Note: This article does not provide legal advice. Please consult an attorney to verify the accuracy of the information contained herein.
Introduction to Class D Airspace
Class D is the simplest airspace to understand so we’ll have you through this in just a few minutes.
Class D airports need an operational control tower to coordinate airport operations. Remember this important distinction later when we introduce Class E airspace, which don’t necessarily have an Air Traffic Control Tower.
Class D is unique and easy to identify because its vertical ceiling altitude is marked with a bold, blue-boxed number on the chart. Likewise, its boundaries are indicated by a blue-dashed line.
Generally, Class D extends from surface to 2,500 feet above the airport elevation, with its ceiling expressed in hundreds of feet MSL. In this example the altitude is [66] or 6,600 feet MSL. If there were a minus ceiling value here it would indicate surface up to but not including that value. It’s an important distinction and you may see a question on the exam using the minus indicator.
Refer to the Sectional Aeronautical Chart found in the Chart Supplement FAA-CT-8080-2H. During the exam you can refer to this chart to remind you of how to identify Class D.
Not Always a Perfect Circle
Class D only has one circular ring to identify its horizontal boundaries. Often that ring will have rectangular shapes extending out or circular shapes cutting in. See the first image in this article for an example. Those are Class D extensions and are designed to protect IFR aircraft on arrival and departure.
Other airspace could modify the Class D airspace as well. Such as when another, typically larger Class B airspace intrudes on Class D boundaries.
How to Fly Your Drone in Class D Airspace
Authorization is required to fly an sUAS within Class D airspace. Until recently a waiver had to be requested, but now you can usually get auto-approval using apps which support LAANC, such as Aloft. From that app’s airspace view you would drop a pin at the desired location and tap on “Get Authorization” to begin the request process. Airspace view shows the maximum altitude that available at each location within the airspace, such as 50′ or 300′ as shown below.
Need More Information?
If you still have questions on airspace check out our Part 107 courses and get certified as a commercial drone pilot.
Note: This article does not provide legal advice. Please consult an attorney to verify the accuracy of the information contained herein.
Introduction to Class C Airspace
Generally, Class C extends from surface to 4,000 feet above the airport elevation, with its ceiling expressed in hundreds of feet MSL. For example, in the image below 4,200 feet is written as 42. The horizontal radius of the inner shelf generally extends five nautical miles (NM). An outer circle with a ten NM radius extends from 1,200 feet to 4,000 feet above the airport elevation.
This upside down wedding cake configuration allows arriving and departing aircraft to remain in Class C airspace while separated from other aircraft.
Class C is indicated by two solid magenta concentric circles. Vertical boundaries are indicated by two bold magenta numbers, one over the other, separated by a bold horizontal line. i.e. 42/SFC or 42/15 as shown in the image below. Altitudes in Class C are inclusive, meaning they go up to and include the indicated altitude.
Not Always a Perfect Circle
The shape of Class C airspace isn’t always circular and may follow the shape of terrain since Class C airports are serviced by radar and therefore limited to radar coverage.
How to Fly Your Drone in Class C Airspace
A remote pilot must receive authorization before operating in Class C airspace. The most likely area of operation would be within the inner circle since it begins at surface level. Since the outer ring begins at 1,200 MSL it’s not likely a drone would be operating in this area.
Prep for the Part 107 Exam
Refer to the Sectional Aeronautical Chart found in the Chart Supplement FAA-CT-8080-2H. During the exam you can refer to this chart to remind you of how to identify Class C.
Need More Information?
If you still have questions on airspace check out our Part 107 courses and get certified as a commercial drone pilot.
Note: This article does not provide legal advice. Please consult an attorney to verify the accuracy of the information contained herein.
Introduction to Class B Airspace
Class B airspace surrounds the busiest and largest airports. Generally, airspace is from the surface to 10,000 feet mean sea level (MSL), with its ceiling expressed in hundreds of feet MSL. For example, in the image below 9,000 feet is written as 90 and surface is written as SFC.
There are two markings you need to know to identify Class B airspace – horizontal and vertical.
Horizontal boundaries are marked with a thick, blue line and made up of many shapes; circular, square, radial, etc.
Vertical boundaries are marked with a bold, blue number separated by a thick horizontal line. The top number represents the ceiling of Class B airspace in hundreds of feet MSL. The bottom number represents the floor of Class B airspace, also expressed in hundreds of feet MSL. So 90/SFC would mean the surface up to and including 9,000 feet MSL. 90/15 would mean the Class B includes airspace from 1,500 feet MSL up to and including 9,000 feet MSL. Altitudes are inclusive so the number shown is included in the airspace.
