In this video, we will cover everything you need to know about airspace classes. We promise, it's not as hard as you think. But what is an airspace class? Well, it's just a type of airspace. The FAA uses letters like Class A or Class B to separate them.
Airspace can either be controlled or uncontrolled. Controlled airspace is where ATC controls traffic, while uncontrolled airspace is where they don't. Now let's explain controlled airspace first, starting with Class A. Now Class A airspace, also called Class Alpha, extends across the entire United States.
It starts at 18,000 feet MSL and goes up to 60,000 feet MSL. You might be wondering, MSL stands for Mean Sea Level because it is the altitude measured above sea level. Now, it's not depicted on any charts because it covers the entire country. It's also IFR only. This means that you must be on an instrument flight plan and cleared by ATC in order to enter.
You will need a mode C transponder and also ADSB out. If you go above flight level 240, you need a distance measuring equipment or DME. Lastly, the speed limit in Class A airspace is Mach 1. Okay, next up is Class B airspace or Class Bravo. Class B is around the 37 busiest airport in major cities. Now you will find Class B depicted on sectional charts using a solid blue line.
Each sector has an altitude block with a floor and a ceiling. These altitudes are listed in hundreds of feet above sea level. Also, remember that SFC stands for surface.
If you look at Class B airspace in 3D, it looks like an upside down wedding cake. This is because it consists of several sections with different altitudes and also different shapes. The inner sector of Class B starts at the surface and goes up to around 10,000 feet MSL. Sectors further out will have a higher base, allowing traffic to fly underneath. There's also a 30 nautical mile mode C veil that surrounds Class B airspace.
This is depicted as a magenta circle on a sectional chart. Inside of that circle, all aircraft need to have a mode C transponder and ADS-B out. You also need ATC clearance before you enter Class B airspace. Now the VFR weather minimums require at least 3 statute mile of visibility.
And make sure that you remain clear of clouds. This is to avoid IFR traffic. The speed limit is 250 knots inside Class B and 200 knots below it.
The speed limit is also 200 knots through VFR corridors. OK, let's move on to Class C airspace. Class C exists at large airports that are less busy than Class B airports. Now, you will find them around medium-sized cities typically.
On a sectional chart, Class C looks like Class B, but it's actually smaller. It also has magenta lines instead of blue ones. The inner core extends from the surface to around 4000 feet AGL. and has a radius of 5 nautical miles. AGL stands for above ground level.
It's another way to measure altitude when we're not using MSL, mean sea level. The outer shell has a radius of 10 nautical miles. It starts at 1200 feet AGL and extends to 4000 feet AGL. And you need to fly at least 1000 feet above, 500 feet below, and 2000 feet horizontally from the clouds.
The speed limit is 200 knots within a 4 nautical mile radius of the airport. Otherwise, below 10,000 feet MSL, the standard limit is 250 knots. Now you don't need ATC clearance to enter Class C airspace, but you must establish two-way radio communication.
You also need a Mode C transponder and ADS-B out to fly in or over Class C. Okay, up next is Class D airspace. Airports in Class D are very much like Class C, just not as busy. On the sectional, you will find Class D airports that are depicted with a dashed blue line.
The number in the bracket indicates the ceiling in hundreds of feet MSL. Now Class D resembles a cylinder with a radius of about 4 to 5 nautical miles. It starts from the surface and generally extends to the airspace above it or 2500 feet AGL.
Now the VFR weather minimums are the same as Class C airspace. You need three statute mile visibility and then the VFR cloud clearance is 1000 feet above, 500 feet below and 2000 feet horizontally and the speed limit is also 200 knots. Just like Class C, you must establish two-way radio communication with ATC before you enter.
Alright, only two more to go. And next is Class E airspace or Class Echo. Any controlled airspace that is not A, B, C, or D is Class E. Think E as everywhere else.
It allows ATC to manage IFR aircraft that are outside of other controlled airspace. In most of the country, the floor of Class E airspace is 1200 feet AGL, above ground level. But, How do we know if it starts lower?
Well, look for the shaded magenta shape on the sectional chart. The EFA calls these vignettes. They depict the changes in the floor of Class E airspace. On the faded side, the floor starts at 700 feet AGL. These are what we call transition areas.
They allow ATC to provide services to IFR aircraft that are flying in and out of airports. These are especially useful at airports without a control tower. Now on the solid side of the shaded magenta, Class E starts at 700 feet AGL.
starts at the usual 1200 feet AGL. Now inside these transition areas, you might see a dash magenta shape around an airport. Now this indicates that the Class E goes all the way down to the surface.
I remember when we said Class E starts at 1200 feet AGL in most of the country. Well, there are some rare cases where we have Class E starting at 14,500 MSL. Now you will see these represented with a blue vignette.
The faded side represents the typical floor at 1200 feet AGL. and then the solid side represents the floor at 14,500 msl. Now remember these are very very rare across the country.
Class E airspace extends up to but not including the floor of Class A airspace at 18,000 feet msl. It starts again on top of Class A at 60,000 feet msl. Now there are no entry requirements for Class E, but there are some VFR minimums.
If you are below 10,000 feet MSL, the weather minimums are the same as Class C and Class D airspace. Meaning you need 3 statute mile visibility, 1,000 feet above, 500 feet below, and 2,000 feet horizontally from the clouds. Now if you're above 10,000 feet MSL, the minimums increase to 5 statute mile visibility, 1,000 feet above, 1,000 feet below, and 1 statute mile horizontally from clouds.
Okay. That concludes controlled airspace. Now what about uncontrolled airspace?
Well, this is where Class Golf comes in. Class G exists where controlled airspace doesn't. It starts at the surface unless controlled airspace exists on the ground. It's basically the bottom of Class E airspace.
Now you won't find Class Golf depicted on a sectional chart and there are no entry requirements. If you're in Class Golf under 10 000 feet MSL, you need one statute mile visibility during the day. 3 statute miles at night.
Below 1200 feet AGL during the day, you also need to stay clear of clouds. Now at night, it changes to 1000 feet above, 500 feet below, and 2000 feet horizontally from clouds. Now what about the rare class golf that is under 10,000 feet MSL but over 1200 feet AGL? Well in that case, the strict cloud clearance also applies during the day and at night.
Now if you're flying over 10,000 feet MSL and over 1200 feet AGL, then high altitude Class E requirements apply. For visibility, that's 5 statute mile, 1000 feet above, 1000 feet below, and 1 statute mile horizontally from the clouds. Now there's an exception. If you fly in the traffic pattern at night, within half a mile of the runway, in that case you only need 1 mile of visibility and to stay clear of clouds. So enjoy your nighttime touch and go's.
Now that covers airspace classes, but there are more types of airspace that you need to know about. We'll cover these here in part 2. Thanks for watching. and we'll see you in the next one.