01-E: National Airspace System

Knowledge

K1: Airclasses and associated requirements and limitations

rules of operations
- Class A
  - IFR only
  - requires transitioning to FLs (flight levels) and setting the altitmeter to 29.92 inHg
- Class B
  - require PPL or student pilot license with appropriate logbook endorsement
  - require the same equipment as Class C plus an ancoding altimeter
- Class C
  - require the following equipment
    - a 4096-code transponder with Mode C encoding capability, and
    - ADS-B out
    - two-way radio
  - entry requirement
    - two-way clearance communication (callsign acknowledge/said by ATC controller), but not ATC clearance
  - entry procedure
    - contact approach while in procedural outer area
  - usual extension
    - 4000 ft AGL
  - charted regulatory area
    - 5NM core radius
    - additional 5NM shelf (totally 10 NM radius)
  - procedural outer area
    - uncharted area surrounding the charted 10NM radius
    - 20NM radius (and shows the white VFR sectional boxes of appropriate approach frequency)
    - used to establish separation and two-way radio communication ATC prior to entering the entrance-regulated charted area
  - operating from a non-tower satellite airport within Class C airspace
    - requires to contact ATC, preferrably on the ground (via phone if needed), but at least as soon as practicable after take-off
- Class D
  - same entry requirements as Class C
    - two-way communication established / call sign stated by ATC
  - entry procedure
    - contact tower prior to entry
  - becomes class E or a combination of class E and G during hours of inactivity
  - lateral dimension is based on the instrument procedures for which the controlled airspace is established
  - no minimum pilot certificate is specified, i.e., students may operate withing Class D with general endorsements
  - usual extension
    - 5NM radius
- above national wildlife refuges, etc. (big game refuges, game ranges, wilflife ranges administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service)
  - minimum altitude: 2000 AGL
maximum airspeed (91.117)
- no rules: above 10'000 MSL
- 1) 250-rule:
  - 1a) at or below 10'000 MSL or
  - 1b) in Class B up to 10'000 MSL
- 2) 200-rule:
  - 2a) Class C and D, but only in the C and D airspace portion below 2500 AGL within 4NM radius of the primary airport
  - 2b) below or through Class B
- can go faster anywhere if authorized or needed for safety
transponder and ADS-B out
- FAA has mirrored the requirements, i.e., transponder and ADS-B out are required at the same places
- required areas 1) in Class A, B, C 2) above 10'000 MSL and simulatenously above 2500 AGL 3) in Mode-C veil (30NM around B) below 10'000 MSL 4) above charted footprint of C up to 10'000 MSL
- not required
  - below airspace shelves
- modes
  - existing
    - mode A (2D location)
    - mode C (mode A plus altitude)
    - mode S (mode C plus additional info)
  - required
    - mode C
VFR routes through higher-class airspace
- without actual passage through the higher-class airspace, thus not requiring clearance
  - VFR Flyways
    - suggested routes legally outside of the higher-class airspace
  - VFR Corridors
    - higher-class airspace designs that leave "airspace" holes at certain altitudes
- passage through the higher-class airspace, thus requiring clearance
  - VFR Transition Routes
    - name to easily request VFR passage clearace
  - Special Flight Rules Area
    - e.g., exclusion areas
      - Hudson River Route and East River Route
visibility and cloud clearance
- Basic VFR Cloud Clearance and Visibility (ground and flight visibility) / Minimum Safe Cloud Distance (91.155)
  - Class A: IFR only, thus n/a
  - Class B: 3 SM vis, clear of clouds (less restrictive, as ATC ensures separation)
  - Class C: 3 SM vis, 500 below/1000 above/2000 horizontally (default)
  - Class D: 3 SM vis, 500/1000/2000 (default)
  - Class E:
    - below 10,000 MSL: 3 SM vis, 500/1000/2000 (default)
    - above 10,000 MSL: 5 SM vis, 1000/1000/1SM
  - Class G:
    - below 1200 AGL (on question specifically asks for 700 AGL under a 700-base Echo)
      - day: 1 SM, clear of clouds
      - night: 3 SM, 500/1000/2000 (default)
    - above 1200 AGL
      - day: 1 SM, 500/1000/2000
      - night: 3 SM, 500/1000/2000 (default)

Figure: VFR Weather Minimums

Aerobatic maneuvers
- require
  - 3 SM of visibility
  - altitude of at least 1500 AGL
- is prohibited
  - over congested areas of a city, town or settlement
- are permitted in
  - Class E (outside of Federal Airways / V-Airways), but not below 1500ft
Terrain clearance / Mininum Safe Altitude (91.119)
- Congested: 1000ft above the highest obstacle and 2000ft around it [atop and lateral clerance the same as clouds]
- Uncongested, but non-sparsely populated land: 500ft above the surface
- Sparsely populated or water: 0ft, however maintain > 500ft distance from persons, vessels, or structures
Minimum safe altitude
- anywhere
  - an altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface
- congested area
  - 1000 ft above the highest obstacle within a 2000 ft radius of the aircraft
- over other than a congested area
  - an altitude of 500 AGL, except over open water or a sparsely populated area, which requires 500 feet from any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure
FAA advisory circulars
- are obtainable from the Government Printing Office
- correspond to the part number
  - AC 60 complement part 61 (airmen)
  - AC 70 complement part 71 (airspace)
  - AC 90 complement part 91 (airtraffic)

