alps) up to FL
• Class D is used for all control 660
• Class D is used for controlled zones, or above and around
zones and most terminal areas
airspace Class C designated zones where CVFR is not
• Class E is generally used for all necessary
airspace from 3500 feet to FL195, • Class E is used for airspace between usually 2,500 ft (760 m)
with the exception of TMA's and AGL (around airports 1,000 ft (300 m) or 1,700 ft (520 m) AGL)
airspace over the North Sea and FL 100
• Class F is not used • Class F is not used
• Class G is used below 2,500 ft (760 m) AGL (around airports
• Class G is used below 3500 feet,
below 1,000 ft (300 m) AGL, then rises via a step at 1,700 ft
except around controlled airports, (520 m) to 2,500 ft (760 m) AGL). IFR ights in Class G are not
and below FL195 over the North allowed in Germany except for arrivals and departures in Radio
Se Mandatory Zones (RMZ) around uncontrolled air elds with IFR
procedures.
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