Collin Fleck

National Airspace System

Objective:
The student will explain the weather minimums, dimensions, entry requirements, and
speed restrictions associated with each class of airspace, and the characteristics of each type of
special use airspace.

Elements/ Schedule:
Purpose :01
Classes of Airspace :01
Special Use Airspace :05
Temporary Flight Restrictions :01
Review :05
Questions :05
Total 0:27

Equipment:
AFH
PTS
PHAK
AIM
Computer with internet access
Model airplane

Instructor Actions:
1. Purpose
Flying without different classes of airspace would be like driving with no roads.
Whenever we are flying, we are flying in the National Airspace System. It is vital that
every pilot know the characteristics and regulations associated with every type of
airspace.

2. Classes of Airspace
Class A:
o Purpose:
Support high-altitude IFR traffic.
o Dimensions:
18,000 MSL and above, up to and including FL600.
o Entry Requirements:
ATC clearance.
Maintain two-way radio communications.
o Aircraft Equipment:
IFR equipped.
o Pilot Certification:

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 Instrument rating.
o VFR Weather Minimums:
None.
IFR only.
Class B:
o Purpose:
Surrounds the nations busiest airports in terms of IFR operations or
passenger enplanements.
o Dimensions:
Generally, from the surface to 10,000 ft. MSL.
Tailored to individual airports.
Surface area and two or more shelves.
Upside down wedding cake.
Designed to encompass all instrument procedures for an airport.
o Entry Requirements:
ATC clearance.
Two-way radio communication.
o Aircraft Equipment:
Two-way radio.
Altitude encoding transponder within 30 NM of Class B airports.
o Pilot Certification:
Private certificate or student certificate with Class B endorsement from
instructor (61.95).
AIM 3-2-3(b)(2):
List of Class B airports that require at least a Private Pilot
Certificate.
o VFR Weather Minimums:
3 SM visibility.
Clear of clouds.
Class C:
o Purpose:
Surrounds airports that have an operational control tower, are serviced
by a radar approach control, and that have a certain number of IFR
operations or passenger enplanements.
o Dimensions:
Generally, a 5 NM radius core extending from the surface to 4,000 ft.
AGL (Charted in MSL).
10 NM radius shelf area that extends no lower than 1,200 feet up to
4000 ft. AGL (Charted in MSL).
Another individually tailored layer.
o Entry Requirements:
Two-way radio communication established and maintained.
Pilots should contact ATC when 20 NM from the airport (AIM 626).

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 o Aircraft Equipment:
Two-way radio.
Altitude-encoding transponder (Mode C).
o Pilot Certification:
No specific requirement.
o VFR Weather Minimums:
3 SM visibility.
Cloud clearance:
1,000 above.
500 below.
2,000 horizontal.
Class D:
o Purpose:
Surrounds airports with full time or part time control towers (less busy
than C or B).
o Dimensions:
From the surface to 2,500 ft. AGL (charted in MSL).
Lateral dimensions individually tailored.
Normally designed to contain instrument procedures.
o Entry Requirements:
Radio contact.
ATC must acknowledge tail number.
Radio communications maintained.
o Aircraft Equipment:
Two-way radio.
o Pilot Certification:
No specific requirement.
o VFR Weather Minimums:
3 SM visibility.
Cloud clearance:
1,000 above.
500 below.
2,000 horizontal.

Class E:
o Purpose:
Provide safe control and separation of aircraft performing IFR
operations.
o Dimensions:
Everything other than Class A, B, C, D, which is controlled.
Exists between 14,500 ft. and 18,000 ft. MSL., and extends downward
to either 1,200 ft. AGL, 700 ft. AGL, or to the surface.
All airspace above FL600 is Class E.

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 Victor airways:
Extend from 1,200 ft. AGL up to 17,999 ft. MSL.
Eight miles wide and extend four miles on either side of the
airway centerline.
o Entry Requirements:
None.
o Aircraft Equipment:
No specific requirement.
o Pilot Certification:
No specific requirement.
o VFR Weather Minimums:
Below 10,000 ft. MSL:
3 SM visibility.
Cloud clearance:
o 500 ft. below, 1,000 ft. above, 2,000 ft. horizontal
distance from clouds.
Above 10,000 ft. MSL:
5 SM visibility.
Cloud clearance:
o 1,000 ft. below, 1,000 ft. above, 1 mile horizontal
distance from clouds.
Class G:
o Purpose:
Has not been designated A, B, C, D, or E, therefore it is uncontrolled.
o Dimensions:
Extends from the surface up to any overlying Class E airspace.
Surface 699 AGL.
Surface 1,199 AGL.
Surface 14,499 AGL.
o Ex.: St. George (KSGU).
Any airspace not specified as Class A, B, C, D, or E.
o Entry Requirements:
None.
o Aircraft Equipment:
None.
o Pilot Certification:
No specific requirement.
o VFR Weather Minimums:
Below 10,000 ft. MSL:
Day:
o 1 SM visibility.
Night:
o 3 SM visibility.

