Everything Student and Private Pilots need to Know about Airspace
Are you currently studying for your private pilot written exam or preparing to take your private pilot check ride? Knowing all the types of airspace is an important topic for student pilots in flight training and private pilot who may need a refresher for a flight review.
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Controlled airspaces are classes A, B, C, D, and E. Uncontrolled airspace is class G.
Special use airspace includes restricted airspace, military operation areas (or MOA for short), and other designated areas.
Other airspace includes military training routes (abbreviated MTR) and temporary flight restrictions (called TFR’s).
Airspaces are designated based on the busyness and congestion of the airspace. When flying VFR, a pilot must adhere to cloud clearance and VFR weather minimums specified in the regulations. Class A is the most restrictive airspace. Class G is the least restrictive airspace.
Class A Airspace
Class A airspace extends from 18,000 feet msl to 60,000 feet.
ATC clearance and an instrument rating is required to fly in class A airspace.
Class B Airspace
Class B airspace surrounds the nation’s busiest airports. Getting clearance from ATC is required prior to entering class B airspace. Two-way radio communication and altitude reporting equipment is also required for flying in class B airspace. A private pilot certificate or logbook endorsement is required for flying in class B airspace. Minimum flight visibility for flight and class B is three statute miles and clear of clouds.
Class C Airspace
Class C airspace surrounds those airports with substantial air traffic and a control tower.
Minimum flight visibility for VFR pilots in class C airspace is three statute miles and 1,000 feet above, 500 feet below and 2,000 feet horizontal of clouds.
The outer limits of class C airspace extend 10 nautical miles from the primary airport. Two-way radio communication and transponder with altitude reporting capability is required for flying in class C airspace. Prior clearance must be received from air traffic control prior to entering class C airspace.
Class D Airspace
Class D airspace surrounds smaller airports with an operating control tower. Class D airspace typically extends from the surface to 2,500 MSL but can be higher at some Class D airports. Minimum flight visibility for VFR flight in class D airspace is 3 statute miles and 1,000 feet above, 500 feet below and 2,000 feet horizontal from clouds. Class D airports are surrounded by a segmented blue line on VFR sectional charts.
Class E Airspace
Class E airspace typically surrounds smaller non-towered airports and is defined as the controlled airspace not classified as classes A, B, C, or D in the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK).
A large amount of the airspace over the United States is designated as class E airspace. The floor of the class E airspace is 1,200 feet above ground level (AGL) in most areas. In other areas the floor of the class E airspace is either the surface or 700 feet AGL.
Some class E airspace begins at a MSL altitude depicted on the charts instead of an AGL altitude.
For example, look at the sectional charts of the Sandpoint airport in Idaho and Astoria Regional Airport in Astoria, OR.
The floor of the class E airspace at Sandpoint airport starts at 700 feet AGL inside the magenta circle. The floor of the class E airspace is 1,200 feet AGL outside of the magenta circle.
Class E airports such as Astoria Regional are smaller non-towered airports and will typically be surrounded by a magenta dashed line. Class E airspace extends from the surface to 1,200 feet at Astoria Regional airport.
See this example of the class E airspace surrounding Astoria Regional airport in Astoria, Oregon.
The minimum flight visibility for VFR flight in class E airspace at or above 10,000 feet MSL is 5 statute miles, 1,000 feet above and below and 1 statute mile horizontal from clouds.
The minimum flight visibility for VFR flight in class E airspace at altitudes less than 10,000 feet msl is three statute miles, 1,000 feet above, 500 feet below and 2,000 feet horizontal from clouds.
Class E airspace begins at the surface for class E airports surrounded by a magenta dashed line.
Some class D airports will be designated as classes E or G if the control tower is closed so be sure to review the chart supplements and airport facility directory for more information before your flight. Two-way radio communication is not required to fly VFR in Class E airspace. Only IFR flights require two-way radio communication to fly in class E airspace.
Class G Airspace
Class G airspace is uncontrolled airspace not designated as class A, B, C, D, or E. Class G typically extends from the surface to 1,200 feet above ground level (AGL) unless otherwise indicated. Air traffic control has no responsibility to control air traffic in class G.
