AIRSPACE FOR DUMMIESAIRSPACE FOR DUMMIESOROR

How Hard Can It Really Be!How Hard Can It Really Be!

Pat BrownPat BrownSEL / MELSEL / MEL

CFII / CFI-GliderCFII / CFI-Glider

AIRSPACE FOR DUMMIESAIRSPACE FOR DUMMIESOROR

How Hard Can It Really Be!How Hard Can It Really Be!

Pat BrownPat BrownSEL / MELSEL / MEL

CFII / GFI-GliderCFII / GFI-Glider

LongLonglong long agoagoin in a a

galaxy galaxy farfarfar far

awayaway

IT WAS A MUCH IT WAS A MUCH SIMPLER TIMESIMPLER TIME

……there were “CONTROL there were “CONTROL ZONES” and “TERMINAL ZONES” and “TERMINAL

CONTROL AREAS”. CONTROL AREAS”.

……and you could go pretty much and you could go pretty much anywhere you wanted as long as anywhere you wanted as long as

you stayed clear of them.you stayed clear of them.

(there were TRSA’s, too, but they (there were TRSA’s, too, but they don’t really count)don’t really count)

But, on September 16, But, on September 16, 19931993

That all changed.That all changed.

The FAA adopted a slightly modified The FAA adopted a slightly modified version of version of

ICAOICAO(International Civil Aviation Organization)(International Civil Aviation Organization)

airspace classifications:airspace classifications:A thru E, and GA thru E, and G

There’s no “F” in the US. We’ll talk about that later.

Los Angeles Sectional from the 1940s!Los Angeles Sectional from the 1940s!

Los Angeles TODAY!Los Angeles TODAY!

Most pilots get rusty on their Most pilots get rusty on their airspace rules, yet, particularly in airspace rules, yet, particularly in

today’s post 9/11 environment, it’s today’s post 9/11 environment, it’s the thing that can get you in the the thing that can get you in the

most trouble!most trouble!

BTW, when was the last time you checked NOTAMS before flying to Brenham for lunch…..

We’ve ALL seen this!We’ve ALL seen this!

Let’s talk about:Let’s talk about:Class A AirspaceClass A Airspace

From 18,000 to 60,000 msl.From 18,000 to 60,000 msl. Not shown on Sectionals or WACsNot shown on Sectionals or WACs Altimeter setting at 29.92Altimeter setting at 29.92 Need TransponderNeed Transponder Instrument RatingInstrument Rating On Instrument Flight PlanOn Instrument Flight Plan DME above 24,000 feetDME above 24,000 feet EXCEPTION: Gliders may operate in CLASS A airspace with ATC’s EXCEPTION: Gliders may operate in CLASS A airspace with ATC’s

blessing!blessing! AIRSPACE TRIVIA: WHAT AIRSPACE IS ABOVE CLASS A?AIRSPACE TRIVIA: WHAT AIRSPACE IS ABOVE CLASS A? CLASS ECLASS E

What’s This?What’s This? Class B AirspaceClass B Airspace 30 mi but could be more30 mi but could be more 3 statute miles3 statute miles Clear of CloudsClear of Clouds Two-way communicationTwo-way communication Mode C TransponderMode C Transponder Specific permission to Specific permission to

enter “Cleared into Bravo”. enter “Cleared into Bravo”. If you’re not sure, ask!!!If you’re not sure, ask!!!

250 kias speed limit within 250 kias speed limit within Class BClass B

Student access limitedStudent access limited

What’s This:What’s This:

Mode C VeilMode C Veil Within 30nm of most Class B Within 30nm of most Class B

airportsairports Mode C Transponder requiredMode C Transponder required Except: Aircraft not orginally Except: Aircraft not orginally

certified with electrical systemcertified with electrical system Gliders, BalloonsGliders, Balloons

What’s This:What’s This: Class C AirspaceClass C Airspace 10nm-20nm in diameter10nm-20nm in diameter Generally to 4000’ aglGenerally to 4000’ agl 3 Miles3 Miles 1000 above, 500 below, 2000 1000 above, 500 below, 2000

horizontal (think 3-152s)horizontal (think 3-152s) Class C, Mode C…even when Class C, Mode C…even when

flying over, but outside of, Class flying over, but outside of, Class C airspaceC airspace