How to Fly Your Drone in Class B Airspace
A remote pilot must receive authorization before operating in Class B airspace. The most likely area of operation would be within the inner circle since it begins at surface level. Since the outer shapes begin at much higher altitudes it’s not likely a drone would be operating in these areas.
Prep for the Part 107 Exam
Refer to the Sectional Aeronautical Chart found in the Chart Supplement FAA-CT-8080-2H. During the exam you can refer to this chart to remind you of how to identify Class B.
Need More Information?
If you still have questions on airspace check out our Part 107 courses and get certified as a commercial drone pilot.
Note: This article does not provide legal advice. Please consult an attorney to verify the accuracy of the information contained herein.
Introduction to Class G Airspace
Anywhere that is not Class A, B, C, D, or E is designated as Class G airspace. It is uncharted and uncontrolled airspace.
Class G extends from the surface to the base of the overlying Class E airspace. It is exclusive, meaning it goes up to but does not include the floor elevation of the Class E. So, if Class E begins at 1,200 feet MSL then Class G ends at 1,199 feet MSL.
How to Fly Your Drone in Class G Airspace
Class G is uncontrolled and therefore a remote pilot does not require ATC authorization to fly in this airspace. That’s pretty much all that drone pilots and those preparing for the Part 107 exam need to know about Class G.
Need More Information?
If you still have questions on airspace check out our Part 107 courses and get certified as a commercial drone pilot.
Note: This article does not provide legal advice. Please consult an attorney to verify the accuracy of the information contained herein.
Introduction to Class E Airspace
Class E is the most common airspace in the United States, the most difficult to understand, and the most import to get right when determining where you can operate a drone. The toughest part in understanding Class E is the various types of Class E airspace – there is not just Class E. The following article will break it down for you.
The Basics
Class E airspace is the controlled airspace not classified as Class A, B, C, or D airspace. In most areas, the Class E airspace base is 1,200 feet above ground level (AGL). In other areas, it is either the surface or 700 feet AGL. Finally, in some cases Class E begins at an MSL altitude indicated on the charts, instead of AGL altitude. Generally, Class E airspace extends from its floor up to, but not including, 18,000 feet MSL which is the lower limit of Class A airspace. To wrap it up, all airspace above FL 600 is Class E airspace.
Federal Airways
The blue lines on a sectional chart are Federal Airways. These are usually found within Class E airspace. These airways stat at 1,200 feet AGL and extend up to, but not including, 18,000 feet MSL.
Class E Transition Areas
Think of transition areas as the upside-down wedding cake of Class B and C, which is there to protect aircraft on approach or departure from an airport. The thick, magenta vignette (or gradient) depicts a transition space where the darker outside of the shape means 1,200 feet AGL while the lighter inside of the shape means 700 feet AGL. This makes sense since an aircraft departing an airport will climb higher in altitude out and away from the airport and so the airspace floor can increase in the transition.
The shape of E transitions is not always circular but can be quite jagged as the airspace is configured for local terrain.
Class E Arrival Extensions
Airport extensions are there to protect approaches and departures to and from airport runways, therefore they closely follow the direction of runways.
The North Bend airport shown below has both Class D (blue-dash) and Class E (magenta-dash) extensions. In both cases, the airspace begins at surface level.
Now we have the third variation of Class E. Previously we looked at the magenta vignette, which begins at 700 feet AGL or 1,200 feet AGL. A magenta-dash means the airspace floor is at the surface.
For the scope and depth of the Part 107 exam we don’t need to know more about Class E Surface than that. A magenta-dash means it is Class E from the surface on up and that requires ATC authorization for drone operations.
In real-world use, however, it gets complicated.
The North Bend example has Class E airspace to the west and east of the airport, yet those actually do not require ATC authorization. That is due to the different types of Class E surface.
Class E Surface Types
There are three different types of Class E surface that drone pilots are interested in:
Type E4 – Extension to Class D or E surface area
Type E3 – Extension to a Class C surface area
Type E2 – Surface area designated for an airport – AUTHORIZATION NEEDED
Only Type E2 requires authorization. E3 and E4 can be operated in without ATC authorization.
North Bend has type E4 airspace to the west and east. We know this because the blue-dashed Class D line segregates the adjoining Class E.
Now take a look at Clinton Muni airport below. The entire airspace is Class E2, with no other dashed-lines segregating the inner circle from extensions.
