Lesson 4: Airspace Ace – Alphabet Soup Prof. H. Paul Shuch, Ph.D., CFII LSRM-A/GL/WSC/PPC, iRMT Heavy Chief Flight Instructor, Director of Maintenance AvSport of Lock Haven FAA Safety Team Lead Representative Piper Memorial Airport, Lock Haven PA Presentation Copyright © 2016

A FAASTeam WINGS Award Seminar Presentation Copyright © 2016

Brought to you by: Wings of Williamsport Piper Memorial Airport AvSport of Lock Haven Your FAA Safety Team Presentation Copyright © 2016

OBJECTIVES: Upon successful completion of this lesson, you will: Identify Class A, B, C, D, E, and G airspace Know when and how to operate in each class Properly equip your aircraft for a given class Demonstrate appropriate ATC communications Avoid inadvertent airspace incursions Presentation Copyright © 2016

IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS: Positive Control Airspace Terminal Control Area Airport Radar Service Area Airport Traffic Area Uncontrolled Airspace Presentation Copyright © 2016

NOW IT’S ALPHABET SOUP: Class Alpha Class Bravo Class Charlie Class Delta Class Echo Class Golf (Most to Least Restrictive) Presentation Copyright © 2016

BLAME IT ON ICAO Presentation Copyright © 2016

(Still Ordered Most to Least Restrictive) 14 CFR Part 71 Subpart A: Class Alpha airspace Subpart B: Class Bravo airspace Subpart C: Class Charlie airspace Subpart D: Class Delta airspace Subpart E: Class Echo airspace Subpart G: Class Golf airspace (Still Ordered Most to Least Restrictive) Presentation Copyright © 2016

Quiz Time! Presentation Copyright © 2016

Class Alpha Class Charlie Class Delta Class Foxtrot Class Golf Which of these designations represents the least restrictive FAR 71 airspace? Class Alpha Class Charlie Class Delta Class Foxtrot Class Golf Presentation Copyright © 2016

(OK, I admit, that was a trick question!) Which of these designations represents the least restrictive FAR 71 airspace? Class Alpha Class Charlie Class Delta Class Foxtrot Class Golf (OK, I admit, that was a trick question!) Presentation Copyright © 2016

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Class Alpha Airspace Depiction (nonexistent!) Presentation Copyright © 2016

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Class Bravo Airspace Depiction Presentation Copyright © 2016

Class Bravo Airspace Geometry Presentation Copyright © 2016

“Inverted Wedding Cake” Presentation Copyright © 2016

Class Charlie Airspace Depiction Presentation Copyright © 2016

Class Charlie Airspace Geometry Presentation Copyright © 2016

“Bundt Cake” Presentation Copyright © 2016

Terminal Radar Service Areas A carryover from the Good Old Days Provide radar service to IFR and limited VFR Like Class Charlie but VFR participation optional Most have been replaced by Class Charlie They are charted (gray circles) Not an ICAO airspace designation Not covered in FAR 71 Presentation Copyright © 2016

TRSA Depiction Presentation Copyright © 2016

Airport Radar Service Areas Like a TRSA; VFR participation still optional Sometimes used around Class D with radar Are supposed to replace the old TRSA Not an ICAO airspace designation Not covered in FAR 71 Presentation Copyright © 2016

Class Delta Airspace Depiction Presentation Copyright © 2016

Class Delta Airspace Geometry Presentation Copyright © 2016

“Stack of Panckes” Presentation Copyright © 2016

Class Echo Airspace Depiction (beginning at surface) Presentation Copyright © 2016

Class Echo Airspace Depiction (beginning 700 feet above surface) Presentation Copyright © 2016

Class Echo Airspace Depiction (beginning 1200 feet above surface) Presentation Copyright © 2016

Class Echo Airspace Geometry Presentation Copyright © 2016

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“Cored Apple” Presentation Copyright © 2016

Class Golf Airspace Geometry Presentation Copyright © 2016

Class Golf Airspace Depiction Presentation Copyright © 2016

“Hockey Puck” Presentation Copyright © 2016

THE SECRET DECODER RING Class Alpha – Above Class Bravo – Busiest Class Charlie – Congested Class Delta – Directed Class Echo – Everybody Class Golf – Ground level Presentation Copyright © 2016

Another Question Presentation Copyright © 2016

Which airspace is not depicted on sectional aeronautical charts? Class A Class B Class C Class D Class E Presentation Copyright © 2016

Which airspace is not depicted on sectional aeronautical charts? Class A Class B Class C Class D Class E Presentation Copyright © 2016

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ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Presentation Copyright © 2016

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PILOT CERTIFICATE OR RATING Presentation Copyright © 2016

(or Sport Pilot with endorsement!) Presentation Copyright © 2016

ALTITUDE REPORTING TRANSPONDER Presentation Copyright © 2016

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Transponder Types Mode A - Location (distance & bearing) Mode C - Location, Altitude Mode S - Location, Altitude, ID Extended Squitter - precise location from WAAS GPS Presentation Copyright © 2016

I know this one! Presentation Copyright © 2016

Class B Class D Class C Class A They all do Penetrating which airspace always requires an IFR clearance and rating? Class B Class D Class C Class A They all do Presentation Copyright © 2016

Class B Class D Class C Class A They all do Penetrating which airspace always requires an IFR clearance and rating? Class B Class D Class C Class A They all do Presentation Copyright © 2016

TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION Presentation Copyright © 2016

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But just what constitutes 2-way radio communication? If IFR, “cleared to” with route, altitude If VFR in Class B or C, “cleared into” In Class D, your callsign read back to you “Aircraft stand by” is not radio communication Presentation Copyright © 2016

MINIMUM VFR VISIBILITY Presentation Copyright © 2016

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NOTE 1: flight visibility is always given in Statute (not nautical) Miles Presentation Copyright © 2016

VFR CLOUD CLEARANCE Presentation Copyright © 2016

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Visual mnemonic courtesy Rod Machado Presentation Copyright © 2016

NOTE 2: UAS must always have 3 miles minimum flight visibility (regardless of airspace) Presentation Copyright © 2016

NOTE 3: Currently, UAS may not operate above clouds Presentation Copyright © 2016

Doh! Presentation Copyright © 2016

Which airspace does not normally require radio communication? Class D Class B Class G Class C Class A Presentation Copyright © 2016

Which airspace does not normally require radio communication? Class D Class B Class G Class C Class A Presentation Copyright © 2016

A FEW CLOSING THOUGHTS Presentation Copyright © 2016

What About Temporary Flight Restrictions? May not be charted Can pop up without warning May constitute prohibited or restricted areas Check with FSS before you launch Check with a TRACON or ARTCC enroute VFR Flight Following will not necessarily avoid Presentation Copyright © 2016

If in doubt, check with ATC We haven’t touched on: Military Operations Areas Restricted Areas Prohibited Areas Alert Areas Etc. If in doubt, check with ATC Presentation Copyright © 2016

Final Question! Presentation Copyright © 2016

In which airspace may a UAS request Special VFR operation? Class A Class B Class C Class D None of the above Presentation Copyright © 2016

In which airspace may a UAS request Special VFR operation? Class A Class B Class C Class D None of the above Presentation Copyright © 2016

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