Two-Way Communication: Two-Way Communication: MUST hear your tail number MUST hear your tail number before enteringbefore entering

What’s This:What’s This: Class DClass D 10nm diameter10nm diameter 200 kias speed limit within 4nm200 kias speed limit within 4nm Ground to 2500’ aglGround to 2500’ agl 3 Miles3 Miles 1000 above, 500 below, 2000 1000 above, 500 below, 2000

horizontal (think 3-152s)horizontal (think 3-152s) No Mode C if outside the veilNo Mode C if outside the veil Two-Way Communication: Two-Way Communication:

MUST hear your tail number MUST hear your tail number fore enteringfore entering

Generally reverts to Class E Generally reverts to Class E when the tower closeswhen the tower closes

What’s This:What’s This:

Class E Airspace Class E Airspace Transition AreaTransition Area

Transitions traffic to/from the Transitions traffic to/from the terminal or en route terminal or en route environmentenvironment

3 Miles3 Miles 1000 above, 500 below, 2000 1000 above, 500 below, 2000

horizontal (think 3-152s)horizontal (think 3-152s) Outside the “hard” boundary, “E” Outside the “hard” boundary, “E”

starts at…starts at… 1200’ agl1200’ agl Inside the ‘soft’ boundary, “E” Inside the ‘soft’ boundary, “E”

starts at…starts at… 700’ agl700’ agl

Uh oh…What’s This!!Uh oh…What’s This!! Class E, but…Class E, but… To the ground (Class E Surface To the ground (Class E Surface

Area) within the dashed lineArea) within the dashed line 3 Miles3 Miles 1000 above, 500 below, 2000 1000 above, 500 below, 2000

horizontal (think 3-152s)horizontal (think 3-152s) Outside the “hard” boundary, “E” Outside the “hard” boundary, “E”

starts at…starts at… 1200’ agl1200’ agl Inside the ‘soft’ boundary, “E” starts Inside the ‘soft’ boundary, “E” starts

at…at… 700’ agl700’ agl Must have a weather observer or Must have a weather observer or

functioning ASOS/AWOS on the functioning ASOS/AWOS on the field to be considered Class E field to be considered Class E Surface Area.Surface Area.

Bet you’ve never seen Bet you’ve never seen THISTHIS before! before! Class G AirspaceClass G Airspace You won’t generally see this You won’t generally see this

on a chart unless you fly in on a chart unless you fly in VERY remote areas!VERY remote areas!

1 Mile / Clear of Clouds 1 Mile / Clear of Clouds below 1200’ agl during the below 1200’ agl during the dayday

1 Mile / 1000’/500’/2000’ 1 Mile / 1000’/500’/2000’ above 1200’ agl (think 1-152)above 1200’ agl (think 1-152)

AT NIGHT: 3 Miles, 1000’ AT NIGHT: 3 Miles, 1000’ above, 500’ below, 2000’ above, 500’ below, 2000’ horizontal (think 3-152s)horizontal (think 3-152s)

Extends from the ground to Extends from the ground to the base of overlying the base of overlying airspace OR up to but not airspace OR up to but not including 14,500’ mslincluding 14,500’ msl

Cloud Clearance and Visibility Cloud Clearance and Visibility Requirements are EASY:Requirements are EASY:

Class C, Class C, Class D, Class D,

Class E andClass E and (at night) (at night) Class GClass G

are ALLare ALL3-1523-152

But what about ABOVE 10,000’ But what about ABOVE 10,000’

5 statute miles5 statute miles 1000 feet above1000 feet above 1000 feet below1000 feet below 1 statute mile horizontally1 statute mile horizontally REMEMBER “5111”REMEMBER “5111” AND, you need a (working!) transponder.AND, you need a (working!) transponder.

And, have you noticed?And, have you noticed? This is all very logical! This is all very logical!

