(ACS) National Airspace System Flashcards
(National Airspace System)
What acronym can be used to organize airspace requirements? What does each letter mean?
DEEPSW
D- Dimensions
E- Entry requirements
E- Equipment (FAR 91.225)
P- Pilot Qualifications
S- Speed limits (FAR 91.117)
W- Weather minimums
(National Airspace System)
Class B requirements?
-Dimensions: non standard, made to fit the environment and airspace needs. Usually the top is 10,000 but some Bravo’s can make it to 12,000’.
-Equipment: Two way radio, mode C transponder, and ADS-B out
-Entry requirement: clearance by ATC needs to be obtained. Tailnumber and specific clearance as well as a squak code is essential otherwise no entry.
-Pilot Qualification: Private pilot or above is required. In some instances a student pilot with endorsement can fly in the Bravo.
-Speed limits: 250 kts inside the Bravo. 200 kts underflying the Bravo or through a VFR corridor cutting through a Bravo.
-Wx: 3 statute miles visibility and clear of clouds. you can skim the tops or bottoms of clouds without busting the regulations. just remain outside of the clouds.
(National Airspace System)
What airspace is indicated by solid magenta circles? What are the requirements?
Class C “Charlie” airspace
-Dimensions: simple two tiered wedding cake that is generally 5 nautical miles wide 4,000 AGL high at the base and an upper tier that is 10 nautical miles wide with a base of 1,200 AGL and a top of 4,000 AGL.
-Entry requirements: establish two way radio with the controller as well as call sign.
-Equipment: 2 way radio, mode C transponder, ADS-B out
-Pilot Qualification: student pilot cert or above
-Speed limits: 200 kts within 4 nautical miles and 2,500’ AGL
-Wx: 3 statute miles visibility 1,000’ above, 500’ below, and 2,000’ horizontal
Note: there is a 20 nautical mile procedural circle around class C airspace where controllers can give VFR guidance. workload permitting.
(National Airspace System)
What airspace class is indicated by dashed blue lines? What are the airspace requirements?
Class D or “Delta” airspace
-Dimensions: Cylinder with a radius of 4 to 5 nautical miles and a height of 2,500 AGL. Some may have extensions or cutouts if necessary. A dashed box will be inside the circle to indicate the ceiling height in MSL.
-Entry requirements: must acknowledge your call sign ensuring two way radio contact has been made.
-Equipment: two way radio
-Pilot qualifications: student pilot certificate
-Speed limits: 200 kts
-Wx: 3 statute miles of visibility and cloud clearance of 1,000’ above, 500’ below, and 2,000’ horizontally.
(National Airspace System)
Why do we have Class E airspace and what altitude does it begin?
We have class E airspace because
Dimensions: A dashed magenta circle or other shape indicates echo to the surface. A magenta veil indicates echo to 700’, otherwise echo starts at 1,200’.
-Entry requirements: none
-Equipment requirements: transponder above 2,500 AGL and over 10,000’ MSL
-Pilot qualification: none
-Speed limit: 91.117
-Wx: 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.
The purpose of Class E airspace is to keep IFR traffic under ATC control in the terminal area.
(National Airspace System)
Define Class G airspace
Always starts at the surface and ends at the overlying class E airspace.
uncontrolled airspace
no entry requirements or equipment requirements
Wx:
-Daytime: 1 statute mile visibility and clear of clouds
-Night below 10,000 ft MSL but higher than 1,200 ft AGL:
3 statute miles visibility, 1,000 ft above clouds, 500 ft below clouds, and at least 2,000 ft horizontal from clouds
-Above 10,000 ft MSL day or night, and more than 1,200 ft AGL:
5 statute miles visibility, 1,000 ft above clouds, 1,000 ft below clouds, and 1 statute mile horizontal distance from clouds
(National Airspace System)
Define Class A airspace. What are its requirments?
-Dimensions: starts at 18,000’ MSL and goes up to 60,000’ MSL
-Entry requirements: instrument clearance or instrument flight plan
-Equipment: Mode C transponder, ADS-B out, distance measuring equipment (GPS), TIS-B,
-Pilot qualifications: instrument rated and instrument current
-Speed limit: Mach 1
-Wx: none
(National Airspace System)
What are the special use airspaces?
-Military operating area: created to separate military training operations from civilian operations. Entry is allowed, but clearance is required.
-Control firing area: entry can be freely made. Firing ground control will stop the firing as soon as aircraft are spotted.
-Prohibited area: areas that pilots are prohibited from due to national security or other government reasons.
-Restricted area: areas you’re restricted from entering due to nonstandard and dangerous weapons use in the area. entry is still available pending clearance from ATC or the the administrating body.
-Alert area: Alert areas alert you to an area that you need to be alert in. Usually due to high traffic areas that result in congested airspace. There will be a notation explaining what an alert area is meant for.
-Warning area: Areas that are similar to restricted areas but the U.S. does not have full jurisdiction over. theyll be located starting 3 nautical miles off the coastline and contain operations that are hazardous to GA aircraft operations.
-Special Flight rules areas:
(National Airspace System)
What is a TFR? What indicates a TFR?
Temporary Flight Restrictions are areas of airspace where pilots are prohibited from flying. They are set down for a myriad of reasons and will have a notation for why they have been made on the map.
TFR’s are found in the NOTAM’s and on the FAA’s TFR map
(National Airspace System)
What is the maximum airspeed you can fly below 10,000’ MSL?
250 knots
Some caveats are:
-Aircraft below 2,500’ AGL and within 4 nautical miles of a class C or D airport need to fly at or below 200 kts.
-Under flying Class B airspace
-Flying through corridors that cut through class B airspace
-If an aircrafts minimum airspeed is greater than the maximum speed of the airspace the aircraft may be operated at that minimum speed.
(National Airspace System)
What is the lowest altitude you can fly over charted U.S. parks, refuges, or forest service areas?
don’t fly any lower than 2,000’ AGL where people or animals can hear you.
AIM 7-4-6