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 Cloud clearance:
o 1,000 ft. above, 500 ft. below, 2,000 ft. horizontal
distance from clouds.
Above 10,000 ft. MSL (Except below 1,200 ft. AGL):
5 SM visibility
Cloud clearance:
o 1,000 ft. above, 1,000 ft. below, 1 mile horizontal
distance from clouds.

3. Speed Restrictions
Above 10,000 MSL:
o Mach 1.
Below 10,000 MSL:
o 250 KIAS.
Class B:
o Above 10,000 MSL:
Unlimited.
o Below 10,000 MSL:
250 KIAS.
Airspace underlying Class B:
o 200 KIAS.
At or below 2,500 AGL within 4 NM of Class C or D:
o 200 KIAS.
o Does not apply to Class B.
If minimum safe airspeed for an aircraft is greater than any of the restrictions, the
aircraft may be operated at that minimum speed.

4. Special Use Airspace

Prohibited Areas:
o An airspace of defined dimensions depicted on aeronautical charts in which
the flight of any aircraft is prohibited.
o Established for security reasons or other reasons associated with the national
welfare.
Restricted Areas:
o An airspace of defined dimensions depicted on aeronautical charts in which
the flight of aircraft is subject to restrictions.
o Established to protect aircraft that are not part of the potentially hazardous
operations taking place within the restricted areas that can include:
Artillery firing.
Aerial gunnery.
Guided missiles.
o Controlled by ATC or another controlling agency.

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 o Aircraft operating on an IFR clearance can be cleared through a restricted area
when it is not active, or receive a clearance which will ensure that the aircraft
avoids the restricted airspace.
Warning Areas:
o An airspace of defined dimensions depicted on aeronautical charts that
contains activity that may be hazardous to nonparticipating aircraft.
o Extends 3 NM outward from the coast of the U.S.
Military Operations Areas:
o Airspace of defined dimensions depicted on aeronautical charts with the
purpose of separating military operations from IFR traffic.
o IFR traffic may receive clearance through a MOA if separation can be
maintained by ATC.
o VFR traffic should contact any FSS within 100 miles of the area to obtain
information concerning the MOA hours of operation.
o Prior to entering a MOA, pilots should contact the controlling agency for
traffic advisories.
o Military operations within MOAs can include:
Air combat tactics
Air intercepts
Aerobatics
Formation training
Low altitude tactics
Alert Areas:
o Airspace of defined dimensions depicted on aeronautical charts that may
contain a high volume of pilot training or an unusual type of aerial activity.
o All activity within an alert area must be conducted in accordance with CFRs.
o Pilots of participating aircraft and pilots of nonparticipating aircraft are
equally responsible for collision avoidance within an alert area.
o Ex. Gulf Coast.
Controlled Firing Areas:
o Contain activities which, if not conducted in a controlled environment, could
be hazardous to nonparticipating aircraft.
o Activities within CFAs are immediately suspended when spotter aircraft,
radar, or ground lookout positions indicate that an aircraft might be
approaching the area.
o Not depicted on aeronautical charts because they do not require
nonparticipating aircraft to change their flight paths.

5. Temporary Flight Restrictions

Purposes:
o To protect persons and property in the air or on the surface from a hazard
associated with an incident on the surface.
o To provide a safe environment for the operation of a disaster relief aircraft.

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 o To prevent an unsafe congestion of sightseeing aircraft above an incident or
event which may generate a high degree of public interest.
o To protect declared national disasters for humanitarian reasons in the state of
Hawaii
o To protect the President, Vice President, or other public figures.
o To provide a safe environment for space agency operations.
Ex. White House, Disney World.
Dimensions are made custom for the area which requires protection.
The flight of all aircraft is prohibited for the entire duration of the TFR.

Student Actions:
The student will:
Listen
Take notes
Ask questions
Engage in discussions

Completion Standards:
This lesson is complete when the student explains the weather minimums, dimensions,
entry requirements, and speed restrictions associated with each class of airspace, and the
characteristics of each type of special use airspace. The student will also correctly answer at least
80% of a series of related questions.

Questions:
1. If you are flying at 8,500 in class G airspace during the day, how far away must
you remain from clouds?
2. Why are there no weather minimums for class A airspace?
3. What equipment will your aircraft need to depart from KSLC?
4. What must the controlling agency of a class C airspace say to you before you enter
the airspace?
5. If you are flying below a shelf of class B airspace, what is the maximum speed
you can fly?
6. What speed restrictions pertain to class C and D airspace?
7. What is the purpose of a MOA?
8. Can you fly through a MOA?
9. Can you fly through a restricted area?
10. What are three reasons a TFR may be created?

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