“B” is “B” is BlueBlue“C” is “C” is MagentaMagenta“D” is “D” is BlueBlue “E” is “E” is MagentaMagenta “G” is “G” is BlueBlue

If you can figure out one, you can If you can figure out one, you can figure out the rest! figure out the rest!

And, what about the TRSA?And, what about the TRSA?

Terminal Radar Service Terminal Radar Service Area – TRSAArea – TRSA

Transponder and 2 way Transponder and 2 way communication for communication for participating pilotsparticipating pilots

Participation not Participation not required but required but recommendedrecommended

Generally surrounds Generally surrounds Class D airports and all Class D airports and all Class D rules applyClass D rules apply

Watch out now..Watch out now..

RESTRICTED AREA!RESTRICTED AREA! Separates civilian traffic from Separates civilian traffic from

potentially hazardous military potentially hazardous military traffic.traffic.

STAY OUT when active.STAY OUT when active. OK to penetrate when inactive, OK to penetrate when inactive,

but best to communicate with but best to communicate with the controlling authority before the controlling authority before doing so. doing so.

Check your sectional for the Check your sectional for the controlling authoritycontrolling authority

Can you guess what this one is?Can you guess what this one is?

Duh…Duh… ……it’s a Prohibited Areait’s a Prohibited Area Stay out. Stay out. Go directly to jailGo directly to jail Do Not Pass “GO”Do Not Pass “GO” Do Not Collect Do Not Collect

$200.00….$200.00…. ‘‘Nuff saidNuff said

The “A” Gives It Away…The “A” Gives It Away…

Alert AreaAlert Area No clearance requiredNo clearance required Denotes heavy pilot Denotes heavy pilot

training or unusual training or unusual activityactivity

Here’s another tough oneHere’s another tough one

You guessed it…a You guessed it…a Warning Area…Warning Area…

Extends from 3nm off Extends from 3nm off the coastthe coast

Indicates possible Indicates possible hazardous activitieshazardous activities

No permission No permission required to enter, but…required to enter, but…

Why would you want Why would you want to?to?

And, how about this?And, how about this?

Military Operations Area Military Operations Area (MOA)(MOA)

No permission required to No permission required to penetrate, but penetrate, but communication with ATC communication with ATC is recommended because is recommended because of….of….

Duh…Duh… MILITARY OPERATIONS!MILITARY OPERATIONS!

Watch out for these!Watch out for these!

Military Training RoutesMilitary Training Routes Low altitude, high speed Low altitude, high speed

trainingtraining IR = InstrumentIR = Instrument VR = VisualVR = Visual 4 numbers = 1500 agl and 4 numbers = 1500 agl and

belowbelow 3 numbers = above 1500 3 numbers = above 1500

aglagl

A little out of context, but…A little out of context, but…

Air Defense Identification Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ)Zone (ADIZ)

Requires an IFR or DVFR Requires an IFR or DVFR (Defense VFR) flight plan (Defense VFR) flight plan to penetrateto penetrate

Discrete transponder codeDiscrete transponder code

Remember P-49?Remember P-49?

TFR – Temporary Flight TFR – Temporary Flight RestrictionRestriction

Surrounding a Prohibited AreaSurrounding a Prohibited Area Flight within an active TFR Flight within an active TFR

can be permitted with:can be permitted with: IFR or VFR Flight Plan and:IFR or VFR Flight Plan and: Discreet Transponder CodeDiscreet Transponder Code CAUTION: TFR’s are often CAUTION: TFR’s are often

NOT charted and the FAA is NOT charted and the FAA is not good about disseminating not good about disseminating this information!this information!

Hmmm…looks kinda like a TFR Hmmm…looks kinda like a TFR but is it?but is it?

National Security AreaNational Security Area Pilots are requested, but not Pilots are requested, but not

generally required , to avoid it generally required , to avoid it or overfly above a specified or overfly above a specified altitude.altitude.

Can be forbidden by TFR so, Can be forbidden by TFR so, watch out!watch out!

You Are You Are NotNot Welcome Here! Welcome Here!