However, pilots should remember there are still required weather minimums when flying VFR. The minimum flight visibility for VFR flight in class G airspace during the day at 1,200 feet or less above the surface is 1 statute mile and clear of clouds. The minimum flight visibility for VFR flight in class G airspace at altitudes more than 1,200 feet but less than 10,000 feet MSL is 1 statute mile, 1,000 feet above, 500 feet below and 2,000 feet horizontal from clouds. You can see the rest of the weather minimums in the chart above.
Summary of Classes of Airspace
To summarize, for operations in Class A airspace, a pilot must have ATC clearance and be instrument rated.
For flights in Class B airspace, the pilot must have ATC clearance to enter the airspace, two-way radio communication, and Mode C transponder with ADS-B out. The minimum pilot certificate for flight in class B is a private pilot certificate. However, a student or recreational pilot may operate in class B with a logbook endorsement and if other regulatory requirements are met.
Operations within and above Class C airspace require two-way radio, Mode C transponder with altitude reporting capability, and the aircraft must have ADS-B Out equipment installed. Pilots must have at least a student pilot certificate when operating in Class C airspace.
Operations within class D, E and G airspaces require at least a student pilot certificate. Two-way radio communication is required in class D airspace. Two-way radio communication is not required in classes E and G when flying VFR.
Special Use Airspace
Prohibited Airspace
There is a special flight rules area surrounding the Washington D.C. metro area. We won’t dive into the particulars of flying around the Washington D.C. metro area in this article, but pilots need special training to operate in this area.
Prohibited areas contain airspace where flights are prohibited such as over the National Mall in Washington D.C. where the White House is located. Flight in these areas is prohibited due to national security matters. Prohibited airspace will be illustrated by the letter P followed by a number such as P-56 near Reagan National Airport.
Restricted Airspace
Restricted areas (such as this area north of Las Vegas) are areas of airspace that are hazardous to non-participating aircraft such as artillery firing, aerial gunnery, or guided missiles. Flight into restricted airspace without authorization from the controlling agency may be extremely hazardous to aircraft. Restricted areas are denoted by the letter R followed by a number.
Warning Areas
Warning areas (such as this section of airspace off the coast of Western Washington are similar in nature to restricted areas; however, the United States government does not have sole jurisdiction over the airspace. A warning area is airspace of defined dimensions, extending from 3 NM outward from the coast of the United States, containing activity that may be hazardous to nonparticipating aircraft. Warning areas are denoted by the letter W followed by numbers.
Military Operation Area (MOA)
According to the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, military operation areas are designed to separate military training activities from IFR traffic. VFR Flights are permitted in a MOA but require the pilot be extremely cautious and vigilant when flying through the airspace. MOAs are depicted on sectional, VFR terminal area, and en route low altitude charts and are not numbered. Here’s an example of a military operations area in Eastern Oregon.
Alert Areas and Controlled Firing Areas
- High volume of pilot training or an unusual type of aerial activity.
- Letter A followed by numbers such as this Alert area in Washington State.
- Controlled Firing Areas (CFA)
- CFAs contain activities that, if not conducted in a controlled environment, could be hazardous to nonparticipating aircraft. Not depicted on sectionals because activity is stopped when a spotter aircraft sees approaching aircraft.
Military Training Routes (MTR)
Military training routes (MTR) are used by military aircraft so they can maintain proficiency in tactical flying. MTR’s are typically conducted below 10,000 feet MSL and at speeds greater than 250 knots. IFR flights will have the identifier IR while VFR flights will have the identifier VR. Military training routes conducted at altitudes less than 1,500 feet AGL will have 4 digits and at altitudes above 1,500 feet AGL will have 3 digits. For instance, in the picture above “IR348” would mean a military training route conducted on instrument flight rules (IFR) above 1,500 feet AGL.
Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR)
TFR’s are used for the following reasons:
•to protect the President, VP, or other persons of high profile
•to protect persons or property in the air or on the ground
•Ex. Large gatherings of persons in a defined area such as major theme parks, sporting events, space launches, etc.
Be sure to check NOTAMs for up-to-date TFR’s. Foreflight has option to see current TFR’s. Pilots can also check with Flight Service or other official TFR sources before flight.
Thanks for reading. We hope you now have a better understanding of how the Airspace system works in the US.