Very important… notice the dashed lines look different than Class E surface shown above at North Bend. That’s because the North Bend chart is from a VFR chart which doesn’t offer the precision detail to distinguish different Class E types. The bottom chart with more detail can be found at faa.maps.arcgis.com.
How to Fly Your Drone in Class E Airspace
In most cases, a remote pilot will not need ATC authorization to operate in Class E airspace. However, since Class E covers so much airspace there are cases in which authorization is needed. The floor of Class E is usually 700 or 1,200 feet AGL, which is far above the 400 foot altitude limit for drone operations. The only exception (Part 107 pilots only) would be when flying over and within a 400 feet radius of a man-made structure such as a radio tower. In that case the drone could operate up to, but not within, Class E airspace without authorization.
Prep for the Part 107 Exam
Refer to the Sectional Aeronautical Chart found in the Chart Supplement FAA-CT-8080-2H. During the exam you can refer to this chart to remind you of how to identify Class E.
Need More Information?
If you still have questions on airspace check out our Part 107 courses and get certified as a commercial drone pilot.
LAANC stands for Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability. It is the modern method in which ATC authorizes sUAS flight operations in controlled airspace. In airports where LAANC is available the FAA has established UAS facility maps made up with grids of 1/2-mile square areas. Contained in the center of each grid area is a number showing the ceiling elevation available for automatic authorization.
All Part 107 and recreational drone operators require FAA LAANC authorization before an operation can take place in controlled airspace.
There is an app for LAANC
The FAA works in conjunction with third-party providers to deliver LAANC services. That means the FAA does not have their own app or website for LAANC requests but rather relies on private industry (providers) to develop those resources.
The technology has only been around a few years so those providers have come and gone or changed how their service is delivered. Until now I have been using Aloft for LAANC requests, which is changing to a new app called Flight Control that still seems a bit buggy. It is a good place to start but you might want to find your own app that you like.
How to make LAANC requests
The basics of making a LAANC request consist of providing a name, start time and duration of the operation, the pilot in command, and the area you intend to fly (by making a sketch in the following example). After submitting the request you will generally get instant notification whether it was successful.
Class D Airspace for Drone Pilots, Explained
Part 107 TestNote: This article does not provide legal advice. Please consult an attorney to verify the accuracy of the information contained herein.
Introduction to Class D Airspace
Class D is the simplest airspace to understand so we’ll have you through this in just a few minutes.
Class D airports need an operational control tower to coordinate airport operations. Remember this important distinction later when we introduce Class E airspace, which don’t necessarily have an Air Traffic Control Tower.
Class D is unique and easy to identify because its vertical ceiling altitude is marked with a bold, blue-boxed number on the chart. Likewise, its boundaries are indicated by a blue-dashed line.
Generally, Class D extends from surface to 2,500 feet above the airport elevation, with its ceiling expressed in hundreds of feet MSL. In this example the altitude is [66] or 6,600 feet MSL. If there were a minus ceiling value here it would indicate surface up to but not including that value. It’s an important distinction and you may see a question on the exam using the minus indicator.
Refer to the Sectional Aeronautical Chart found in the Chart Supplement FAA-CT-8080-2H. During the exam you can refer to this chart to remind you of how to identify Class D.
Not Always a Perfect Circle
Class D only has one circular ring to identify its horizontal boundaries. Often that ring will have rectangular shapes extending out or circular shapes cutting in. See the first image in this article for an example. Those are Class D extensions and are designed to protect IFR aircraft on arrival and departure.
Other airspace could modify the Class D airspace as well. Such as when another, typically larger Class B airspace intrudes on Class D boundaries.
How to Fly Your Drone in Class D Airspace
Authorization is required to fly an sUAS within Class D airspace. Until recently a waiver had to be requested, but now you can usually get auto-approval using apps which support LAANC, such as Aloft. From that app’s airspace view you would drop a pin at the desired location and tap on “Get Authorization” to begin the request process. Airspace view shows the maximum altitude that available at each location within the airspace, such as 50′ or 300′ as shown below.
Need More Information?
If you still have questions on airspace check out our Part 107 courses and get certified as a commercial drone pilot.
Class C Airspace for Drone Pilots, Explained
Part 107 TestNote: This article does not provide legal advice. Please consult an attorney to verify the accuracy of the information contained herein.
Introduction to Class C Airspace
Generally, Class C extends from surface to 4,000 feet above the airport elevation, with its ceiling expressed in hundreds of feet MSL. For example, in the image below 4,200 feet is written as 42. The horizontal radius of the inner shelf generally extends five nautical miles (NM). An outer circle with a ten NM radius extends from 1,200 feet to 4,000 feet above the airport elevation.
