LESSON 10

AIRSPACE
 It
is the portion of the atmosphere
above a particular land area,
especially above a nation to efficiently
manage the large amount of air traffic
that traverses the sky each day.
Our airspace are divided based on;
- Level of air traffic
- Nature of operation
- Level of safety required
- National and public interest
CATEGORIES OF AIRSPACE

REGULATORY  NON-
REGULATORY
- Classes A, B,
- Military Operation
C, D, E, G Areas (MOA)
- Restricted -Warning areas
areas -Alert areas
-Controlled firing
- Prohibited
 TYPES OF AIRSPACE
Controlled Airspace
Uncontrolled Airspace
Special use Airspace
Other Airspace
 CLASSIFICATIONS OF AIRSPACE
 REGULATORY AIRSPACE
CONTROLLED AIRSPACE UNCONTROLLED
- CLASS A AIRSPACE
- CLASS B - CLASS G
- CLASS C
- CLASS D
- CLASS E
AIRSPACE REQUIREMENTS
 PILOT QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
 AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
 CLOUD CLEARANCE AND VISIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS
 SPEED REQUIREMENTS
 CLASS A AIRSPACE
 Generally, airspace from 18,000 feet mean
sea level (MSL) up to and including flight
level (FL) 600
 Unless otherwise authorized, all pilots must
operate their aircraft under instrument flight
rules (IFR)
 Separation is provided for all aircraft
 CLASS A AIRSPACE
 It is critical that pilots change their altimeter
setting from the local altimeter to 29.92 when
climbing through 18,000 feet
 This ensures all aircraft flying in class A airspace
have the same altimeter setting and will have
proper altitude separation
 Non-RVSM separation is 2,000' vertically
 RVSM separation is 1,000' vertically
 CLASS A
REQUIREMENTS
 PILOT MUST BE INSTRUMENT RATED
 INSTRUMENT FLIGHT PLAN IS REQUIRED
 INSTRUMENT RATED AIRCRAFT
 TWO-RADIO COMMUNICATION
 TANSPONDER WITH MODE-C
 NO SPEED LIMITATION
 CLASS B AIRSPACE
 Generally, airspace from the surface to 10,000
feet MSL surrounding the nation’s busiest
airports in terms of airport operations or
passenger enplanements
 The configuration of each Class B airspace area
is individually tailored, consists of a surface
area and two or more layers
 some Class B airspace areas resemble upside-
down wedding cakes
CLASS B AIRSPACE REQUIREMENTS
 VFR MINIMUM VISIBILITY: 3 SM visibility
and clear of clouds
 PRIVATE PILOT LICENSE (STUDENT PILOT
LOGBOOK EDORSEMENT)
 TWO WAY RADIO COMMUNICATION
 ATC CLEARANCE TO ENTER
 TANSPONDER WITH MODE-C
 CLASS B AIRSPACE
SPEED REQUIREMENTS
 250 KNOTS BELOW 10,000FT MSL
 200 KNOTS UNDER THE CLASS B
AIRSPACE
 CLASS C AIRSPACE
 Generally, airspace from the surface to 4,000
feet above the airport elevation (charted in
MSL) surrounding those airports that have an
operational control tower are serviced by a
radar approach control.
 Airspace usually consists of a surface area with
a 5 NM radius, an outer circle with a 10 NM
radius that extends from 1,200 feet to 4,000
feet above the airport elevation and an outer
area
 CLASS C AIRSPACE REQUIREMENTS

 NO SPECIFIC CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

 TRANSPONDER WITH MODE-C
 TWO WAY RADIO COMMUNICATION WITH THE
ATC
 IF THE PILOT IS OPERATING UNDER VFR THEN
THEY MUST HAVE ATLEAST 3SM VISIBILITY,
CLOUD CLEARANCE OF 500FT BELOW, 1,000FT
ABOVE AND 2,000FT HORIZONTALY OF ANY
CLOUDS.
 CLASS C AIRSPACE SPEED
REQUIREMENT
 IF THE AIRCRAFT IS OPERATING BELOW
10,000FT IS 250 KNOTS
 IF THE AIRCRAFT IS OPERATING BELOW
2,500FT AGL AND WITHIN 4NM OF THE
PRIMARY CLASS C AIRPORT IS 200 KNOTS.
 CLASS C AIRSPACE ATC SERVICES
 IFR/IFR SEPARATION
 IFR/VFR SEPARATION
 VFR TRAFFIC ADVISORIES
 CLASS D AIRSPACE
 Generally, airspace from the surface to 2,500
feet above the airport elevation (charted in
MSL) surrounding those airports that have an
operational control tower.
 Class D airspace radius is 5NM but may vary
between 3NM and 7NM
 when instrument procedures are published,
the airspace normally designed to contain the
 CLASS D AIRSPACE REQUIREMENTS

