National Airspace System

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 Content

Overview • Controlled Airspace • Other airspace

• Class A, B, C, D, E • Local Airport Advisory

• Attention • Uncontrolled Airspace • Military Training routes

 The Government basically Owns the air that • Class G •
you breathe and the air that surrounds the Temporary Flight Restrictions
Nation, Because of that there are Rules of the • Special Use Airspace
sky! • Parachute Jump aircraft
• Military Operations Area operations
• What
 Airspace: Portion of the atmosphere above a • Controlled Firing Area • Published VFR Routes
particular land area, especially above a nation
 Airspace is divided into several sectors, or • Prohibited Area • Terminal Radar Service Areas
classes, and specific rules apply to each class • Restricted Area • Air Defense Identification Zone
• Why • Alert Area
 Different airspace has been defined to efficiently • Special air traffic rules
manage the large amount of daily air traffic • Warning Area
 In order to fly through these different airspaces, • Special flight rules area
a pilot must know the specific rules and • National Security Area
requirements • Special VFR

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 Controlled Airspace
• Controlled Airspace refers to a generic term that cover the
different classification of Airspace and defined
dimensions within which air traffic control service is provided to
IFR and Participating VFR traffic in Accordance with the airspace
classification.
• More Restrictive than Uncontrolled Airspace

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 Class A Airspace
• Overview
 Airspace that starts at 18,000’ MSL up to and including FL600
 It includes Airspace Overlying the water within 12NM of the coast of the 48 Contiguous United
States and Alaska

• Operating Rules
 Equipment: Two-way Radio, ADS-B out, Mode-C Transponder
 Entry Requirements: IFR Clearance
 All operations conducted under IFR

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 Class B Airspace
• Overview
 Surrounds the nation’s busiest airports
 Configuration represents an upside-down wedding cake
 Starts from the surface and usually goes up to 10,000' MSL
 Altitudes and layers are tailored to the needs of the area
 Designed to contain all instrument approaches inside the class B airspace

• Operating Rules
 Certification: At least a private pilot certificate is required
 Exception: Student / Rec / Sport pilot with endorsement
 Exception to the exception No solo ops at several of the largest airports: AIM 3-2-3b
 Entry Requirements
 ATC Clearance
 Equipment:
 Two-way radio, Mode-C transponder, ADS-B Out
 Mode C Veil: Mode-C Transponder and ADS-B out required within 30 nm of airport
 Weather Requirements 3SM Vis COC
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 Class C Airspace
• Overview
 Generally, Airspace that surrounds moderately busy airports that has an
operating control tower and are serviced by a Radar approach control.
 It starts from the Surface to 4,000’ AGL
 5 nm radius core – surface to 4,000’
 10 nm radius shelf – 1,200’ to 4,000’
 Control tower and approach control, with certain number of IFR operations

• Operating Rules
 Pilot Certification: No specific certification required
 Entry Requirements: Must establish and maintain Two-way radio communication.
 Equipment
 Two-way radio, Mode C Transponder, ADS-B Out
 ADS-B Out and Mode-C required in and above Class C
 Weather Requirements
 3SM Vis 1,000' Abv 500' Blw 2,000' Horiz from Clouds
 Class D Airspace
• Overview
 Generally, Airspace that surrounds airports that are not as busy as Class B and C
but still busy enough for a tower.
 Surface to 2,500’ above airport elevation
 4 nm radius
 Part time control tower
 Class E when tower is closed
 Configured to meet the needs and procedures of the area

• Operating Rules
 Certification: No specific certification required
 Equipment: Two-way radio
 Entry Requirements: Must Establish and Maintain Two- way radio
Communication

• Weather Requirements
 3SM Vis, 1,000' Abv, 500' Blw, 2,000' Horiz from Clouds

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 Class E

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 Class E Airspace
• Controlled airspace not A, B, C, or D
 Class E Acts as a filler for Controlled airspace

• Transponder and ADS-B Out Requirements

 At or above 10,000’ MSL and above 2,500' AGL
 Within 30 nm of a class B primary airport
 Within and above all Class C airspace
 Flying into, within, or across the ADIZ

