From the course: Cert Prep FAA 107 Commercial Drone License

Airspace classification

From the course: Cert Prep FAA 107 Commercial Drone License

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Airspace classification

- The National Airspace, or NAS, is divided into two major types of airspace: controlled and uncontrolled. In this section, we will discuss which airspace is controlled and what you need to do to fly in it. And of course, we will also discuss uncontrolled airspace. To fly in uncontrolled airspace, you do not need permission, but you do need to follow the operating limitations and any local or federal regulations that may be pertinent. Class Alpha airspace is generally the airspace above 18,000 feet mean sea level. Under the current technology, you will not fly here, so don't worry about this one. Class Bravo airspace is generally airspace from the surface to 10,000 feet MSL surrounding the nation's busiest airports. The configuration of each Class Bravo airspace area is individually tailored and it consists of a surface area and two or more layers resembling an upside-down wedding cake. Authorization is required for all aircraft to operate in Class Bravo. Here is an example of how a Class Bravo airport looks like in an aeronautical sectional chart. Notice the solid blue lines that surround the area. You can also find airport information in the chart. You can see here the boundaries of the Bravo airspace. Here at the bottom, look at the numbers 70 over 15. That means that the floor of this airspace in this ring is 1,500 feet and the top is 7,000 feet. Notice that other sections and rings also have similar numbers. These altitudes are shown in MSL. Before flying in here, you must get authorization usually through LANs or DroneZone. Class Charlie airspace also surrounds airports and it is generally from the surface to 4,000 feet MSL. These are airports that have an operational control tower, are serviced by a radar approach control and have a certain number of IFR operations or passenger enplanements. Each Class Charlie area is individually tailored. However, it is usually surface area with a five nautical mile radius, an outer circle with a 10 nautical mile radius that extends from 1,200 feet to 4,000 feet above the airport elevation. These altitudes are shown in MSL. This is Richmond International. Notice the solid magenta lines that surround the airport. This denotes Class Charlie. Notice the Charlie space boundaries. 42 over 14 at the bottom means a floor of 1,400 feet and a ceiling of 4,200 feet. You can also see the tower frequency in the chart. Class Delta airspace is generally airspace from the surface to 2,500 feet above the airport elevation. This is chartered in MSL. Class Delta surrounds airports that have an operational control tower. The configuration of each Class Delta airspace area is individually tailored, and when instrument procedures are published, the airspace is normally designed to contain the procedures. Here's Salisbury Airport. Notice the blue dashed lines that surround the airport. This denotates Class Delta. You can also see the airport information and of course tower frequency in the chart. And you can see the ceiling of the airspace. In this case, it goes from the surface to 2,500 feet MSL. Class Echo airspace is the controlled airspace not classified as Class Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, or Delta. A large amount of the airspace over the United States is designated as Class Echo airspace. In most areas, Class Echo airspace base is 1,200 feet AGL. In many other areas, the Class Echo airspace base is either the surface or 700 feet AGL. You can tell that Echo starts at 700 feet when the chart shows a gradient magenta line. Generally speaking, UAS pilots do not need authorization to fly in Class Echo airspace, even though it is controlled airspace. The exception to the rule is when Class Echo is surface area designated for an airport. Don't worry too much if you don't remember the different types of Class Echo airspace. All you really need to remember is that if the Class Echo is part of the surface area of an airport, you need authorization to fly there. Otherwise, you don't. The following graphics will explain a little bit better the different types of Class Echo and when you need to obtain authorization before flying there. (bright music) Here you can see Slate Run Airport. You can tell it is untowered because the symbol depicting the airport is magenta, not blue. Class Golf airspace is uncontrolled airspace. It is the portion of the airspace that has not been designated as Class Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, or Echo. Class Golf airspace goes from the surface to the base of the overlying Class Echo airspace. ATC has no authority or responsibility, but there are visual minimums that apply.

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