K2: Chart symbols

VFR sectional
- general practice
  - read the legend on the New York Map
- definitions
  - shelf = outer area
- airspace visualizations and annotations
  - floors and ceilings indicated in MSL
  - standard airspace classes
    - Class A (Altitude)
      - not annotated
    - Class B (Busy)
      - Solid blue line, inside-direction is obivous as its a circle
      - Visualization only provides information about inside airspace
    - Class C (Cities)
      - Solid magenta line, inside-direction is obivous as its a circle
      - Visualization only provides information about inside airspace
    - Class D (Busy)
      - Dashed blue line, inside-direction is obivous as its a circle
      - Visualization only provides information about inside airspace
      - The questions consider "dashed" = "segmented" (a segemnted blue circle = D, not B (which is also composed of circle segments, but whatever...))
    - Class E (Empty) with surface base, usually surrounded by 700ft Class E
      - Dashed, magenta line, usually within thick, gradient-shaded line (e.g., KBHB)
      - On the inside, Class E
        
        starts at the surface
        
        extends up to 18000 MSL, unless overridden
    - Class E (Empty) with 700ft base and nearly always surrounded by Echo with 1200 ft base
      - En Route Domestic Airspace
      - Magenta, thick, gradient line, inside-direction is the more transparent side
      - Visualization provides information about both inside and outside airspace
      - On the inside, ECHO
        
        starts at 700ft AGL, below from surface to 700ft AGL is Airspace G
        
        extends up to 18000 MSL, unless overridden by a more restrictive Airspace
      - On the outside, ECHO
        
        starts at 1200ft AGL, below from surface to 1200ft AGL is Airspace G
        
        extends up to 18000ft MSL, unless overriden
        
        unless a literal "Class G" annotation states that Class G is on the outside
    - Airspace E (Empty) with 1200ft base and surrounded by Golf (EXTREMELY RARE, I didn't find an example)
      - Blue, thick, gradient line, inside-direction is the more transparent side
      - On the inside, ECHO
        
        starts at 1200ft AGL, below from surface to 1200 AGL is Airspace G
        
        extends up to 18000 MSL, unless overridden by a more restrictive Airspace
      - On the outside, GOLF
    - Airspace E (Empty) in Low-Altitude Federal Airways (Victor Airways)
      - Class E unless overriden by higher-precedence airspace
      - start at 1200 AGL
      - extend up to 18000 MSL
      - extend 4 NM into on each side of the center line (8 NM in total)
      - connect VORs
    - Airspace E (Empty) with heightened baes
      - blue step-cornered lined denoting Class E base increase from one side to the other
      - Good visualizations:
      - https://www.boldmethod.com/learn-to-fly/airspace/class-e-airspace/
      - https://www.boldmethod.com/learn-to-fly/airspace/class-g-airspace-rules-explained/
      - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTh-uX2yV5c
    - Airspace G (Ground)
      - Not annotated, only clear by looking at Class E annotations
- airport
  - color
    - blue: towered
    - magenta: untowered
  - tickmarks
    - fuel available
  - star atop of the airport symbol
    - rotating beacon in use
  - boxed airport name means a Special Traffic Rule has been established, e.g.,
    - different traffic pattern
- obstacles
  - man-made
    - single
    - small blue numbers next to triangle, tower, or wind turbine, ground obstacle
    - four emanting light sparks indicated obstacle lighting
- maximum elevation figure (MEF), in hundreds of feet
  - Big blue digit and small blue digit
  - including terrain and man-made obstacles
  - one MEF per Quadrant
  - Quadrant: ticked lines, 30x30 minutes of latitude and longitude

K3: Special use airspace (SUA), special flight rules areas (SFRA), temporary flight restrictions (TFR), and other airspace areas

SUA	visualization	code	rules
Prohibited Area	hatched blued border on inward side of a blue line	P-xxx	always no-fly, using agency may permit operations.
Restricted Area	hatched blued border on both sides of a blue line	R-xxx	no-fly during activation or posted hours, weaponry in use, should not be accomplished w/o authorization from the controlling agency, can always double-check with ATC to be sure
Warning Area (over open water, 3NM outward from the coast)	hatched blued border on both sides of a blue line over open waters	W-xxx	no-fly during activation
Military Operations Area	hatched magenta border on inward side of a magenta line	MOA	legally allowed to fly even through an active MOA, but should be avoided by checking activation status prior to flight, contain acrobatic or abrupt military flying but no weaponry
Alert Area	sames as MOA	A-xxx	no restrictions
National Security Area	dashed magenta line	NSA-xxx	no restrictions, but to be avoided
Special Flight Rules Areas (Washington DC, NYC Hudson River)	blocked area inward of a blue line	SFRA	specific training required
Terminal Radar Service Area (TRSA)	solid line	TRSA	optional, but recommended ATC approach procedure, provides sequencing and separation
VFR Flyways	blue thick double-ended arrow	-	not binding but recommended
VFR Transition Routes	magenta hollow double-ended arrow	-	requires ATC clearance, marks transition route to be expected
Military Training Routes (MTR)	gray pathway	V/IRxxx	no restriction, VR = visual route, IR = instrument route, three digits: above 1500 ft AGL, four digits: below 1500 ft AGL, expect military training > 250 kts, > 5NM on either side
Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ)	dot-clouded magenta border	-	-

K4: Special visual flight rules (VFR) requirements

minimum weather condition required for special VFR
- used to leave an airport when conditions are below VFR and above IFR minimums
- can be obtained from the tower
- requirements
  - airport must be in controlled airspace
  - in Class D
    - 1 mile of flight visibility
    - clear of clouds
  - during daytime:
    - private pilot or above required
  - nighttime (between sunset and sunrise):
    - private pilot and above required
    - IFR rating on the pilot required
    - IFR equipment on the airplane required

Risks

R1: Various classes and types of airspace

Skills

S1: Identify and comply with the requirements for basic VFR minimums and flying in particular classes of airspace

S2: Correctly identify airspace and operate in accordance with ssociated communication and equipment requirements

S3: Identify the requirements for operating in SUA or within a TFR; identify and comply with special air traffic rules and SFRA operations, if applicable