Hmmm…where to startHmmm…where to start The dotted magenta The dotted magenta

ring is a land-based ring is a land-based ADIZ surrounding ADIZ surrounding Washington DCWashington DC

Airspeed restrictionsAirspeed restrictions Permission to enter the Permission to enter the

ADIZ doesn’t mean ADIZ doesn’t mean permission to enter permission to enter Class BClass B

Discrete transponder Discrete transponder code and lots of other code and lots of other crapcrap

We’re not done yet. There’s more.We’re not done yet. There’s more.

Inside the ADIZ is an Inside the ADIZ is an Flight Restricted ZoneFlight Restricted Zone

GA flight prohibited with GA flight prohibited with very few exceptionsvery few exceptions

Requires background Requires background check and special check and special proceduresprocedures

IMPORTANT: If you IMPORTANT: If you intend to fly within 60nm intend to fly within 60nm of Washington DC, you of Washington DC, you must undergo special must undergo special trainingtraining

……and where can you get it?and where can you get it?

IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT ALL PILOTS FLYING UNDER THAT ALL PILOTS FLYING UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) WITHIN 100 NM OF THE DCA WITHIN 100 NM OF THE DCA VOR/DME COMPLETE SPECIAL VOR/DME COMPLETE SPECIAL AWARENESS TRAINING FOR THE AWARENESS TRAINING FOR THE WASHINGTON DC WASHINGTON DC METROPOLITAN AREA, METROPOLITAN AREA, THIS THIS TRAINING IS MANDATORY FOR TRAINING IS MANDATORY FOR ALL PILOTS THAT FLY UNDER ALL PILOTS THAT FLY UNDER VFR WITHIN 60 NMVFR WITHIN 60 NM OF THE DCA OF THE DCA VOR/DME (14 CFR PARTS 61 AND VOR/DME (14 CFR PARTS 61 AND 91, EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 9, 91, EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 9, 2009). THIS TRAINING IS 2009). THIS TRAINING IS AVAILABLE IN THE AVIATION AVAILABLE IN THE AVIATION LEARNING CENTER AT LEARNING CENTER AT HTTP://WWW.FAASAFETY.GOV..

And, just for funAnd, just for fun

Special Special Conservation AreaConservation Area

The “Atwater Prairie The “Atwater Prairie Chicken Preserve” is at Chicken Preserve” is at Eagle LakeEagle Lake

Not “Special Use”Not “Special Use” No particular No particular

requirementsrequirements ““Requested” not to fly Requested” not to fly

lower than 2000’lower than 2000’

And, Finally….Class FAnd, Finally….Class FBetcha thought I forgotBetcha thought I forgot

Class F is common in EuropeClass F is common in Europe It is for IFR flight in UNCONTROLLED airspace (say what?!)It is for IFR flight in UNCONTROLLED airspace (say what?!) From the ICAO: Operations may be conducted under IFR or VFR. ATC From the ICAO: Operations may be conducted under IFR or VFR. ATC

separation will be provided, so far as practical, to aircraft operating separation will be provided, so far as practical, to aircraft operating under IFR. Traffic Information may be given as far as is practical in under IFR. Traffic Information may be given as far as is practical in respect of other flights. (Uh-huh….)respect of other flights. (Uh-huh….)

In Canada, they define it as: “Airspace of defined dimensions within In Canada, they define it as: “Airspace of defined dimensions within which activities must be confined because of their nature, or within which activities must be confined because of their nature, or within which limitations are imposed upon aircraft operations that are not a which limitations are imposed upon aircraft operations that are not a part of those activities, or both. Special use airspace may be classified part of those activities, or both. Special use airspace may be classified as Class F advisory or Class F restricted” (Right….)as Class F advisory or Class F restricted” (Right….)

Which is, of course,Which is, of course, Clear as mudClear as mud

A Very Helpful PublicationA Very Helpful Publication

www.asf.org/kbygwww.asf.org/kbyg

Thank you for coming Thank you for coming tonight!tonight!

AIRSPACE FOR DUMMIESAIRSPACE FOR DUMMIESOROR

It Really ISN’T that hard!It Really ISN’T that hard!

Pat BrownPat BrownSEL / MELSEL / MEL

CFII / CFI-GliderCFII / CFI-Glider