Airspace

Question 1

What is Class A airspace?

Answer 1

18,000 ft and up to and including FL600. No VFR flights can be conducted in Class A airspace. You must be a private pilot with an instrument rating.

Question 2

What min equipment is required for flight operations in Class A airspace?

Answer 2

a) Two-way radio capable of communicating with ATC
b) A Mode C transponder
c) IFR equipped aircraft

Question 3

What is Class B airspace?

Answer 3

Airspace from the surface to 10,000 ft MSL surrounding the nations busiest airports. “B” for BIG. Class B airspace areas resemble upside down wedding cakes for instrument procedures.

Question 4

What is the min equipment required to fly in Class B?

Answer 4

a) Two-way radio for ATC communication
b) Mode C transponder
c) An operable VOR or TACAN receiver

You must have ATC clearance to enter Class B airspace.

Question 5

What are the Wx min for VFR flight in Class B?

Answer 5

Clear of clouds with at least 3 miles visibilty

Question 6

What basic services are provided to pilots in the Class B airspace?

Answer 6

VFR pilots will be provided with sequencing and separation from other aircraft.

Question 7

What is the max speed allowed when operating inside Class B airspace, under 10,000 ft and within a Class D surface area?

Answer 7

No person may operate an aircraft at or below 2500 ft above the surface within 4 nautical miles of the primary airport of a Class C or Class D airspace area at an indicated airspeed of more than 200 knots.

Question 8

When operating below the lateral limits of Class B airspace, or in a VFR corridor designated through Class B airspace, what max speed is authorized?

Answer 8

200 knots

Question 9

What is Class C airspace?

Answer 9

Airspace from the surface to 4000 ft above the airport elevation (charted in MSL). 5 nautical mile radius core surface area up to 4000 ft and a 10 NM radius shelf area that extends from 1200 ft to 4000 feet above the airport elevation. The outer radius will be 20 NM with some variations based on site specific requirements.

Must have a Mode C transponder and a two-way radio.

Must “establish” two-way radio communications the ATC facilities prior to entering and must maintain those communications while within that airspace. Controller must identify your aircraft callsign to be established.

Solid magenta line on Sectional

Question 10

What are the min wx conditions for flying in Class C airspace?

Answer 10

3 Statute miles, 500ft below, 1000ft above, 2000ft horizontal to clouds.

Question 11

Where is mode C altitude encoding transponder equipment required?

Answer 11

a) At or above 10,000 ft MSL excluding airspace below 2500 ft AGL.
b) Within 30 miles of a class B airspace primary airport below 10,000 ft MSL
c) Within and above all Class C airspace, up to 10,000 Ft MSL
d) Within 10 miles of certain designated airports, excluding that airspace which is both outside CLass D surface area and below 1200 ft AGL
e) All aircraft flying into , within, or across the continuous US ADIZ.

Question 12

What is the max airspeed in Class C?

Answer 12

200 knots (230MPH)

Question 13

What is Class D airspace?

Answer 13

Extends from the surface to 2,500 ft above the airports elevation in MSL. Each person must establish two-way radio communications w/ the ATC facilities providing air traffic services prior to entering that airspace.

Question 14

What are the wx mins for Class D airspace?

Answer 14

3 statue miles, 500 feet below, 1000 above, 2000 horizontal of clouds

Question 15

What is the max airspeed in Class D?

Answer 15

200 knots (230 MPH)

Question 16

Explain the purpose of Class E transition areas

Answer 16

Class E transition areas extend upward from either 700 ft AGL or 1,200 ft AGL and are designated for airports with an approved instrument procedure. Class E transition areas exist to help separate (via cloud clearance) arriving and departing IFR traffic from VFR aircraft operating in the vicinity. These are depicted on the charts as segmented magenta lines.

Question 17

Are you required to establish communications with a tower within Class E airspace?

Answer 17

Yes. Communications must be established prior to 4 nautical miles from the airport, up to and including 2,500 ft AGL.

Question 18

What is the definition of Class G airspace?

Answer 18

Uncontrolled airspace that has not been designated as Class A, B, C, D or E airspace. ATC has no authority or responsibility to control air traffic.

Question 19

Are you required to establish communications with a tower located within Class G airspace?

Answer 19

Yes. 4 miles prior

Question 20

What are the vertical limits of Class G airspace?

Answer 20

Class G airspace begins at the surface and continues up to the overlying controlled (Class E) airspace, not to exceed 14,500 ft MSL.

Question 21

What is the min cloud clearance and visibility required when conducting flight ops in a traffic pattern at night in Class G airspace below 1200 AGL?

