II.O.

National Airspace System____________________________________________________

References:
1. Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR’s) Part 91
2. Aeronautical Information Manual pg 3-1-1

Objective To gain knowledge of the elements related to the National Airspace System.

Elements 1. General Dimension of Airspace Segments

2. Operating Limitations Associated with Uncontrolled, Controlled, Special Use, and Other
Airspace

Schedule 1. Discuss Objectives 03

2. Review Material 02
3. Development 35
4. Conclusion 05

Equipment 1. FAR / AIM

2. White board and markers

IP’s Actions 1. Discuss lesson objectives

2. Present Lecture
3. Ask and Answer Questions

SP’s Actions 1. Participate in discussion

2. Take notes
3. Ask and respond to questions

Completion This lesson will be complete when the student demonstrates an understanding of the elements
Standards related to National Airspace System.

II. O. National Airspace System

Page 1 of 8
Instructor’s Notes: National Airspace System________________________________________
INTRODUCTION:

WHAT? – The National Airspace System is a classification of all airspace overlaying the United States,
territories, and territorial waters.

WHY ? – The purpose of the National Airspace System is to assure separation between IFR and VFR air traffic,
provide a means of National Security, and provide a means to ensure safety of aircraft, personal and property within
the jurisdiction of the United States of America.

OVERVIEW - This lesson will cover the basic elements pertaining to National Airspace System, including:
1. General Dimension of Airspace Segments
2. Operating Limitations Associated with Uncontrolled, Controlled, Special Use, and Other Airspace

DEVELOPMENT:

HOW ?
1.) Controlled Airspace
A.) Class D Airspace
1. Lateral Boundaries:
a) Individually tailored
2. Vertical Boundaries:
a) Surface up to 2,500 AGL
3. Equipment:
a) Two-way Radio
4. Pilot Certification:
a) No specific certification Required
5. Arrival and/or Entry Requirements:
a) Communication must be established PRIOR to entry
6. VFR Weather Minimums:
a) See Table Below
7. Purpose:
a) Provides ATC services to aircraft within airspace associated with an airport with an operable
control tower.
(1) Allows ATC to separate IFR and VFR traffic, however, no separation services are provided
to VFR aircraft. (I.e., don’t expect it)
B.) Class C Airspace
1. Lateral Boundaries:
a) Individually Tailored
(1) Usually consists of:
(a) 5 nm radius core
(i) Surface up to 4,000 feet AGL
(b) 10 nm radius shelf
(i) 1,200 feet AGL up to 4,000 feet AGL
2. Vertical Boundaries:
a) Surface up to 4,000 AGL
b) Up side down Cake w/ one shelf
3. Equipment:
a) Two-way Radio
b) Transponder w/ Altitude Encoding
4. Pilot Certification:
a) No specific Certification Required
5. Arrival and/or Entry Requirements:
a) Must establish Communications PRIOR to entry
6. VFR Weather Minimums:
a) See Table Below
II. O. National Airspace System
Page 2 of 8
 7. Purpose:
a) To maintain Positive Control and provide separation of IFR and VFR aircraft within airspace
associated with large airports with Radar, Approach control, a number of IFR flights, or
passenger enplanements.
C.) Class B Airspace
1. Lateral Boundaries:
a) Individually tailored
(1) Upside down Cake
b) 30 nm Mode C Veil
2. Vertical Boundaries:
a) Surface to 10,000 feet MSL
3. Equipment:
a) Two-way Radio
(1) Clearance Require PRIOR to entry
b) Transponder w/ Altitude Encoding within Mode C Veil (30 nm from Airport)
4. Pilot Certification:
a) Private Certificate
(1) Except at Airports listed in 3-2-3 b. 2. Pg 3-2-2
5. Arrival and/or Entry Requirements:
a) Must obtain CLEARANCE from ATC prior to entry
6. VFR Weather Minimums:
a) See Table Below
7. Purpose:
a) To maintain Positive Control of IFR and VFR aircraft within Airspace associated with Nations
Busiest Airports
b) Provides levels to transition Aircraft into and out of the airport
(1) Arrival / Departure
(a) Center
(b) Approach Control
(c) Tower
D.) Class A Airspace
1. Lateral Boundaries:
a) 48 contiguous States and Alaska
b) 12 nautical miles off coast
2. Vertical Boundaries:
a) 18,000 feet MSL up to and including FL 600
3. Equipment: FAR 91.205 (d)
a) VFR equipment, plus…
b) Two-way radio
c) Turn Coordinator
d) Adjustable Altimeter
e) Clock w/ Hours, Minutes, and Seconds
f) Generator or Alternator
g) Attitude Indicator (Gyroscopic)
h) Directional Gyro
i) DME above FL 240
j) Transponder w/ Mode C
4. Pilot Certification:
a) At least a Private Certificate with Instrument Rating
5. Arrival and/or Entry Requirements:
a) IFR flight Plan
b) ATC Clearance

