Airspace Lesson Plan

Nick Kraynyk

Attention: Important to understand where you are at all times, the laws of where you are at all
times, and what you're expected to do and what ATC will expect from you. Also important to
understand the reasons certain airspace are classified as they are and what kind of services you can
expect.
Motivation: You can not bust airspace. FAA regs require different equipment and certificates in
different airspace and you need to know that you are or are not complying with those. You need to
know who is watching you and what they expect. Knowing airspace is a basic knowledge required for
check ride and every single operation you will experience in flying.
Preview: This lesson will review Class A, B, C, D, E, prohibited areas, restricted areas, MOAs,
Alert Areas, National Security Areas, Military training routes, Wilderness areas, What to expect in
these areas, what to avoid, what needs permission, the uses and rules.
Body: Start with a question Why do you think airspace is useful, or why does it exist?
Two types of airspace, regulatory (Class A,B,C,D,E, restricted and prohibited) and nonregulatory (MOA, warning area, Alert area, controlled firing areas) within this there are four types
controlled, uncontrolled, special use, and other airspace) AIM Chap 3-1-1, PHAK 14-1, 14-2
Controlled airspace is within ATC control and offers services based on class of airspace.
What is the point of ATC? To provide separation and expedite the flow of traffic as well as
provide additional services based on availability. Do you need to follow ATC 100% of the time?
Weather minimums PHAK 14-8
Class A, controlled, 18,000- up to and including FL600
IFR rules/no WX minimums.
IFR flight plan, mode c transponder, clearance, two way radio, DME above FL 240.
Class B, surface to 10,000 MSL.
Busiest airspace, for commercial airliners, Tower and approach services
Upside down wedding cake shape.
Requires clearance, mode C transponder and 2-way radio, student pilot with endorsement.
Weather- 3 statute miles clear of clouds.
Class C, surface to 4000 AGL
Tower, approach, passenger operation and instrument approaches.
Most contain 5stm to 1,200 ft and 10stm from 1200 to 4000ft.
Transponder mode C and two way radio. two-way radio communication before entering.
Weather- 3 statute miles 1,000ft above 500ft below 2,000ft horizontal.
Class D. Surface to 2500ft
Tower only, Normally contains entire instrument approaches.
Must establish two-way radio.
3 statute miles 1,000ft above 500ft below 2,000ft horizontal.

Class E. Extends from a certain altitude to a overlying controlled airspace.

700 agl (purple) or 1200 agl (blue), Surface (Dashed magenta) or other (Zipper Blue).
Weather- Below 10,000 ft- 3 statute miles 1,000ft above 500ft below 2,000ft horizontal.
Above 10,000ft- 5stm 1,000 below 1,000 above, 1stm horizontal.
Class G. Uncontrolled, surface to class E.
1200 ft day- 1stm clear of clouds, night- 3 statute miles 1000ft above 500ft below 2,000ft horizontal.
Above 1200 below 10000 Day- 1 statute miles 1000ft above 500ft below 2000 horizontal. Night- 3
statute miles 1000ft above 500ft below 2000 horizontal.
Above 1200 agl and above 10,000 msl. 5Stm 1stm 1,000ft above 1,000 below
Special use airspace. PHAK 14-2, AIM 3-4-1
Prohibited areas- No flight allowed, for security or other reasons
Restricted Areas- flight is allowed with permission, unusual, often invisible hazards.
Warning areas- 3nm off the coast, hazardous activities to non-participating aircraft.
MOAs- separates military training from civilian, no clearance required
Alert Areas- high volume of pilot training (Colorado Springs)
CFAs- suspended if aircraft is spotted (Not charted)
NSA- High ground security, Ask pilots to avoid (Tooele)
Contain certain activities dangerous to non-participating aircraft. These airspace contain times
of being effective, name of airspace, altitudes, agencys, and weather conditions.
Other types of airspace. PHAK 14-4
TFR- NOTAM, temporary prohibited areas
TRSA- additional ATC services separates IFR from VFR, solid black line.
Military Training Routes- 3 digits above 1,500ft AGL
Wilderness Areas- 2,000ft, Box with dots
Conclusion
Different airspace for different uses. Why the different classes exist, the point of classifying
airspace and the hazardous and problems with entering certain airspace.
Weather minimums change based on airspace because of different performance expected at
different altitudes and areas.
Why ATC exists and the services they provide, such as flight following traffic avoidance and
expedited traffic flow
Equipment required for different airspace and the restrictions oh the airspace.
Difference between clearance and establishing two-way communication.