Airspace Classification: Understanding and Operating in Different Classes

1. 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

2. 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 OBJECTIVES:Upon successful completion of this lesson, you will:

3. IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS: • Positive Control Airspace • Terminal Control Area • Airport Radar Service Area • Airport Traffic Area • Uncontrolled Airspace

4. NOW IT’S ALPHABET SOUP: • Class Alpha • Class Bravo • Class Charlie • Class Delta • Class Echo • Class Golf (Most to Least Restrictive)

5. BLAME IT ON ICAO

6. 14 CFR Part 71 • Subpart A: Class Alpha airspace • Subpart B: Class Bravoairspace • 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)

8. Class Alpha Airspace Depiction(nonexistent!)

10. Class Bravo Airspace Depiction

11. Class Bravo Airspace Geometry

12. “Inverted Wedding Cake”

13. Class Charlie Airspace Depiction

14. Class Charlie Airspace Geometry

15. “Bundt Cake”

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Good Old Days Provide radar service to IFR and limited VFR Like Class Charlie but VFR participation optional Most have been replaced by Class Charlie They are charted (gray circles) Not an ICAO airspace designation Not covered in FAR 71 Terminal Radar Service Areas

17. TRSA Depiction

18. 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 Airport Radar Service Areas

19. Class Delta Airspace Depiction

20. Class Delta Airspace Geometry

21. “Stack of Panckes”

22. Class Echo Airspace Depiction(beginning at surface)

23. Class Echo Airspace Depiction(beginning 700 feet above surface)

24. Class Echo Airspace Depiction(beginning 1200 feet above surface)

25. Class Echo Airspace Geometry

27. “Cored Apple”

28. Class Golf Airspace Geometry

29. Class Golf Airspace Depiction

30. “Hockey Puck”

31. THE SECRET DECODER RING • Class Alpha –Above • Class Bravo –Busiest • Class Charlie –Congested • Class Delta –Directed • Class Echo –Everybody • Class Golf – Ground level

34. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

36. PILOT CERTIFICATEOR RATING

37. (or Sport Pilot with endorsement!)

38. ALTITUDE REPORTING TRANSPONDER

40. Mode A - Location (distance & bearing) Mode C - Location, Altitude Mode S - Location, Altitude, ID Extended Squitter - precise location from WAAS GPS Transponder Types

41. TWO-WAYCOMMUNICATION

43. 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 But just what constitutes 2-way radio communication?

44. MINIMUM VFR VISIBILITY

46. NOTE 1: flight visibility is always given in Statute (not nautical) Miles

47. VFR CLOUDCLEARANCE

49. Visual mnemonic courtesy Rod Machado

50. NOTE 2: UAS must always have 3 miles minimum flight visibility (regardless of airspace)