19
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Accepted
Reasoning Behind Individual Airspace Designations
Is there a site that explains the reasoning behind each individual
airspace designation?
No-- unless you consider the "Federal Register" to be a "site". The reasoning behind any ...
- 21.8k
10
votes
Which parts of class E airspace can an ultralight (part 103) fly in without prior ATC authorization?
NOTE: This answer was originally given based on a conservative interpretation of available interpretations of the regulations. New guidance may shed new light on the issue. The interpretation ...
- 16.5k
10
votes
Accepted
Is it possible for a non-towered airport to have keyhole extensions Class E starting at the surface?
There was a control tower at SGH which closed. The FAA issued a rule which removed the Class D airspace as of December 10, 2015.
This leaves the class E airspace chunks. As you noted, the Chart ...
- 6,105
10
votes
How should I operate within the dashed magenta lines next to Class D airspace?
The area inside those lines is class E from the surface.
- 100k
10
votes
Accepted
What is the purpose of this interesting pattern of class E airspace in northwest Alaska?
This is easier to explain in reverse: rather than why there is so much class G airspace there, why is there so much class E airspace everywhere else?
Remember, all airspace is class G unless it has ...
- 27.6k
8
votes
Accepted
Why does U.S. airspace revert to class E above flight level 600?
You ask why doesn't it go all the way up... but all the way up to where? It's somewhat of an arbitrary limit, but FL600 tends to generally be the top of the ...
- 8,392
8
votes
Accepted
How should I operate within the dashed magenta lines next to Class D airspace?
Its an area of Class-E airspace used for Instrument Approach Procedures.
From The Pilot Handbook, Chapter 14, Airspace:
Class D airspace is generally airspace from the surface to
2,500 feet ...
- 36k
7
votes
Accepted
How do I obtain permission to fly in surface class E airspace under FAR-103?
By default, all controlled airspace (class E and up) is owned by an ARTCC. In many areas, they delegate airspace (including class E!) to other ATC facilities, either a TRACON or a Tower.
Unfortunately,...
- 27.6k
7
votes
Accepted
Why depict TRSA on a map?
I think - and I may be wrong - that your question assumes that ATC services are the same in a TRSA and in class E in general. Or perhaps that TRSA Service and flight following give you exactly the ...
- 71.6k
6
votes
Accepted
Where exactly is the 700 and 1200 foot AGL for class E airspace measured from?
So where is it measured from
Well, quite literally the 700 foot and 1200 foot numbers are AGL as in the distance between your aircraft and the ground at any point. If there is a mountain in the ...
- 36k
6
votes
Accepted
Why do some Canadian Class E airspaces have no ATC frequency on VFR maps?
In class E airspace, ATC service is provided to IFR flights, but not to VFR flights. The "NO CONTACT" note most likely refers to VFR flights, since you are looking at a chart designed for VFR flight ...
- 36.2k
6
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What is the benefit or motivation for having Class G airspace?
You can also fly Ifr without a clearance in G.
Remember that the entire purpose of airspace is to keep us from hitting airliners. It is not about keeping GA planes apart. When you look at wx mins ...
- 189
6
votes
What are the types of class E airspace?
Check out this publication from the FAA
Class E airspace extends
upward from either the surface or a designated altitude to the overlying or adjacent controlled airspace. When designated
as a ...
- 100k
6
votes
What class is the airspace at KGCN when the tower is closed?
It may be an error on the chart, it should be either Class D or Class G, but it depends...
If the ATIS reverts to ASOS when the tower is closed, the airspace can be Class E. If ATIS/ASOS is not ...
- 36k
5
votes
Accepted
Is airspace above KKIC class G at 3,500’ MSL?
As long as the flight climbs above 1,200’ AGL before exiting the area where class E begins at the surface, the whole flight is conducted in class E airspace until descending below 1,200’ AGL on the ...
- 14.9k
5
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What are the historical precedents of today's E2 and E4 airspace? (US)
What we now know as Class D and E2 airspaces were once (before 1992) a single type of airspace called a "Control Zone". "Control Zones" first appeared on charts in the mid-1940's and consisted of a ...
- 21.8k
5
votes
When did this content first appear in the "Airspace" entry of the "Legend" section of the Airport/ Facilities directory?
Earliest I could find is from the Chart Supplement Pacific, 17 May 2001. Section 22 "airspace" has the phrase you seek.
- 19k
5
votes
Accepted
Why does the surface-level Class E airspace at SIT/PASI (Sitka Alaska) extend so far to the northwest?
The LDA/DME RWY 11 approach puts you darned close to 1000 AGL over those mountains if you come in from HEXAB on the localizer - and that assumes you fly it perfectly. The course reversal for that ...
- 3,408
4
votes
What is the benefit or motivation for having Class G airspace?
Airspace classifications above G exist to protect commerce. (The FAA exists to protect commerce.) That is primarily IFR operations, as well as carriers and others that utilize ATC services. The ...
- 17.7k
4
votes
Does a class E airspace still exist when the associated control tower is closed?
Does the extension (class E from surface up) airspace becomes non
existing?
It depends on whether the Class D airspace at the surface reverts to surface-level Class E airspace, or to Class G airspace ...
- 21.8k
4
votes
Accepted
Can a commercial aircraft theoretically reach 60,000ft?
An airliner's service ceiling is the altitude at which its rate of climb drops to less than 100 fpm. Most commercial airliners can't climb above 40000-45000 on a standard day. If temperatures are ...
- 126k
4
votes
Accepted
As a drone hobbyist, is flying below the listed FAA UAS ceiling a violation of controlled airspace?
As a drone hobbyist, is flying below the listed FAA UAS ceiling a violation of controlled airspace?
Short answer:
As of now, since the LAANC pre-authorization system is not yet up and running for ...
- 21.8k
4
votes
Accepted
In the US, are there any operational control towers located in surface-level Class E airspace or in Class G airspace?
There are a handful of towers still in surface Class E/G airspace. They're rare, but they do exist and are something to watch out for during preflight planning.
As of April 2021, here's the airports I ...
- 424
4
votes
What airspace class is the New York Hudson/East River SFRA airspace, and what is its visibility requirements?
Having special flight rules in Part 93 doesn't mean that the regular flight rules of Part 91 don't still apply. The SFRA is within the faded magenta line on the sectional chart, indicating Class G up ...
- 1,819
3
votes
What is Class E3 airspace?
It looks like its an extension of Class C Airspace from a class E3 announcement,
...Class E3 airspace areas are designated as arrival extensions to a
Class C surface area. Class E arrival ...
- 100k
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