Module IV FAA Drone Exam

Class B Airspace: "Big City"

airports marked by solid blue lines, require airspace authorization.

Class C Airspace: "City"

airports marked by solid magenta lines, require airspace authorization.

110/SFC means

controlled airspace from the surface up to 11,000 ft. MSL.

110/20 means

controlled airspace from 2,000 ft. MSL up to 11,000 ft. MSL.

Class D Airspace: "Diminutive" or "Dime-Sized"

airports marked by dashed blue circles or sets of lines, requires airspace authorization.

[25] means

Class D controlled airspace from the surface up to 2,500 ft. MSL.

[-25] means

Class D controlled airspace from the surface up to (but not including) 2,500 ft. MSL.

When a Class D airport tower is closed

the airspace is no longer Class D. It becomes Class E or Class G, depending on the specific airport

Class E Airspace: "Elemental" or "Everywhere,"

is controlled airspace.

Class E Airspace at the surface is marked by

a magenta-dashed circle or set of lines

1. If it’s a Class E airport that’s surrounded by a closed off circle or circle with enclosed extensions _____.

2. If it’s only an extension area______.

1. you need authorization.

2. you do not need an airspace authorization but should still exercise extreme caution.

Class E Airspace starting at 700 ft. AGL is marked by

a thick, fuzzy magenta shaded set of lines. You do not need authorization to fly in this type of Class E.

Class E airspace starting at 1,200 ft. AGL

isn't marked on a chart. Meaning, if you’re looking at a sectional chart without any class of airspace indicated, (most of the airspace in the U.S.), it’s Class G airspace from the surface up to 1,200 ft. AGL, and then it becomes Class E controlled airspace.

Class G airspace

 uncontrolled airspace, meaning that as long as there aren’t other special use airspace considerations or NOTAM / TFR considerations, you do not need additional authorization.

Special Use airspace is defined by

areas in which certain activities must be confined or where limitations may be imposed on aircraft operations that are not part of those activities.

Prohibited areas are marked with

 “P” and a number; no flying allowed.

Restricted areas are marked with

“R” and a number and outlined with blue hash marks.

Restricted areas

you might find unusual, often invisible, hazards to aircraft like artillery firing, aerial gunnery, or guided missiles. Drone pilots can fly in Restricted areas, but you need to contact the controlling agency in charge of the area for specific permission.

Warning areas are similar to Restricted areas but marked

 “W”

Military Operations Areas

marked with MOA on a chart. In an MOA, each pilot is responsible for collision avoidance

How to find out if an MOA is “hot”, or active.

refer to the border of the Sectional Chart and then contact the controlling agency for more information.

Alert areas

depicted on Sectional charts with an “A” followed by a number to inform nonparticipating pilots of areas that may contain a high volume of pilot training or an unusual type of aerial activity.

you can fly in an Alert area, but you should exercise extreme caution and each pilot is responsible for collision avoidance in an Alert area.

A Military Training Route (MTR)

used by the military for conducting low-altitude, high-speed flight training at speeds in excess of 250 knots (that's almost 300 mph).

On a Sectional Chart, MTRs are identified as either IFR (IR) or VFR (VR), followed by a number

MTRs with four numbers denote

routes flown at 1,500 ft. AGL and below. At such a low altitude, this can present challenges to an unmanned aircraft.

MTRs with three numbers denote

routes flown with at least one segment above 1,500 ft. AGL.

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR)

restriction on an area of airspace due to the movement of government VIPs, special events, natural disasters, or other unusual events.

A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM)

describes airspace information that is time-critical and either of a temporary nature or not sufficiently known in advance to permit publication on aeronautical charts or in other operational publications.