Airspace Flashcards
Class B - VFR Weather Minimums
Flight Visibility - 3 statute miles
Distance from clouds - Clear of clouds
Class A - VFR Weather Minimums
None. IFR only, unless otherwise authorized.
Class C - VFR Weather Minimums
Flight Visibility - 3 statute miles
Distance from clouds - 1,000 feet above, 500 feet below, 2,000 feet horizontal
Class D - VFR Weather Minimums
Flight Visibility - 3 statute miles
Distance from clouds - 1,000 feet above, 500 feet below, 2,000 feet horizontal
Class E - VFR Weather Minimums (less than 10,000 feet MSL)
Flight Visibility - 3 statute miles
Distance from clouds - 1,000 feet above, 500 feet below, 2,000 feet horizontal
Class E - VFR Weather Minimums (at or above
10,000 feet MSL)
Flight Visibility - 5 statute miles
Distance from clouds - 1,000 feet above, 1,000 feet below, 1 statute mile horizontal
Class G - VFR Weather Minimums (1,200 feet or less above the surface/Day)
Flight Visibility - 1 statute mile
Distance from clouds - Clear of clouds
Class G - VFR Weather Minimums (1,200 feet or less above the surface/Night)
Flight Visibility - 3 statute miles
Distance from clouds - 1,000 feet above, 500 feet below, 2,000 feet horizontal
Class G - VFR Weather Minimums (More than 1,200 feet above the surface but less than 10,000 MSL/Day)
Flight Visibility - 1 statute mile
Distance from clouds - 1,000 feet above, 500 feet below, 2,000 feet horizontal
Class G - VFR Weather Minimums (More than 1,200 feet above the surface but less than 10,000 MSL/Night)
Flight Visibility - 3 statute miles
Distance from clouds - 1,000 feet above, 500 feet below, 2,000 feet horizontal
Class G - VFR Weather Minimums (More than 1,200 feet above the surface and at or above 10,000 MSL)
Flight Visibility - 5 statute miles
Distance from clouds - 1,000 feet above, 1,000 feet below, 1 statute mile horizontal
Two Categories of Airspace
- Regulatory
- Non-regulatory
Four Types of Airspace
- Controlled
- Uncontrolled
- Special Use
- Other airspace
Class A Airspace
The airspace from 18,000 feet MSL up to and including flight level (FL) 600, including the airspace overlying the waters within 12 NM of the coast of the 48 contiquous states and Alaska. IFR required.
Class B Airspace
The airspace from the surface to 10,000 feet MSL surrounding the nation’s busiest airports. Each individual airspace of this type is tailored, consisting of a surface area and two or more layers (usually resembling an upside down wedding cake).
ATC clearance is required for all aircraft to operate in the area.
Class C Airspace
The airspace from the surface to 4,000 feet MSL surrounding airports that have an operational control tower, are serviced by a radar approach control, and have a certain number of IFR operations or passenger enplanements.
Each individual airspace of this type is tailored, but generally consists of a surface area with a 5 NM radius and an outer circle with a 10 NM radius extending from 1,200 feet to 4,000 feet above the airport elevation.
Each aircraft must establish two-way radio comms with the airspace facility’s ATC prior to entering and must maintain comms while within the airspace.
Class D Airspace
The airspace from the surface to 2,500 feet MSL surrounding airports that have an operational control tower. When instrument procedures are published, the airspace is normally designed to contain the procedures.
Unless otherwise authorized, each aircraft must establish two-way radio comms with the airspace’s ATC facility prior to entering and maintain while within the airspace.
Class E Airspace
Controlled airspace not classified as A, B, C, or D airspace. A large amount of the airspace over the US is this class. Typically this extends up to, but not including 18,000 feet MSL (the lower limit of Class A airspace). All airspace above FL 600 is this class.
Sectional and other charts depict this airspace when the base is below 14,500 feet MSL, but if there is no depiction, then the airspace begins at 14,500 feet MSL.
In most areas, this airspace base is 1,200 feet AGL, but in some areas, the base is either the surface or 700 feet AGL. Some airspace of this class begins at an MSL altitude depicted on charts.
Class G Airspace
This is an uncontrolled airspace that has not been designated as Class A, B, C, D, or E. It extends from the surface to the base of the overlying Class E airspace.
ATC has no authority or responsibility to control air traffic, but pilots should remember there are VFR minimums that apply to this airspace.
Special Use Airspace/Special Areas of Operation (SAO)
The airspace where certain activities must be confined or where limitations may be imposed.
This airspace depicted on instrument charts includes the area name or number, effective altitude, time and weather conditions of operation, the controlling agency, and the chart panel location.
Types of this airspace are:
- prohibited areas
- restricted areas
- warning areas
- military operations (MOAs)
- alert areas
- controlled firing areas (CFAs)
Prohibited Airspace
Airspace of defined dimensions within which the flight of the aircraft is prohibited. Established for security or other reasons associated with the national welfare.
Charted as a “P” followed by a number (e.g. P-40). Examples of this airspace include Camp David and the National Mall in Washington, D.C., where the White House and Congressional buildings are located.
Restricted Areas
Areas where operations are hazardous to non-participating aircraft and contain airspace within which the flight of the aircraft, while not wholly prohibited, is subject to restrictions.
IFR flights may be authorized to transit the airspace and are routed accordingly. Penetration of this airspace without authorization from controlling agency/ATC may be extremely hazardous.
Warning Areas
An airspace of defined dimensions, extending 3 NM outward from the coast of the US, containing activity that may be hazardous to non-participating aircraft.
Similar in nature to restricted areas, however the US government does not have sole jurisdiction.
May be located over domestic or international waters or both. Designated with a “W” followed by a number (e.g., W-237).
Military Operation Areas (MOAs)
Airspace with defined vertical and lateral limits established for the purpose of separating certain military training activities from IFR traffic.
Non-participating IFR traffic may be cleared through this airspace if ATC can provide separation, otherwise the aircraft is rerouted or restricted.
These airspaces are depicted on sectional, VFR terminal area, and en route low altitude charts and are not numbered (e.g., Camden Ridge ___)
This airspace is further defined on the back of sectional charts with times of operation, altitudes affected, and the controlling agency.
