National Airspaces pt. 1

Question 1

What are the different classes of airspace?

Answer 1

A, B, C, D, E, G

Question 2

Discuss Class A airspace

Answer 2

Class A airspace extends from FL180 up to FL600 MSL, its IFR only that means we need to be on an IFR flight plan and in an IFR equipped aircraft. In order to be in this airspace we need ATC clearance, two way communications, Mode C transponder, ADS-B out, above FL240 we need DME. Speed limit is Mach 1, there are no cloud clearance or visibility minimums.

Question 3

Discuss Class B airspace

Answer 3

Class B airspace extends from the surface up to 10,000 in the inner circle, this airspace is depicted in the sectional chart and has the shape of an upside down wedding cake, each sector has an altitude block with a floor and a ceiling listed in MSL. There is a 30NM Mode C that surrounds class B airspace, inside that circle we need a Mode C transponder and ADS-B out (within 30NM and up to 10,000 MSL), we need ATC clearance to enter this airspace, two way radio communications is mandatory, the VFR weather minimums is 3SM visibility and clear of clouds, the speed limit is 250kts inside, 200kts below and 200kts through VFR corridors.

Question 4

Discuss Class C airspace

Answer 4

Class C airports are less busy than class B airports, they are depicted on the sectional charts. The inner circle has a radius of 5 NM and extents from the surface to around 4,000ft AG, the outer circle has a radius of 10NM starts at 1,200ft and extends to 4,000ft AGL. Minimum pilot qualification is a student certificate, we don’t need ATC clearance to enter the airspace but we need two way radio communication, Mode C transponder and ADS-B out. VFR minimums are 3SM visibility, 1,000ft above, 500ft below and 2,000ft horizontal separation from clouds.

Question 5

Discuss class D airspace

Answer 5

Class D airspace is depicted with a dashed blue line in the sectional charts, the number in the bracket indicates the ceiling in hundreds of feet MSL. It has a radius of 4-5NM, starts at the surface and typically extends up to 2,500 AGL or to the floor of the space above it. No ATC clearance is needed, we need two way radio communication to operate inside the airspace, VFR minimums are 3SM visibility 1,000ft above, 500ft below and 2,000ft horizontal separation from clouds.

Question 6

Discuss Class E airspace

Answer 6

Class E airspace is any other controlled airspace that is not A, B, C or D. In most of the USA the floor of class E airspace starts at 1,200ft AGL but in some other cases it is represented on the sectional and it could begin at 700ft AGL or at the surface. This airspace extends up to but not including the floor of Class A airspace (so 17,999) There are no entry requirements. VFR minimums below 10,000ft MSL are 3SM visibility 1,000ft above, 500ft below and 2,000ft horizontal separation from clouds, above 10,000ft MSL VFR minimums are 5SM visibility, 1,000ft above, 1,000ft below, 1,000ft horizontal separation from clouds.

Question 7

Discuss Class G airspace

Answer 7

Class G airspace is not controlled, this airspace is not depicted and there are no entry requirements. VFR minimums below 10,000ft MSL at day are 1SM visibility and clear of clouds below 1,200ft AGL, above 1,200ft AGL but below 10,000ft MSL are 1SM visibility, 1,000ft above, 500ft horizontal, 2,000ft horizontal. At night below 10,000ft MSL and below 1,200ft AGL VFR minimums are 3SM visibility, 1,000ft above, 500ft below, 2,000ft horizontal separation from clouds, below 10,000ft MSL and above 1,200ft AGL the minimums are 3SM visibility, 1,000ft above, 500ft below, 2,000ft horizontal separation from clouds. For day an night above 10,000ft MSL the minimums are 5SM visibility, 1,000ft above,1,000ft below and 1,000ft horizontal separation from clouds.

Question 8

Basic VFR weather minimums, Class A

Answer 8

VFR weather minimums not applicable. Class A is IFR only.

