Airspace

Overview of Airspace The following are general descriptions and dimensions. The markings are standardized but the size and shape of the airspace is varied according to the need for that particular area. Airspace dimensions are as depicted on the current sectional, world and/or terminal charts. Overview of airspace: The following are general descriptions and dimensions. The markings are standardized but the size and shape of the airspace is varied according to the need for that particular area. Airspace dimensions are as depicted on the current sectional, world and/or terminal charts.

Airspace at a Glance 60,000 ft msl 18,000 ft msl clearance trans/alt Class A No VFR Class E no radio requirement/no communication requirements no transponder requirements except above 10,000 ft msl E 14,500 ft msl Class G uncontrolled/ no requirements for radio or transponder except above 10,000 ft msl E 1,200 ft agl E 700 ft agl Class B Class C E Surface E Surface Class D Class B clearance trans/alt Class C 2 way contact trans/alt Class D 2 way contact

No VFR flight is allowed An IFR flight plan is required 60,000 ft msl (FL60) 18,000 ft msl Class A Airspace exists over the entire country at 18,000 ft msl up to 60,000 ft msl (the military takes over at the higher altitudes) No VFR flight is allowed An IFR flight plan is required A transponder with altitude encoding is required A 2 way radio and an IFR clearance are required Class A Airspace is not depicted on charts Class A airspace exists over the entire country at 18,000 feet MSL up to 60,000 feet MSL (the military takes over at the higher altitudes). No VFR flight is allowed. An IFR flight plan is required. A transponder with altitude encoding is required. A two-way radio and an IFR clearance is required. Class A airspace is not depicted on charts.

Class B Airspace Pilot must have at least a Private Pilot Rating, or Student Pilot with an endorsement for that particular Class B Airspace Requirements: 2 way radio, transponder with altitude encoding and a clearance before entering When inbound, first contact is made with approach control, Max speed 250 Airspace is served by radar from primary airport 30 nm radius 10,000 ft msl height

Seattle Class B Airspace as depicted on sectional Requirements to Enter Transponder/alt encoding clearance/2 way radio private/student B endorsed or higher Note; Transponder required in, below and above within 30 nm mode C veil Solid blue lines indicate Class B Airspace Mode C Veil solid magenta line Maximum Elevation Figure highest obstacle plus 300 ft

Top number indicates 10,000 ft msl for Class B top Airport Information Bottom number indicates 6,000 ft msl for Class B base

Class C Airspace Requirements; 2 way radio, transponder with altitude encoding and established radio contact prior to entry into middle or inner area Outer area doesn’t require radio or transponder but the transponder is required above Class C Airspace (radar service is available in outer area not depicted on sectional chart but appears here in darker blue) Class C primary airport has radar and therefore initial contact should be made with approach control prior to entry Middle Area 10 nm radius Outer Area 20 nm radius 4,000 ft agl Inner Area 5 nm radius 1,200 ft agl

Class C Airspace The following services are provided within Class C airspace: Sequencing of all arriving aircraft to the primary airport Standard IFR separation between IFR aircraft Between IFR and VFR aircraft – traffic advisories and conflict resolution Between VFR aircraft – traffic advisories and as appropriate, safety alerts Middle Area 10 nm radius Outer Area 20 nm radius 4,000 ft agl Inner Area 5 nm radius 1,200 ft agl

Inner Area Middle Area This portion of Class C Airspace has a height of 4,000 ft msl and a base of 2,000 ft msl This portion of Class C Airspace has a height of 4,000 ft msl and a base of 1,300 ft msl Inner Area Class C airspace is depicted on sectional charts as solid magenta lines. The airspace is usually constructed in a two tier pattern with the center portion extending from the surface to a specified altitude (usually 4,000 feet) and extending about 4-6 nautical miles outward from the primary airport. The portion on the left side of the Class C airspace has a height of 4,000 feet MSL and a base of 1,300 feet MSL. Near the top area of Class C airspace depicted on the chart has a height of 4,000 feet MSL and a base of 2,000 feet MSL. 4,000 feet MSL height down to the surface within 4 nautical miles of the primary airport is depicted as 40/SFC. 4,000 ft msl height down to surface Middle Area Solid magenta lines indicate Class C Airspace

Class D Airspace Requirements; 2 way radio, establish 2 way radio contact with tower prior to entry No transponder requirements Class D Airspace does not have radar at primary airport therefore there is no approach control Max speed 200 kias w/in 4nm Generally reverts to Class E when the tower closes Class D Airspace: Requirements; two-way radio, establish two-way radio contact with tower prior to entry. No transponder requirements. Class D Airspace does not have radar at primary airport therefore there is no approach control. 4 nm radius 2,500 ft height agl

Dashed blue line indicates Class D Airspace Requirements; 2 way radio, contact tower prior to entry Note; No primary radar Dashed blue line indicates Class D Airspace Segmented Box indicates top of Class D - Here 2,700 ft msl Class D airspace is depicted as a dashed blue line on VFR sectional charts with airspace extending usually about 4 nautical miles away from the primary class D airport. The dashed lines indicate that the airspace extends down to the surface up to a prescribed altitude which is located within the blue dashed brackets. In this instance the airspace is from the surface up to 2,700 feet.

