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There is an area called "outer area" near class C airspace. As described by this AIM:

Though not requiring regulatory action, Class C airspace areas have a procedural Outer Area. Normally this area is 20 NM from the primary Class C airspace airport. Its vertical limit extends from the lower limits of radio/radar coverage up to the ceiling of the approach control's delegated airspace, excluding the Class C airspace itself, and other airspace as appropriate. (This outer area is not charted.)

As it is not charted and there is no FAA regulations about outer area, I would think it could also be set near class B or D airspaces. Why don't any other airspaces but only class C airspace has the outer area?

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The Class C outer area is the airspace surrounding Class C airspace out to 20nm, and from the lower limit of radar coverage to the top of the controller's airspace. The outer area is not charted, although you can see in the white boxes (in the chart below) adjacent to Class C airports that you can initiate communication within 20nm.

enter image description here

ATC offers Class C services (e.g., flight following) on a workload-permitting basis to participating aircraft operating in the outer area, and aircraft in 2-way radio communication will receive IFR/VFR aircraft separation services.

So you can think of Class C airspace as 3 concentric rings: the 20nm outer area, the 10nm shelf area, and the 5nm surface area.

Source AIM 3-2-4

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    $\begingroup$ Thanks. However, I found the answer by myself. Since the Class D airspace doesn't offer radar service, and the Class B airspace is so busy there is no reason for these airspaces to have the outerarea which offers radar services on-request. My question was so stupid. $\endgroup$
    – Mun
    Jan 31, 2015 at 17:59
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    $\begingroup$ I think its because Class B extends out 30 miles. Wouldn't make much sense to have an outer area that extends to, what?, 40nm. $\endgroup$
    – rbp
    Jan 31, 2015 at 19:43
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    $\begingroup$ ATC offers flight following in all E airspace, though, not just the C outer area. The difference is that this will be done by an Approach facility, same as in and under B airspace (actually, inside the veil), rather than Center. Officially, there is little if any difference between the two, at least for VFR pilots, aside from who you call. $\endgroup$
    – StephenS
    Jun 1, 2019 at 0:59
  • $\begingroup$ @StephenS Flight following is only available where there is radar coverage. $\endgroup$
    – rbp
    Mar 11, 2021 at 14:27
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The outer area surrounding classy airspace is not actually Class C airspace, but a procedural area associated with the Class C and not charted. See Note 4 of AIM 3-2-4. This area is not considered Class C airspace, but VFR flights making use of approach control or IFR flights inbound and outbound of the Class C are still under the control of approach control for that Class C airspace.

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  • $\begingroup$ This answer does not address the question. OP knows there is such a procedural outer area; the question is why such an area exists on the periphery of Class C airspace, but not Class B or D. $\endgroup$
    – randomhead
    Apr 13, 2021 at 3:30
  • $\begingroup$ @randomhead, I agree, but the same comment could apply to the accepted answer with 16 upvotes. $\endgroup$
    – Michael Hall
    Apr 13, 2021 at 15:20

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