Airspace (For VFR Pilots ✈️)

00:00 Intro
The national airspace system divides the atmosphere into unique sectors defined by specific lateral and vertical boundaries.

00:32 Controlled Airspace:

Class A
From FL180 to FL600, covers the entire 48 contiguous states and Alaska up to 12NM offshore.
IFR clearance required to enter.

Class B
Around very busy airports like JFK or LAX. Shaped like an upside-down wedding cake.
Thick blue lines on sectional charts.
ATC clearance required to enter.
VFR minimums = clear of clouds and + 3SM visibility.
Aircraft must be equipped with two-way radio, a mode C transponder and ADS-B Out.

Class C
Around slightly less busy airports than class bravo but still busy enough to require radar approach assistance. Also shaped like an upside-down wedding cake, usually with just the inner shell and one outer shell.
Thick magenta line on sectional charts.
Two-way communication required to enter.
VFR minimums = 500 ft below the clouds, 1000 ft above, 2000 ft horizontal and + 3SM visibility.
Aircraft must be equipped with a two-way radio, a transponder with automatic altitude reporting capability and ADS-B Out.

Class D
Around smaller airports, that still require a control tower. Usually cylindrical shape.
Dotted blue line on sectional charts.
Two-way communication required to enter.
VFR minimums = 500 ft below the clouds, 1000 ft above, 2000 ft horizontal and + 3SM visibility.
Aircraft must be equipped with a two-way radio, a transponder with automatic altitude reporting capability and ADS-B Out.

Class E
Any controlled airspace that isn’t A, B, C or D.
Dotted magenta line indicates echo starts at the surface.
Magenta vignette gradient indicates echo starts at 700ft AGL.
Blue vignette gradient indicates echo starts at 1,200ft AGL.
If none of the above is shown, echo starts at 14,500ft MSL.
VFR minimums below 10,000 ft MSL = 500 ft below the clouds, 1000 ft above, 2000 ft horizontal and + 3SM visibility.
VFR minimums above 10,000 ft MSL = 1000 ft below the clouds, 1000 ft above, 1 SM horizontal and + 5SM visibility.
Aircraft must be equipped with a transponder with automatic altitude reporting capability and ADS-B out if above 10,000ft MSL and 1,200 AGL.

04:55 Uncontrolled Airspace:

Class G
Any part of the airspace that hasn’t been designated as A, B, C, D or E. I
Starts at the surface wherever another airspace isn’t present and extends up to where Class E starts.
Not depicted on sectional charts.
Anyone can fly in class Golf and no specific aircraft equipment is required.
VFR minimums below 1,200 ft AGL day = Clear of clouds and + 1 SM visibility.
VFR minimums between 1,200 ft AGL and 10,000 MSL day = 500 ft below the clouds, 1000 ft above, 2000 ft horizontal and + 1SM visibility.
VFR minimums below 10,000 MSL night = 500 ft below the clouds, 1000 ft above, 2000 ft horizontal and + 3SM visibility.
VFR minimums above 10,000 ft MSL and 1,200 AGL day or night = 1000 ft below the clouds, 1000 ft above, 1 SM horizontal and + 5SM visibility.

06:23 Special Use Airspace:

Prohibited areas (Regulatory airspace)
Blue hashed shape with the letter P followed by a series of numbers inside on sectional charts.
Do not enter.

Restricted areas (Regulatory airspace)
Do not enter those areas without prior approval from the controlling agency if the area is active.
Blue hashed shape with the letter R followed by a series of numbers inside on sectional charts.

Warning areas (Non-regulatory airspace)
No permission required to enter them, exercise extreme caution.
Blue hashed shape with the letter W followed by a series of numbers inside on sectional charts.

MOAs, or Military Operations Areas (Non-regulatory airspace)
Obtain traffic advisory from controlling agency if area is active. No permission required to enter if inactive
Magenta hashed shape with the name of the MOA on sectional charts.

Alert areas (Non-regulatory airspace)
Exercise extreme caution.
Magenta hashed shape with the letter A followed by a series of numbers inside on sectional charts.

Control firing areas (Non-regulatory airspace)
Not charted.

National security areas
Avoid them. Thick dashed magenta lines on sectional charts.

09:06 Other Airspace:

Airport advisory/information services areas
Military training routes (Thin grey lines on charts)
TFRs, or Temporary Flight Restrictions (Check NOTAMs)
Parachute jumping areas
Published VFR routes
TRSA, or Terminal Radar Service Areas
Special Air Traffic Rules (SATR) and Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA)
Weather Reconnaissance Area (WRA)
Special conservation areas