Class D Airspace surface to 4,000 ft msl Here Class D Airspace This is an example of class D airspace extending from the surface up to 4,000 feet. We know the airspace is down to the surface because of the presence of a dashed line marking the outer boundary of the airspace. The shape of this airspace is unique because of the notch that protrudes from the left side. The purpose of the notch is to extend the boundary of the airspace to facilitate an instrument approach at that airport. We can see that the notch lines up with one of the runways at the airport by looking at the runway orientation inside of the blue circle. Class D Airspace surface to 4,000 ft msl Here Class D Airspace has an extension

Class E Airspace By definition is controlled airspace which is not A, B, C or D No transponder or radio is required below 10,000 ft msl but a transponder is required above 10,000 ft msl No communication is required Class E Airspace extends upwards from it’s designated base until encountering other controlled airspace with greater restrictions and/ or requirements

Class E at the surface up with dashed magenta line Class E Airspace Class A Airspace beginning18,000 ft msl Class E at 14,500 msl if no other indications, this has no color coding on charts Class E airspace This chart shows the vertical extension of airspace and the possibilities that exist. Starting at the right side, class E airspace is notated with a dashed magenta line and shown from the surface up. Next to that is an example of Class E airspace with a hazed magenta line which indicates class E airspace starting at 700 feet. Adjacent to that is a blue hazed line that signifies class E airspace from 1,200 feet AGL up. If there are no other indications of airspace on a chart, Class E airspace is automatically assumed at 14,500 feet MSL to Flight Level 180. Upon reaching 18,000 feet, class A airspace begins and extends upward to Flight level 600. Class G Airspace Class E at the surface up with dashed magenta line Class E at 1,200 ft agl up with haze blue line Class E at 700 ft agl up with haze magenta line

starting at the surface Indicates Class E starting at the surface upwards Indicates Class E starting at 1,200 ft agl upwards In some instances Class E airspace down to the surface is necessary as well as a Class E shelf where it begins at 700 feet. This is necessary to facilitate ATC’s control of traffic on instrument approaches to an airport. Class E from 1,200 feet AGL upwards is denoted on VFR sectional charts as a blue hazed line similar to the magenta that is used to denote Class E airspace from 700 feet AGL. Indicates Class E starting at 700 ft agl upwards

Chain used to indicate Class E with base in this case 8,200 ft msl upward On a VFR sectional chart, Class E airspace in mountainous areas can be denoted by a chain pattern box with the altitude included within. In this case Class E airspace begins at 8,200 feet MSL extending upward.

Victor Airways are Class E Airspace 8 nm wide (4 nm either side of center) 1,200 agl upwards On a VFR sectional chart, Victor Airways are depicted as a hazy blue line with a V and designation number following it. Class E airspace is 8NM wide (4NM either side of center of the victor airway) and extends upwards from 1,200 feet AGL.

Special Use Airspace Prohibited Areas (blue comb line) Restricted Areas (blue comb line) Warning Areas (blue comb line) Alert Areas (blue comb line) Military Operations Areas (MOA) (magenta comb line) Special Use Airspace: Prohibited Areas are denoted as a blue comb line. Restricted Areas are denoted as a blue comb line. Warning Areas are denoted as a blue comb line. Alert Areas are also denoted as a blue comb line. Military operations areas (MOA) are denoted as a magenta comb line.

Prohibited Areas These are established for national security No flight operations are allowed within them Prohibited Areas: There are established for national security. No flight operations are allowed within them.

Restricted Areas Flight operations are subject to limitations There may exist hazards to aircraft as missile firing, artillery and other often invisible dangers associated with military training Prior permission from controlling agency must be obtain before entering Restricted Areas Restricted Areas: Flight operations are subject to limitations. There may exist hazards to aircraft as missile firing, artillery and other often invisible dangers associated with military training. Prior permission from controlling agency must be obtained before entering Restricted Areas.

Warning Areas These are the same as restricted areas in regards to hazards but are located over international waters Technically the U.S. government cannot require that aircraft obtain permission prior to entry but since hazards may exist, it is standard operating procedure Warning Areas: These are the same as restricted areas in regards to hazards but are located over international waters. Technically the U.S. government cannot require that aircraft obtain permission prior to entry but since hazards may exist, it is standard operating procedure.

