Stage 2 Lesson 9

Airspace

Explain Class A airspace.

Generally the airspace from 18,000 msl up to and including 60,000 msl (FL600). It is everywhere, and is over all other airspace. Has no depiction on charts. 

What are some restrictions for Class A airspace?

• You need: 2 way-radio, mode C, and ADS-B

• Need an instrument flight plan

• Mach one is airspeed

• No weather minimums because you have instrument flight plan

Explain Class B airspace.

Airspace from the surface to 10,000 feet MSL surrounding the nation's busiest airports in terms of airport operations or passenger enplanements. Usually looks like an upside down wedding cake, but is fully customizable. 

What are some restrictions/ requirements for flight in Class B airspace?

• Must be cleared into it

• Need a student pilot with an endorsement 

• Under 10,000ft MSL must not exceed 250 knots

• Beneath bravo is 200 knots

• 3 statute miles of visibility and remain clear of clouds

Explain Class C airspace.

Airspace from the surface to 4,000 feet above the airport elevation surrounding those airports. Inner Cylinder is 5 nautical miles wide, outer cylinder is 10 nautical miles wide and stars at 1,200 AGL and goes up to 4,000ft. They have an operational control tower, are survived by a radar approach control, and have certain number of IFR operations or passenger enplanements

What are some restrictions/ limitations for Class C airspace?

• Two way radio- must hear your tail number to enter

• Mode C, ADS-B out, and transponder needed

• Need a student pilot certificate

• At or below 10,000 feet 250 knots

Explain Class D airspace.

Generally airspace from the surface to 2,500 feet above the airport elevation surrounding those airports that have an operational control tower. Airspace is 4 nautical miles Radius around airport

Explain Class E airspace.

Large amount of the airspace over the United States, typically extends up to, but not including, 18,000 feet MSL 

• The lower limit of Class A airspace

• All airspace above FL 600 is Class E airspace

What are some restrictions/limitations for Class E airspace?

Below 10,000ft no requirement on equipment

• Since echo does go up to overlying airspace (Alpha at 18,000)

• At 10,000 need ADS-B out and Transponders 

Explain Class G airspace.

The airspace that has not been designated as Class A, B, C, D, or E. ATC has no authority or responsibility to control air traffic, pilot should remember their are visual flight rules (VRF) minimums that apply to class G airspace. 

Ground is golf airspace

• Up to but not 1,200ft

• Can be up to 14,500

What are Special Use Airspace?

(SAO) is designation for airspace in which certain activities must be confined or limitations may be imposed on aircraft operations that are not part of those activities

What are the Special Airspaces?

MCPRAWN:

• M:ilitary operation area (MOA)

• C:ontrolled firing area 

• P:rophibited (P###)

• R:estricted (R###)

• A:lert area (A###)

• W:arning area 

  • Off the coast of US

  • Kind of like a coastal MOA

• N:ational security areas 

  • NOTAM with at lateral and virtual identify of where to stay out of

What are Federal Airways?

The primary means for routing aircraft operating under IFR. Includes the airspace within parallel boundary lines 4 NM to each side of the centerline and a floor of 1,200 AGL unless otherwise specified.

What are Victor Airways?

Provide standardized, charted routes that help pilots navigate safely and efficiently between radio navigation aids (like VORs) when flying below 18,000 feet MSL.

The airways are designated on sectional and IFR low altitude en route charts with the letter “V” followed by a number (e.g., “V23”). Typically are given odd numbers when oriented north/south and even numbers when oriented east/west. 

What is Area Navigation (RNAV)

RNAV Routes have been established in both the low-altitude and the high-altitude structures 

• High altitude RNAV routes are identified with a "Q" prefix (except the Q-routes in the Gulf of America) 

• low altitude RNAV routes are identified with a "T" prefix. 

• RNAV routes and data are depicted in aeronautical blue.

What is a random RNAV route?

Direct routes, based on RNAV capability, between waypoints defined in terms of latitude/longitude coordinates, degree-distance fixes, or offsets from established routes/airways at a specified distance and direction. Radar monitoring by ATC is required

What are Preferred IFR routes?

A published, recommended routing between two airports to improve the efficiency, predictability, and safety of the IFR system.

Where are low and high altitudes Preferred routes listed?

In the Airport/Facility Directory (A/FD).

What is Tower En Route Control (TEC)?

An ATC program that uses overlapping approach control radar services to provide IFR clearances. By using TEC, a pilot is routed by airport control towers.

What is purpose for an IFR en route flight chart?

Navigate within the lateral limits of a designated airway at an altitude consistent with the ATC clearance. 

What is the instrument equivalent to a sectional chart?

IFR low altitude en route chart

Where is airport information provided?

Provided in the legend, and the symbols used for the airport name, elevation, and runway length are similar to the sectional chart presentation.

What indicates that a airport has an instrument approach system?

At airports with blue or green symbols, while the brown airport symbol denotes airports that do not have instrument approaches.

What does a star indicate?

Part-time nature of tower operations, Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) frequencies, part-time or on request lighting facilities, and part-time airspace classifications

What is the minimum en route altitudes (MEA)?

Ensures a navigation signal strong enough for adequate reception by the aircraft navigation (NAV) receiver and obstacle clearance along the airway. 

• The obstacle clearance, within the limits of the airway, is typically 1,000 feet in non-mountainous areas and 2,000 feet in designated mountainous areas. 

What is the minimum obstruction clearance altitude (MOCA)?

Provides the same obstruction clearance as an MEA; however, the NAV signal reception is ensured only within 22 NM of the closest NAVAID defining the route. 

How is the MOCA depcited on AeroNav Products charts?

 by a leading asterisk: “*3400”

What is the Minimum Reception Altitude (MRA)?

Identifies the lowest altitude at which an intersection can be determined from an off-course NAVAID. 

What is the Minimum Crossing Altitude (MCA)?

Charted when a higher MEA route segment is approached. Usually indicated when a pilot is approaching steeply rising terrain and obstacle clearance and/or signal reception is compromised. 

What is Maximum Authorized Altitude (MAA)?

The highest altitude at which the airway can be flown with assurance of receiving adequate navigation signals. 

• Chart depictions appear as "MAA-15000."

What is Terminal Procedures Publication (TPP)?

Enables pilots to guide their aircraft in the airport area. 

• Whether departing or arriving, these procedures exist to make the controllers’ and pilots’ jobs safer and more efficient. 

• Available in booklets by region (published by AeroNav Products), the TPP includes approach procedures, STARs, Departure Procedures (DPs), and airport diagrams.

What are the two types of Departure Procedures?

• Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODP) 

• SIDs (Standard Instrument Departure).

Both types of DPs provide obstacle clearance protection to aircraft in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), while reducing communications and departure delays. 

What is Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODP)?

To provide a safe climb path that ensures obstacle clearance during departure.

• you’re departing without radar vectors.

• When terrain/obstacles are a concern and you want to ensure clearance

What is SIDs?

Provide a structured, ATC-approved route from the airport to the enroute environment for traffic management.

What is Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STARs)?

Depict prescribed routes to transition the instrument pilot from the en route structure to a fix in the terminal area from which an instrument approach can be conducted. 

• If a pilot does not have the appropriate STAR, write “No STAR” in the flight plan. 

What is the Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP)?

Chart provides the method to descend and land safely in low visibility conditions. Maneuvers, including altitude changes, course corrections, and other limitations, are prescribed in the IAP

What are the six main instrument approach chart are?

Margin identification, pilot briefing (and notes), plan view, profile view, landing minimums, and airport diagram

What does the Margin Identifier tell us?

At the top and bottom of the chart, depicts the airport location and procedure identification.

What does the pilot briefing tell us?

Located at the top of the chart and provides the pilot with information required to complete the published approach procedure. 

• Included in the pilot briefing are: 

  • the NAVAID providing approach guidance, 

  • its frequency, 

  • the final approach course, 

  • and runway information. 

In the Pilot Briefing, when a triangle with a “T” appears in the notes section what doe it mean?

In the Pilot Briefing, when a triangle containing an “A” in the notes section appears what does it mean?

It signifies the airport has nonstandard IFR alternate minimums. 

In the Pilot Briefing, when a triangle containing an “A” NA appears in the notes section what doe it mean?

It signifies that Alternate Minimums are Not Authorized due to unmonitored facility or the absence of weather reporting service.

What is in the Plan View?

A graphical overhead view of the procedure and depicts the routes that guide the pilot from the en route segments to the initial approach fix (IAF).

What does the Inverted V with a dot in it depict?

Depicts an obstacle. The highest obstacle is indicated with a bolder, larger version of the same symbol

What does an “I” in front of the NAVAID identifier mean in the NAVAID box ?

Indicates a localizer

Where are the ADF, DME, or RADAR approach requiemrnts found?

In the Plan view

How is the main procedure or final approach indicated in the plan view?

By a thick, solid line

How is A DME arc, which is part of the main procedure course depicted?

also represented as a thick, solid line

How is a feeder route depicted?

a medium line and provides heading, altitude, and distance information. 

How are radials depicted?

Are shown by thin lines

How is the Missed approach holding pattern track depicted?

Represented with a thin, dashed line. 

How are arrival holding patterns depicted?

As thin, solid lines.

What is a Terminal Arrival Area (TAA)?

The design objective of the TAA procedure is to provide a transition method for arriving aircraft with GPS/RNAV equipment. 

• TAAs also eliminate or reduce the need for feeder routes, departure extensions, and procedure turns or course reversal. 

What are the three standard TAA areas?

Straight-in, Left base, right base

What does a hold in lieu of a procedure turn Provide?

Aircraft with an extended distance for the necessary descent gradient. 

What are the three different types of course reversals?

A 45°/180° procedure turn, a holding pattern in lieu of procedure turn, or a teardrop procedure.

What is the Profile View?

Depiction of the procedure from the side and illustrates the vertical approach path altitudes, headings, distances, and fixes.

• The view includes the minimum altitude and the maximum distance for the procedure turn, altitudes over prescribed fixes, distances between fixes, and the missed approach procedure. 

• The profile view aids in the pilot’s interpretation of the IAP.

• The profile view is not drawn to scale.

What does the precision approach glideslope (GS) intercept alittuded do?

The GS intercept altitude is the minimum altitude for glideslope interception after completing the procedure turn.

• It’s shown on approach charts by an altitude number and a “zigzag” line.

• Applies to precision approaches (e.g., ILS), and—unless otherwise noted—also serves as the minimum altitude to cross the FAF when the glideslope is inoperative or not used.

• Precision approach profiles also show:

  • Glideslope angle of descent

  • Threshold crossing height (TCH)

  • Glideslope altitude at the outer marker (OM)

for nonprecision approaches, how do you know when to when the final descent is initiated and the final segment begins?

At either the FAF or the final approach point (FAP). 

The FAF is identified by use of the Maltese cross symbol in the profile view

What is the Visual Descent Point (VDP)?

A defined point on the final approach course of a nonprecision straight-in approach procedure. Identified on the profile view of the approach chart by the symbol “V.”

When and how is the Missed Approach Point (MAP) determined for ILS and nonprecision approaches?

• For the ILS, the MAP occurs at the Decision Altitude/Decision Height (DA/DH).

• For nonprecision approaches, the MAP is determined by:

  • Timing from the FAF when the navigation aid is away from the airport,

  • A fix or NAVAID when it is on the field, or

  • Waypoints defined by GPS or VOR/DME RNAV.

How is the minimum altiuded depcited in the profile view?

with the altitude underscored

How are mandatory altitudes depicted in the profile view?

 the altitude both underscored and overscored

What is the Vertical Descent Angle (VDA)?

Found on nonprecision approach charts provides the pilot with information required to establish a stabilized approach descent from the FAF or stepdown fix to the TCH.

What are stepdown fixes in nonprecision approaches, and how are they used?

• Stepdown fixes allow a lower MDA after passing an obstruction between the FAF and the airport.

• They can be identified by a NAVAID, NAVAID fix, waypoint, or radar, and are shown on charts by a hash-marked line (‒‒‒‒).

• Usually one stepdown fix exists between the FAF and MAP, but there may be several.

• If a stepdown fix cannot be identified, the minimum altitude at that fix becomes the MDA for the entire approach.

What does the Landing Minimums tell us?

Sets forth the lowest altitude and visibility requirements for the approach, whether precision or nonprecision, straight-in or circling, or radar vectored.

What altitudes are used for precision vs. nonprecision approaches?

• Precision approaches use a Decision Height (DH), referenced to Height Above Threshold (HAT).

• Nonprecision approaches use a Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA), referenced to feet MSL.

How is visibility depicted in landing minimums?

Provided in statute miles or runway visual range (RVR), which is reported in hundreds of feet.

• If visibility in statute miles is indicated, an altitude number, hyphen, and a whole or fractional number appear; for example, 530-1, which indicates “530 feet MSL” and 1 statute mile visibility. 

What should a Pilot do with the Airport Diagram prior to all flights?

Take the time and study the airport layout for all of the airports that they intend to land, including those that may be used as an alternate, identify critical times and locations on the taxi route

How are GPS-based approach minimums published on charts?

• To avoid duplication, GPS, WAAS, and LAAS minimums are published on the same chart as LNAV/VNAV.

• Other equipment types may be authorized if listed in the minima notes at the front of the TPP (Terminal Procedures Publication).

What approaches can use charts titled “RNAV RWY XX”?

• “RNAV RWY XX” charts may be used by aircraft whose navigation systems meet the required RNP values for each segment.

• These charts can include up to four lines of minimums:

  • GLS (Global Landing System)

  • WAAS/LAAS

  • LNAV/VNAV

  • LNAV (and sometimes circling)

What is LNAV/VNAV, and how is it used in RNAV approaches?

• LNAV/VNAV provides lateral and vertical guidance, similar in performance to barometric VNAV (BARO-VNAV).

• Some RNAV procedures may include a final stepdown fix and be published without vertical navigation on a separate RNAV chart.