 STUDENT PILOT
 TWO WAY RADIO COMMUNICATION
 VISIBILITY MUST BE ATLEAST 3SM, CLOUD
CLEARANCE OF 500FT BELOW, 1,000FT
ABOVE AND 2,000FT HORIZONTALY OF
ANY CLOUDS.
 CLASS D AIRSPACE SPEED
REQUIREMENTS
 BELOW 10,000FT MSL IS 250 KNOTS
 BELOW 2,500FT AGL AND WITHIN
4NM IS 200 KNOTS
CLASS D AIRSPACE REQUIREMENTS
 Under Special VFR, if granted by the
controller, a pilot may enter or leave Class
D Airspace in 1 statute mile of visibility
while remaining clear of clouds
 IFR, SVFR, and runway operations
 NO separation provided for VFR operations
 CLASS E AIRSPACE
 Generally, if the airspace is not Class A, B, C, or
D, and is controlled airspace, then it is Class E
airspace
 IFR traffic in Class E airspace is controlled by
ATC
 CLASS E AIRSPACE
 Below 10,000' MSL: 3 SM visibility, 500' below, 1,000'
above, 2,000' horizontal
 Above 10,000' MSL: 5 SM visibility, 1,000' below,
1,000' above, 1 SM horizontal
 Separation is provided for IFR, SVFR, and runway
operations
 VFR separation is not provided unless flight following
is being used
 250 knots below 10,000' MSL
CLASS E AIRSPACE REQUIREMENTS
 STUDENT PILOT LICENSE
 TWO WAY RADIO COMMUNICATIONS
 CLASS G AIRSPACE
(UNCONTROLLED)
 Airspace not designated as Class A, B, C, D, or E
 Class G airspace is essentially uncontrolled by
ATC except when associated with a temporary
control tower
 No formal separation services are provided
 The PIC is responsible for looking out and
avoiding other aircraft
 FUNCTIONS OF CLASS E AIRSPACE
 Surface Area Designated For An Airport:
 Class E surface areas extend upward from
the surface to a designated altitude, or to
the adjacent or overlying controlled
airspace. The airspace will be configured
to contain all instrument procedures
 FUNCTIONS OF CLASS E AIRSPACE
 Extension to Surface Area:
 Class E airspace may be designated as
extensions to Class B, Class C, Class D,
and Class E surface areas
 The extensions provide controlled
airspace to contain standard instrument
approach procedures without imposing a
communications requirement on pilots
 FUNCTIONS OF CLASS E AIRSPACE
 Transition Area:
 Class E airspace areas may be designated for
transitioning aircraft to/from the terminal or en route
environment
 Class E transition areas extend upward from either
700 feet AGL (shown as magenta vignette on
sectional charts) or 1,200 feet AGL (blue vignette)
and are designated for airports with an approved
instrument procedure
 The 700-foot/1200-foot AGL Class E airspace
transition areas remain in effect continuously,
 FUNCTIONS OF CLASS E AIRSPACE
 Federal Airway:
 Airways are the primary means for routing aircraft operating
under IFR
 A Federal airway includes the airspace within parallel boundary
lines 4 NM to each side of the centerline
 As in all instrument flight, courses are magnetic, and distances
are in NM
 FEDERAL AIRWAY IS 8NM WIDE EXTENDING 4NM ON EACH SIDE
OF THE AIRWAY CENTERLINE AND STARTS AT 1,200FT AGL
EXTENDING UP TO BUT NOT INCLUDING 18,000FT MSL
 FUNCTIONS OF CLASS E AIRSPACE
 En-route Domestic Area:
 Echo airspace that extends upward from
a specified altitude and are used for en-
route domestic airspace areas to provide
controlled airspace where there is a
requirement to provide IFR en route ATC
services but the Federal Airway does not
exist and would be inadequate