Alert Areas Indicates area to contain high volume pilot training or unusual type of aerial activity Flight is not restricted but extreme caution should be exercised Alert Areas: Indicates area to contain high volume pilot training or unusual type of aerial activity. Flight is not restricted but extreme caution should be exercised.

Military Operation Area (MOA) Flight is not restricted Area may contain military training activities Although not required, contacting controlling agency is helpful prior to entry to help with collision avoidance while MOA is active Military Operation Area (MOA): Flight is not restricted. Area may contain military training activities. Although not required, contacting controlling agency is helpful prior to entry to help with collision avoidance while MOA is active.

Prohibited, Warning, Alert Areas and Restricted Airspace indicated by blue comb line and written indication of type, here Restricted up to 20,000 ft msl This is an example of a VFR sectional chart with a restricted area outlined with a military operations area. The Restricted area is denoted by a blue comb line and the military operations area is denoted by a magenta comb line. Military Operations Area indicated by magenta comb line

Other Airspace Military Training Routes (MTR) Air Defense Identification Zones (ADIZ) Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) Other Airspace: Military Training Routes (MTR). Air Defense Identification Zones (ADIZ). Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR).

Military Training Routes (MTR) High volume/high speed (possibly in excess of 250 knots) military aircraft IR indicates IFR training route VR indicate VFR training route If MTR has 3 numbers, it has portions above and sometimes below 1,500 ft agl If MTR has 4 numbers, all portions should be below 1,500 ft agl There are no restrictions on aircraft concerning communication or equipment Military Training Routes (MTR): High volume/high speed (possibly in excess of 250 knots) military aircraft. IR indicates IFR training route. VR indicates a VFR training route. If MTR has 3 numbers, it has portions above and sometimes below 1,500 feet AGL. If MTR has 4 numbers, all portions should be below 1,500 feet AGL. There are no restrictions on aircraft concerning communication or equipment.

Military Training Routes IR indicates IFR, VR indicates VFR 3 numbers indicate surface up 4 indicates no segment above 1,500 ft agl Sectional chart showing VFR and IFR military training routes.

Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) Aircraft entering U.S. airspace must be identified prior to entry Enter w/in +5 Min of estimate and w/in 10 mi over land and 20 mi over water Aircraft must file a flight plan (IFR or DVFR) prior to entry You must have a transponder with altitude encoding A 2 way radio to give periodic reports of position to ATC is required Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ): Aircraft entering U.S. airspace must be identified prior to entry. Aircraft must file a flight plan (DVFR) prior to entry. You must have a transponder with altitude encoding. A two-way radio to give periodic reports of position to ATC is required.

Air Defense Identification Zone VFR sectional chart showing an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

Class G Airspace All uncontrolled airspace Usually exists only at low altitudes No radio, transponder or communications required Chart has no direct indication of existence Uncontrolled airspace is where no IFR traffic exists with a clearance Aircraft may fly IFR in those areas but PIC assumes all risks without the assistance of ATC Class G Airspace: All uncontrolled airspace. Usually exists only at low altitudes. No radio, transponder or communications required.

Airspace at a Glance 60,000 ft msl 18,000 ft msl clearance trans/alt Class A No VFR Class E no radio requirement/no communication requirements no transponder requirements except above 10,000 ft msl E 14,500 ft msl Class G uncontrolled/ no requirements for radio or transponder except above 10,000 ft msl E 1,200 ft agl C 4,000 ft E 700 ft agl Class B Class C D 2,500 ft E Surface E Surface Class D Class B clearance trans/alt Class C 2 way contact trans/alt Class D 2 way contact

Other Airspace Off Route Obstruction Clearance Altitude (OROCA): provides obstruction clearance with 1,000 ft buffer/2,000 ft in mtn ter. Minimum Vectoring Altitudes (MVA): Established for use by ATC; 1,000/2,000 ft clearance Min Safe/Sector Altitudes (MSA): 1,000 ft obstacle clearance w/in specified distance from the listed Navaid. Other Airspace: Military Training Routes (MTR). Air Defense Identification Zones (ADIZ). Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR).

Other Airspace VFR-On-Top: Clearance is an IFR auth to fly cleared route at the VFR altitude Must maintain VFR visibility and cloud clearance May be done above, below or between clouds Pilot expected to comply with IFR rules ATC will provide advisories only Not authorized in Class A airpsace Other Airspace: Military Training Routes (MTR). Air Defense Identification Zones (ADIZ). Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR).

Minimum In-Flight Visibility Other Airspace: Military Training Routes (MTR). Air Defense Identification Zones (ADIZ). Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR).