Airspaces and V-speed

Avionics airspaces, v-speeds and other important acronyms

Class A airspace

.Controlled airspace

. Extends from 18,000 feet MSL up to FL600

.Requires ATC clearance and only IFR can fly here

Class B airspace

.Controlled airspace (Blue sectional lines)

.Surrounds major airports (Big and Busy)

.Extends from the surface up to 10,000 feet MSL

.Requires ATC clearance for all aircraft

.Under VFR (3sm visibility and clear of clouds)

Class C airspace

.Controlled airspace (Solid magenta sectional lines)

.Surrounds airports with moderate traffic

.Extends from the surface up to 4,000 feet above airport elevation

.Requires ATC communication

.3 SM visibility, 1000 above, 500 below, 2000 horizontal from clouds

Class D airspace

.Controlled airspace (Dashed blue sectional lines)

.Requires ATC communication .Surrounds smaller airports.

.Surface to 2,500ft AGL

O.A.T

Outside air temperature is the free static air temperature and is expressed in either C or F

Standard Temperature

Standard Temperature is 15°C (59°F) at sea level pressure altitude and decreases by 2°C (4*'F) for each 1000 feet of altitude.

Pressure Altitude

Pressure Altitude is the altitude read from an altimeter when the barometric subscale has been set to 29.92 inches of mercury (1013 mb).

Class E Airspace

.Everywhere else for controlled airports

.No ATC needed for VFR

.VFR below 10,000 MSL (3-152 rule)

.Fuzzy Magenta ring= starts at 700’ AGL

.Fuzzy blue ring = starts at 1,200’ AGL

.Dashed magenta = starts at surface

Class G Airspace

.Uncontrolled airspace

.Surface to 700 or 1,200 ft AGL depending on area.

.No ATC required

.VFR below 1,200 AGL, Day 1 SM with no clouds, Night is 3-152 rule

FL600

Stands for flight level 60,000 ft AGL. Flight levels start at 18,000 feet MSL and go up in hundreds of feet (FL180 = 18,000 ft, FL250 = 25,000 ft, etc.).

MSL

Stands for Mean Sea Level. It's how altitude is measured on sectional charts and in aviation.

Example: If a mountain is 4,000 feet above sea level, its elevation is 4,000 ft MSL. By contrast, AGL = Above Ground Level (height above the terrain right below you).

NM

Stands for Nautical Miles (1 NM = 1.15 statute miles)

Mode C

Stands for Altitude-reporting transponder. This lets ATC see your altitude on their radar, not just your location and is required for Class A, B, and C airspace. Above 10,000 ft MSL and Within 30 NM of Class B (Mode C veil)

3-152 Rule

This is the VFR weather minimum in Class C, D, and E airspace below 10,000 ft MSL.

.3 SM visibility

.Stay 1,000 ft above clouds

.Stay 500 ft below clouds

.Stay 2,000 ft horizontally from clouds

VR for Tiger

Stands for rotation speed and is 60 KIAS

VS for Tiger

Stands for stall speed and is 57 KIAS

VSO

Stands for the stall speed in a landing configuration (flaps down and landing gear down) and is 52 KIAS

VX

Best angle of climb and you will gain the most altitude in the shortest horizontal distance. This is 76 KIAS for the Tiger

VY

Best rate of climb and you will gain the most amount of altitude in the shortest time (most efficient). This is 90 KIAS for the Tiger

VNE for Tiger

Stands for never exceed speed and it 172KIAS

VNO for tiger

Maximum structural cruising speed and it 142KIAS

VA

Maximum maneuvering speed and is 112KIAS for the Tiger

VFE

Maximum flap extended speed and is 103 KIAS