6. VFR Weather Minimums:

a) No VFR flight allowed
7. Purpose:
a) Provide IFR separation
II. O. National Airspace System
Page 3 of 8
E.) Class E Airspace
1. Lateral Boundaries:
a) Generally, Class E airspace is all controlled airspace that is not Class A, B, C, or D
2. Vertical Boundaries:
a) Class E starts at the surface, or a defined altitude and extends up to overlying controlled airspace
b) Common Class E floors
(1) Surface
(2) 700 feet AGL
(3) 1,200 feet AGL
3. Types of Class E airspace
a) Surface area designated for an airport
b) Airspace used for transition
(1) 700 feet or 1,200 feet AGL
c) En Route domestic areas
(1) Extend upward from specified altitude to overlaying controlled airspace
(2) Provide IFR en route ATC services where airway system is inadequate
d) Federal Airways
(1) Extend upward from 1,200 feet AGL to but not including FL 180
(2) 4 nm from centerline of Airway
(3) Colored Airways (Except for G13 in N. Carolina, Conterminous US Colored airways have
been rescinded)
(a) Green (East / West)
(b) Red (East / West)
(c) Amber (North / South)
(d) Blue (North / South)
e) Offshore Airspace Areas
(1) Extend upward from specified altitude up to but not including FL 180
(2) Provide controlled airspace beyond 12 nm from coast where IFR en route ATC services are
required
f) 48 Contiguous States, Alaska, and waters within 12 nm of Coast
(1) Extends upward from 14,500 feet MSL up to but not including FL 180
(a) Except airspace below 1,500 feet AGL unless specifically designated
(2) Extends upward from FL 600 up to for ever
4. Equipment:
a) No specific equipment is required
5. Pilot Certification:
a) No specific certification is required
6. Arrival and/or Entry Requirements:
a) No specific requirements

II. O. National Airspace System

Page 4 of 8
 7. VFR Weather Minimums:
a) See Table Below
8. Purpose:
a) Class E is perhaps the most confusing of Airspace
b) It does not provide ATC separation however, it provides weather separation.
(1) All aircraft separation is provided by VFR weather minimums.
c) Airports within Class E do not have a control tower

Basic VFR Weather Minimums

Airspace Flight Visibility Distance from Clouds
Class A Not Applicable Not Applicable
Class B 3 Statute Miles Clear of Clouds
Class C 3 Statute Miles 500 feet below
1,000 feet above
2,000 feet horizontal
Class D 3 Statute Miles 500 feet below
1,000 feet above
2,000 feet horizontal
Class E
Less than 10,000 feet MSL 3 Statute Miles 500 feet below
1,000 feet above
2,000 feet horizontal

At or above 10,000 feet MSL 5 Statute Miles 1,000 feet below

1,000 feet above
1 statute mile horizontal
Class G
1,200 feet or less above the surface
Day (except as provided 91.151(b) 1 Statute Mile Clear of Clouds
Night (except as provided 91.151(b) 3 Statute Miles 500 feet below
1,000 feet above
2,000 feet horizontal
More than 1,200 feet AGL but less than
10,000 feet MSL
Day 1 Statute Mile 500 feet below
1,000 feet above
2,000 feet horizontal

Night 3 Statute Miles 500 feet below

1,000 feet above
2,000 feet horizontal

More than 1,200 feet AGL and above 5 Statute Miles 1,000 feet below
10,000 feet MSL 1,000 feet above
1 statute mile horizontal