Answer 21

When the visibility is less than 3 SM and not less than 1
SM during night hours, an aircraft may be operated clear of clouds if operated in an airport traffic pattern within 1/2 mile of the runway.

Question 22

What are the “basic” VFR wx min required for operation of an aircraft into Class B, C, D, or E airspace?

Answer 22

1,000 ft ceilings and 3 miles visibility.

Question 23

If VFR flight minimums cannot be maintained, can a VFR flight be made into Class B, C, D, or E airspace?

Answer 23

No, with one exception. A special VFR clearance may be obtained from ATC prior to entering the airspace provided the flight can remain clear of clouds with at least one statue mile ground visibility if taking off or landing.

Question 24

If it becomes necessary to obtain a special VFR clearance, what facility should the pilot contact in order to obtain one?

Answer 24

Control tower or if in E airspace, FSS or center

Question 25

What is a “prohibited area”?

Answer 25

Prohibited areas contain certain airspace of defined dimensions identified by an area on the surface of the earth within which the flight of aircraft is prohibited. Such areas area established for security or other reasons associated with the national welfare.

Question 26

What is a “restricted area”?

Answer 26

Restricted areas contain airspace identified by an area on the surface of the earth within which the flight of aircraft, while not wholly prohibited, is subject to restrictions. These areas denote the existence of hazards to aircraft such as artillery firing, aerial gunnery, or guided missiles.

Question 27

Under what conditions may pilots enter restricted or prohibited areas?

Answer 27

Must have permission from controlling agency. Must have prior permission.

Question 28

What is a “warning area”?

Answer 28

A warning area is airspace of defined dimensions extending from three nautical miles outward from the coast of the US, containing activity that may hazardous to nonparticipating aircraft. May be located over domestic or international waters.

Question 29

What is a “MOA”?

Answer 29

Military Operating Area. Consists of airspace of defined vertical and lateral limits established for the purpose of separating certain military training activities from IFR traffic. Pilots operating under VFR should exercise extreme caution while flying within an MOA when military activity is being conducted. Pilots should contact any FSS within 100 miles of the area to obtain accurate real-time info concerning the MOA hours of operation.

Question 30

What is an “alert area”?

Answer 30

Alert areas are depicted on aeronautical charts to inform nonparticipating pilots of areas that may contain a high volume of pilot training or an unusual type of activity.

Question 31

What are “controlled firing areas”?

Answer 31

CFA’s contain activities that, if not conducted in a controlled environment, cold be hazardous to nonparticipating aircraft. The distinguishing feature of the CFA, as compared to other special use airspace, is that its activities are suspended immediately when spotter aircraft, radar, or ground lookout positions indicate an aircraft might be approaching the area. CFAs are not charted.

Question 32

What is a “national security area”?

Answer 32

National security areas consist of airspace of defined vertical and lateral dimensions established at locations where there is a requirement for increased security and safety of group facilities.

Question 33

What is a Special flight rules area?

Answer 33

An SRFA is an area of airspace within which Special Federal Aviation Regulations apply. Examples include Washington DC SRFA, Grand Caynon SRFA.

Question 34

Where can a pilot find info on VFR flyways, VFR corridors, and Class B airspace transition routes used to transition busy terminal airspace?

Answer 34

On the reverse side of VFR Terminal Air Charts

Question 35

What are “Military Training Routes”?

Answer 35

Military training routes are developed for use by the military for the purpose of low-altitude, high speed training. The routes above 1,500 ft AGL are developed to be flown under IFR. Routes 1,500 AGL and below, VFR.

Question 36

What is a “TRSA”?

Answer 36

A Terminal Radar Service Area consists of airspace surrounding designated airports wherein ATC provides radar vectoring, sequencing, and separation, on a full-time basis for all IFR and participating aircraft.

They are depicted on VFR sectional and terminal charts with a solid black line and altitudes for each segment. The Class D portion is charted with a blue segmented line.

Question 37

What are ADIZ and where are they located?

Answer 37

Air Defense Identification Zone is an airspace over land or water, extending upward from the surface within which the ready identification, the location and control of the aircraft are required in the interest of national security.

They are located:

a) Domestic - within US along an international boundary
b) Coastal - located over US coastal waters
c) land based ADIZ - over metro areas

Question 38

What requirements must be satisfied prior to operations into, within, or across an ADIZ?

Answer 38

a) flight plan filed with appropriate facility
b) two-way radio
c) transponder Mode C
d) Position reports
e) Aircraft position tolerances