The student should have an understanding of the national airspace system, and be able to apply it to a cross-country flight or sectional chart.

Elements

• airspace classes
• special-use airspace
• chart appearance

Resources

• FAR/AIM
• Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge
• whiteboard and markers
• iPad with ForeFlight or laptop with FliteStar or access to skyvector
• Safety Quiz: Obstacle Clearance

Instructor actions

Using lecture and guided discussion techniques, introduce the student to the national airspace system and establish an understanding of the different types and restrictions. With a chart or FliteStar planning software, introduce unfamiliar areas and use the airspace to create scenarios.

Student actions

Read and complete the assigned homework; actively listen to the lecture and guided discussion, and participate in the scenario-based activity.

Completion Standards

The student should be able to identify various airspace, features, and the associated limitations with limited instructor guidance.

Teaching outline

• controlled vs uncontrolled

  • atc service provided in controlled only
• with overlapping airspace, the more restrictive airspace applies
• VFR cruising altitudes

Controlled airspace

• Class A

  • 18,000 - 60,000 ft msl
  • contains all jetways
  • IFR flights only
  • must be cleared to enter
  • mode c required

• Class B

  • busiest airports, custom inverted wedding cake layout
  • sfc - 10,000 ft msl, 20 nm radius in most cases
  • must be cleared to enter
  • VFR: 3 sm, clear of clouds
  • mode c required (30 nm veil)
  • pilot certificate or appropriate endorsements

• Class C

  • congested airports, one-step inverted wedding cake
  • sfc - 4,000 ft agl, 5 nm radius
  • 1,200 - 4,000 ft agl, 10 nm radius
  • two-way radio communication required to enter
  • mode c required (30 nm veil)
  • VFR: 3 sm, 500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal

• Class D

  • general airports
  • sfc - 2,500 ft agl, 4 nm radius
  • two-way radio communication required to enter
  • VFR: 3 sm, 500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal

• Class E

  • all other controlled airspace
  • starts at a variety of altitudes including the surface, with a limit of 18,000 ft msl
  • surrounds airports with IFR operations but no tower
  • VFR below 10,000 ft msl: 3 sm, 500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal
  • VFR above 10,000 ft msl: 5 sm, 1,000 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 1 sm horizontal

Class G (uncontrolled) airspace

• 1,200 ft agl and below
• can extend up to 14,500 ft msl
• typically reaches 10,000 ft msl

• VFR weather minimums:

  • 1,200 ft agl or less: 1 sm, clear of clouds (day) or 3+5/1/2 (night)
  • 1,200 ft agl - 10,000 ft msl: 1+5/1/2 (day) or 3+5/1/2 (night)
  • 1,200+ ft agl + 10,000+ ft msl: 5+1/1/1 (day and night)
• no flight plan required for IFR flights that remain wholly within Class G

Special-use airspace

• prohibited
• warning - coastal, 3 nm
• restricted areas - permission required
• military operations areas (MOAs)
• alert areas - high volume training
• controlled firing areas - not depicted, but activity ceases if aircraft overfly

Other airspace

• temporary flight restrictions (TFRs)
• military training routes (MTRs)