II. O. National Airspace System

Page 5 of 8
2.) Uncontrolled Airspace
A.) Class G Airspace
1. Lateral Boundaries:
a) That portion of the airspace that has not been designated as other controlled Airspace. (Class A,
B, C, D, or E)
2. Vertical Boundaries:
a) Extends from Surface up to overlying controlled airspace
3. Equipment:
a) No specific equipment required
4. Pilot Certification:
a) No specific certification required
5. Arrival and/or Entry Requirements:
a) No specific requirements
6. VFR Weather Minimums:
a) See Table Below
7. Purpose:
a) Provide separation of IFR from VFR (No IFR)
b) Provide airspace for operations not allowed in controlled airspace
(1) Ultra-lights
3.) Special Use Airspace
A.) Prohibited Areas
1. Regulatory Airspace
2. Flight is Prohibited
3. National Security or other reasons associated with National Welfare
B.) Restricted Areas
1. Regulatory Airspace
2. Flight not allowed without authorization from controlling agency
3. Uses
a) Artillery firing
b) Aerial gunnery
c) Guided missile firing
C.) Warning Areas
1. Non-regulatory Airspace
2. Flight is allowed but caution is advised
3. Located from 3 miles off coast out. (Over domestic and international waters)
D.) Military Operations Areas (MOA’s)
1. Non-regulatory Airspace
2. Flight is allowed but caution is advised
3. Defined lateral and vertical limits
4. Purpose is to separate military training activities from IFR traffic
E.) Alert Areas
1. Non-regulatory Airspace
2. Inform pilots of areas that may contain high volume of training aircraft or unusual type of aerial
activity
F.) Controlled Firing Areas
1. Non-regulatory Airspace
2. Contains a spotter (aircraft, radar, or lookout) to cease all activity if non-participating aircraft might
be approaching
3. Not charted on any charts
4.) Other Airspace
A.) Airport Advisory Area
1. 10 statute miles from airport with non-operating tower but FSS is located
2. FSS provides advisory service to arriving aircraft
B.) Military Training Routes
1. Provides Training for US military aircraft
2. Two types
a) IFR MTR’s
II. O. National Airspace System
Page 6 of 8
 (1) Conducted under IFR regardless of weather
b) VFR MTR’s
(1) Conducted in accordance with VFR except visibility is 5 miles or more and…
(2) Shall be conducted below a ceiling of less than 3,000 feet AGL
3. Route Identification
a) No segment above 1,500 feet AGL
(1) Four Characters ( IR1206, VR1207 )
b) One or more segments above 1,500 feet AGL
(1) Three Characters ( IR206, VR207 )
C.) Temporary Flight Restrictions
1. Incident on the Surface (Value Jet Crash )
2. Disaster Relief
3. Prevent an Unsafe congestion of sightseeing aircraft above an incident
4. Protect the President, Vice President, or other public figures
5. Space agency operations
D.) Parachute Jump Aircraft Operations
1. It is essential that pilots be alert, and exchange information as per AIM, 4-1-9
E.) Published VFR Routes
1. VFR Flyways
a) Designed to transit around Class B airspace
b) Clearance not required
2. VFR Corridors
a) Defined height and width airspace through Class B airspace
b) Clearance not required
c) Pilots should transmit on proper frequency listed on Terminal Chart
3. Terminal Area VFR Routes
a) Provides routes to VFR aircraft to avoid Class A, B, C, and D airspace
b) Uses radio navigation and visual references
c) Recommended altitudes may be provided
F.) Terminal RADAR Service Area
1. Participating pilots can receive additional radar services
2. Primary airport(s) become(s) Class D airspace

CONCLUSION

REVIEW
1.) To summarize, we talked about:
A.) Regulatory Airspace
B.) Non-regulatory Airspace
C.) Controlled Airspace
1. Class A, B, C, D, E
a) VFR weather minimums
b) Purpose
c) Requirements to enter
D.) Uncontrolled Airspace
1. Class g
a) VFR weather minimums
b) Purpose
E.) Special Use Airspace
1. Prohibited Areas
2. Restricted Areas
3. MOA’s
F.) Other Airspace
1. Military Training Routes
2. Temporary Flight Restrictions
3. VFR Corridors

II. O. National Airspace System

Page 7 of 8
PRIVATE PTS
1.) Exhibit knowledge of the following for all classes of airspace
A.) VFR weather Minimums
B.) Boundaries
C.) Pilot certification
D.) Equipment requirements

COMMERCIAL PTS
1.) Exhibit knowledge of the following for all classes of airspace
A.) VFR weather Minimums
B.) Boundaries
C.) Pilot certification
D.) Equipment requirements

COMPLETION
STANDARDS:
1. This lesson will be complete when student has adequate understanding of National Airspace System.

II. O. National Airspace System

Page 8 of 8