Infraestructures del

Transport Aeri

Introduction to airspace classes

and ATS units
Xavier Prats
xavier.prats@upc.edu
March 2013 – Version 1.0
Introduction

VFR: Visual Flight Rules

• Visibility better than (5-)8 km (Special VFR)
• ATS flight plan optional (in «aeronautically developed»
states...)
• Fewer training/equipage required

IFR: Instrumental Flight Rules

• Use of Radionavigation means
• ATS flight plan must be filed AND approved
• More training/equipage is required

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Infraestructures del Transport Aeri (ITA) March 2013 - v1.0
 ICAO airspace classes

Airspace Controlled Non-Controlled

Class A B C D E F G
IFR allowed Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
SVFR
Allowed Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
VFR Allowed No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
IFR / IFR IFR / IFR if
NONE
possible
Separation IFR / IFR IFR / (S)VFR IFR / SVFR
(S)VFR / SVFR/
(S)VFR SVFR?
Traffic VFR / IFR / VFR if possible if possible NONE
N/A
information VFR VFR / VFR
Clearance Only for
Required Yes Yes Yes Yes IFR No No

Na%onal  regula%ons  may  differ  

from  ICAO  standards!  
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Infraestructures del Transport Aeri (ITA) March 2013 - v1.0
Airspace classes

Source: Eurocontrol

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Infraestructures del Transport Aeri (ITA) March 2013 - v1.0
ATS units

UIR  

FIR  

TMA/CTA  

AWY  

CTR   CTR   CTR  

ATZ   ATZ   ATZ   ATZ  

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Infraestructures del Transport Aeri (ITA) March 2013 - v1.0
Airspace analysis assignment
Draw  the  ver%cal  sec%on  of  the  airspace  cut  indicated  in  
the  chart  (VFR  naviga%on  chart)  and  indicate:  
• The  different  airspace  blocks  (types,  names  and  assigned  
frequencies)  
• The  airspace  class  of  each  block  
• The  different  special  areas  (R,  P,  D,  ZRT)  and  special  ac%vi%es  
(parachu%ng,  aeroba%cs…)  
• Look-­‐up  in  the  corresponding  Aeronau%cal  Informa%on  
Publica%ons  (AIP)  the  meaning  and  par%culari%es  of  these  zones  
(ENR  5.1  sec%on)  

In  the  ATENEA  reference  

documents  folder  you  will  
find  the  VFR  charts  legend  
from  french  AIP    

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Infraestructures del Transport Aeri (ITA) March 2013 - v1.0
Airspace analysis assignment

Example  of  solu%on  (not  corresponding  to  previous  chart):  

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Infraestructures del Transport Aeri (ITA) March 2013 - v1.0
 Thank you!!
Gràcies!!

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Infraestructures del Transport Aeri (ITA) March 2013 - v1.0