This upside down wedding cake configuration allows arriving and departing aircraft to remain in Class C airspace while separated from other aircraft.
Class C is indicated by two solid magenta concentric circles. Vertical boundaries are indicated by two bold magenta numbers, one over the other, separated by a bold horizontal line. i.e. 42/SFC or 42/15 as shown in the image below. Altitudes in Class C are inclusive, meaning they go up to and include the indicated altitude.
Not Always a Perfect Circle
The shape of Class C airspace isn’t always circular and may follow the shape of terrain since Class C airports are serviced by radar and therefore limited to radar coverage.
How to Fly Your Drone in Class C Airspace
A remote pilot must receive authorization before operating in Class C airspace. The most likely area of operation would be within the inner circle since it begins at surface level. Since the outer ring begins at 1,200 MSL it’s not likely a drone would be operating in this area.
Prep for the Part 107 Exam
Refer to the Sectional Aeronautical Chart found in the Chart Supplement FAA-CT-8080-2H. During the exam you can refer to this chart to remind you of how to identify Class C.
Need More Information?
If you still have questions on airspace check out our Part 107 courses and get certified as a commercial drone pilot.
Class B Airspace for Drone Pilots, Explained
Part 107 TestNote: This article does not provide legal advice. Please consult an attorney to verify the accuracy of the information contained herein.
Introduction to Class B Airspace
Class B airspace surrounds the busiest and largest airports. Generally, airspace is from the surface to 10,000 feet mean sea level (MSL), with its ceiling expressed in hundreds of feet MSL. For example, in the image below 9,000 feet is written as 90 and surface is written as SFC.
There are two markings you need to know to identify Class B airspace – horizontal and vertical.
Horizontal boundaries are marked with a thick, blue line and made up of many shapes; circular, square, radial, etc.
Vertical boundaries are marked with a bold, blue number separated by a thick horizontal line. The top number represents the ceiling of Class B airspace in hundreds of feet MSL. The bottom number represents the floor of Class B airspace, also expressed in hundreds of feet MSL. So 90/SFC would mean the surface up to and including 9,000 feet MSL. 90/15 would mean the Class B includes airspace from 1,500 feet MSL up to and including 9,000 feet MSL. Altitudes are inclusive so the number shown is included in the airspace.
How to Fly Your Drone in Class B Airspace
A remote pilot must receive authorization before operating in Class B airspace. The most likely area of operation would be within the inner circle since it begins at surface level. Since the outer shapes begin at much higher altitudes it’s not likely a drone would be operating in these areas.
Prep for the Part 107 Exam
Refer to the Sectional Aeronautical Chart found in the Chart Supplement FAA-CT-8080-2H. During the exam you can refer to this chart to remind you of how to identify Class B.
Need More Information?
If you still have questions on airspace check out our Part 107 courses and get certified as a commercial drone pilot.
Class G Airspace for Drone Pilots, Explained
Part 107 TestNote: This article does not provide legal advice. Please consult an attorney to verify the accuracy of the information contained herein.
Introduction to Class G Airspace
Anywhere that is not Class A, B, C, D, or E is designated as Class G airspace. It is uncharted and uncontrolled airspace.
Class G extends from the surface to the base of the overlying Class E airspace. It is exclusive, meaning it goes up to but does not include the floor elevation of the Class E. So, if Class E begins at 1,200 feet MSL then Class G ends at 1,199 feet MSL.
How to Fly Your Drone in Class G Airspace
Class G is uncontrolled and therefore a remote pilot does not require ATC authorization to fly in this airspace. That’s pretty much all that drone pilots and those preparing for the Part 107 exam need to know about Class G.
Need More Information?
If you still have questions on airspace check out our Part 107 courses and get certified as a commercial drone pilot.
Class E Airspace for Drone Pilots, Explained
Part 107 TestNote: This article does not provide legal advice. Please consult an attorney to verify the accuracy of the information contained herein.
Introduction to Class E Airspace
Class E is the most common airspace in the United States, the most difficult to understand, and the most import to get right when determining where you can operate a drone. The toughest part in understanding Class E is the various types of Class E airspace – there is not just Class E. The following article will break it down for you.
The Basics
Class E airspace is the controlled airspace not classified as Class A, B, C, or D airspace. In most areas, the Class E airspace base is 1,200 feet above ground level (AGL). In other areas, it is either the surface or 700 feet AGL. Finally, in some cases Class E begins at an MSL altitude indicated on the charts, instead of AGL altitude. Generally, Class E airspace extends from its floor up to, but not including, 18,000 feet MSL which is the lower limit of Class A airspace. To wrap it up, all airspace above FL 600 is Class E airspace.
Federal Airways
The blue lines on a sectional chart are Federal Airways. These are usually found within Class E airspace. These airways stat at 1,200 feet AGL and extend up to, but not including, 18,000 feet MSL.
Class E Transition Areas
Think of transition areas as the upside-down wedding cake of Class B and C, which is there to protect aircraft on approach or departure from an airport. The thick, magenta vignette (or gradient) depicts a transition space where the darker outside of the shape means 1,200 feet AGL while the lighter inside of the shape means 700 feet AGL. This makes sense since an aircraft departing an airport will climb higher in altitude out and away from the airport and so the airspace floor can increase in the transition.
The shape of E transitions is not always circular but can be quite jagged as the airspace is configured for local terrain.
Class E Arrival Extensions
Airport extensions are there to protect approaches and departures to and from airport runways, therefore they closely follow the direction of runways.
The North Bend airport shown below has both Class D (blue-dash) and Class E (magenta-dash) extensions. In both cases, the airspace begins at surface level.
Now we have the third variation of Class E. Previously we looked at the magenta vignette, which begins at 700 feet AGL or 1,200 feet AGL. A magenta-dash means the airspace floor is at the surface.
For the scope and depth of the Part 107 exam we don’t need to know more about Class E Surface than that. A magenta-dash means it is Class E from the surface on up and that requires ATC authorization for drone operations.
In real-world use, however, it gets complicated.
The North Bend example has Class E airspace to the west and east of the airport, yet those actually do not require ATC authorization. That is due to the different types of Class E surface.
Class E Surface Types
There are three different types of Class E surface that drone pilots are interested in:
Type E4 – Extension to Class D or E surface area
Type E3 – Extension to a Class C surface area
Type E2 – Surface area designated for an airport – AUTHORIZATION NEEDED
Only Type E2 requires authorization. E3 and E4 can be operated in without ATC authorization.
North Bend has type E4 airspace to the west and east. We know this because the blue-dashed Class D line segregates the adjoining Class E.
Now take a look at Clinton Muni airport below. The entire airspace is Class E2, with no other dashed-lines segregating the inner circle from extensions.
Very important… notice the dashed lines look different than Class E surface shown above at North Bend. That’s because the North Bend chart is from a VFR chart which doesn’t offer the precision detail to distinguish different Class E types. The bottom chart with more detail can be found at faa.maps.arcgis.com.
How to Fly Your Drone in Class E Airspace
In most cases, a remote pilot will not need ATC authorization to operate in Class E airspace. However, since Class E covers so much airspace there are cases in which authorization is needed. The floor of Class E is usually 700 or 1,200 feet AGL, which is far above the 400 foot altitude limit for drone operations. The only exception (Part 107 pilots only) would be when flying over and within a 400 feet radius of a man-made structure such as a radio tower. In that case the drone could operate up to, but not within, Class E airspace without authorization.
Prep for the Part 107 Exam
Refer to the Sectional Aeronautical Chart found in the Chart Supplement FAA-CT-8080-2H. During the exam you can refer to this chart to remind you of how to identify Class E.
Need More Information?
If you still have questions on airspace check out our Part 107 courses and get certified as a commercial drone pilot.
Requesting ATC Authorization Via LAANC
Part 107 TestWhat is LAANC?
LAANC stands for Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability. It is the modern method in which ATC authorizes sUAS flight operations in controlled airspace. In airports where LAANC is available the FAA has established UAS facility maps made up with grids of 1/2-mile square areas. Contained in the center of each grid area is a number showing the ceiling elevation available for automatic authorization.
All Part 107 and recreational drone operators require FAA LAANC authorization before an operation can take place in controlled airspace.
There is an app for LAANC
The FAA works in conjunction with third-party providers to deliver LAANC services. That means the FAA does not have their own app or website for LAANC requests but rather relies on private industry (providers) to develop those resources.
The technology has only been around a few years so those providers have come and gone or changed how their service is delivered. Until now I have been using Aloft for LAANC requests, which is changing to a new app called Flight Control that still seems a bit buggy. It is a good place to start but you might want to find your own app that you like.
How to make LAANC requests
The basics of making a LAANC request consist of providing a name, start time and duration of the operation, the pilot in command, and the area you intend to fly (by making a sketch in the following example). After submitting the request you will generally get instant notification whether it was successful.