Question 9

Basic VFR weather minimums, Class B

Answer 9

3 SM visibility, clear of clouds

Question 10

Basic VFR weather minimums, Class C

Answer 10

3 SM visibility, 500’ below / 1,000’ above / 2,000’ horizontal from clouds

Question 11

Basic VFR weather minimums, Class D

Answer 11

3 SM visibility, 500’ below / 1,000’ above / 2,000’ horizontal from clouds

Question 12

Basic VFR weather minimums, Class E below 10,000’ MSL

Answer 12

3 SM visibility, 500’ below / 1,000’ above / 2,000’ horizontal from clouds

Question 13

Basic VFR weather minimums, Class E at or above 10,000’ MSL

Answer 13

5 SM visibility, 1,000’ below / 1,000’ above / 1 SM horizontal from clouds

Question 14

Basic VFR weather minimums, Class G at or below 1,200’ AGL

Answer 14

• Day - 1 SM visibility, clear of clouds
• Night - 3 SM visibility, 500’ below / 1,000’ above / 2,000’ horizontal from clouds

Question 15

Basic VFR weather minimums, Class G above 1,200’ AGL but below 10,000’ MSL

Answer 15

• Day - 1 SM visibility, 500’ below / 1,000’ above / 2,000’ horizontal from clouds
• Night - 3 SM visibility, 500’ below / 1,000’ above / 2,000’ horizontal from clouds

Question 16

Basic VFR weather minimums, Class G above 1,200’ AGL and at or above 10,000’ MSL

Answer 16

5 SM visibility, 1,000’ below / 1,000’ above / 1 SM horizontal from clouds

Question 17

In Class G at night, where can a pilot operate with 1 SM visibility and clear of clouds?

Answer 17

In an airport traffic pattern, within ½ mile of the runway.

Question 18

Minimum visibility to take off, land, or enter the traffic pattern at an airport with controlled airspace at the surface

Answer 18

3 SM ground visibility (or 3 SM flight visibility if ground visibility is not reported.

Question 19

Minimum ceiling height to operate beneath a ceiling in controlled airspace designated to the surface for an airport

Answer 19

1,000’

Question 20

Airspace where pilots need 3 SM visibility and 1,000’ ceilings to take off or land

Answer 20

Controlled airspace (Class B, C, D, or E)

Question 21

Why do the VFR weather minimums increase above 10,000’ MSL?

Answer 21

No 250-knot speed limit above 10,000’ MSL. Faster aircraft require more distance to see and avoid other traffic.

Question 22

What is the purpose of VFR weather minimums?

Answer 22

To prevent mid-air collisions by prohibiting VFR flight when the weather prevents effective see-and-avoid practices.

Question 23

Why are VFR aircraft in Class B allowed to operate clear of clouds (not 500/1,000/2,000 feet away)?

Answer 23

Cloud clearance requirements ensure that, if an IFR aircraft exits a cloud and sees a VFR aircraft in its path, they will have time to see and avoid each other. In Class B, ATC separates all traffic (IFR and VFR), so the system does not rely on see-and-avoid.

Question 24

Minimum visibility and distance from clouds required for special VFR

Answer 24

1 SM visibility, clear of clouds

Question 25

If a pilot departs under special VFR, when do they return to basic VFR weather minimums?

Answer 25

When they depart the lateral boundaries of the controlled airspace designated to the surface for the airport, or when they reach 10,000’ MSL.

Question 26

At which airports can a pilot request a special VFR clearance?

Answer 26

Airports where controlled airspace (Class B, C, D, or E) extends down to the surface, unless the airport is marked “NO SVFR” on the sectional chart

Question 27

Additional requirements for special VFR at night

Answer 27

Pilot must be instrument rated and current. Aircraft must have all required IFR equipment.

Question 28

A pilot departs an airport in Class D airspace under special VFR, expecting to reach better weather shortly after takeoff. The forecasts were incorrect, and the pilot still has not reached basic VFR weather by the time they leave the Class D airspace. What could they do?

Answer 28

• Request a pop-up IFR clearance (must be instrument rated and current).
• Request a special VFR clearance back to the airport (might not be immediately available, IFR traffic takes priority).

-Declare an emergency. Tell ATC they have flown VFR into IMC.