• Weather Requirements
 Below 10,000' MSL: 3SM Vis, 1,000' Abv, 500' Blw, 2,000' Horiz
 Above 10,000' MSL: 5Sm Vis, 1000' Abv, 1,000' Blw, 1SM horiz

• Airspeed Limits
 Mach 1 or less above 10,000' MSL
 250 knots or less below 10,000’ MSL
 200 knots or less below 2,500’ AGL within 4 nm of a Class C or D airport
 200 knots or less underlying Class B or a VFR corridor through Class B
 Or Minimum Safe Airspeed for your Aircraft if Greater than any Speed Limit

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 Class E Airspace
• ATC Services
 VFR: No communication requirements, but can request traffic advisories
 IFR: ATC communication is required

• Vertical Limits
 Up to but not Including 18,000' MSL or Overlying Controlled Airspace

• Segments
 Class E usually starts at 1,200' AGL
 Low Altitude Airway System
 Airways: 1,200’ AGL up to, but not including 18,000’ MSL; Normally 8 nm wide
 Airports
 Extension to a surface area
 Controlled airspace for IFR traffic transitioning between enroute / airport environments
 When needed for IFR control purposes
 Enroute Domestic Areas – Provide IFR ATC services where the airway system is inadequate
 Offshore Airspace Areas – Provide controlled airspace beyond 12 nm from the coast

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 Special VFR
• Clearance to operate under VFR with less than VFR weather minimums
 Whenever it is below 1,000ft Ceilings and or less than 3SM of Vis in Controlled Airspace,
Special VFR may be needed.
 Class B, C, D, or E surface areas below 10,000’ MSL
 Must be requested by the pilot

• May only be conducted

 With an ATC clearance. If flying to Uncontrolled Airport you may contact a FSS so they can
Communicate with ATC for you.
 Clear of clouds
 At least 1 SM flight visibility
 At night: Instrument rated pilot and aircraft required

• Prohibited at certain airports

 Part 91 Appendix D Section 3

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 Class G Airspace
• Overview
 Uncontrolled airspace
 It essentially is a whole lot less restrictive than Controlled Airspace
 Not designated A, B, C, D, or E
 Extends from the surface to the base of the overlying class E airspace

• Operating Rules
 Equipment Requirements: Above 10,000' MSL and Above 2,500' AGL Mode-C
Transponder and ADS-B Out Equipment
 ATC has no authority / responsibility to control class G traffic

• Weather Requirements
 Below 1,200' AGL: Day- 1SM Vis, COC Night- 3SM Vis, 1,000' Abv, 500' Blw, 2,000 Horiz
from Clouds
 Above 1,200' AGL: Day- 1SM Vis, 1,000' Abv, 500' Blw, 2,000' Horiz Night- 3SM Vis, 1,000'
Abv 500' Blw, 2,000 Horiz from Clouds
 Above 10,000' MSL Day and Night: 5SM Vis, 1,000' Abv, 1,000' Blw, 1SM Horiz from
Clouds
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 Airspace Summary

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 Special Use Airspace
• Military Operations Areas (MOAs)
 Separate military training activity from IFR traffic. No restriction against VFR

• Controlled Firing Areas

 Activities that could be hazardous to aircraft; suspended when an aircraft is approaching

• Prohibited Areas
 Flight is prohibited for security or other reasons associated with national welfare

• Restricted Areas
 Not wholly prohibited, but subject to restrictions; Hazardous to nonparticipating aircraft

• Alert Areas
 Alert pilots to high volumes of training or unusual activity

• Warning Areas
 Extend from 3 nm outward from coasts with potentially hazardous activity

• National Security Areas

 Airspace of defined Vertical and Lateral dimensions established at locations where there
is a requirement for increased security of ground facilities. Pilots are requested to stay
above established altitudes.
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 Basic VFR Weather minimum CFR 91.155
• Execpt as Provided in CFR 91.157 no person may operate an aircraft beneath the ceiling
under VFR within lateral boundaries of Controlled airspace designated to the surface
for an airport when the ceiling is less than 1,000' AGL
• Execpt as Provided in CFR 91.157 no person may take off or land an aircraft in lateral
boundries of controlled airspace when it is less than VFR

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Questions?

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