ID10 1.03 Airspace

Airspace

1.03 - Understand airspace as used by small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS)

1.03 A
What is Airspace?

Airspace is the three-dimensional
portion of the atmosphere above
a country’s territory, including its
territorial waters.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airspace

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DMSg-zEU8AELPon?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

What are the
boundaries of a
country’s airspace?

Horizontal Boundary:

●A nation’s borders are the boundary of its
airspace.

●If a nation has a coastline, airspace also
includes territorial waters. These extend 12
miles from a nation’s coastline.

Vertical Boundary:

●This is how far UP a nation’s airspace
extends.

●The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
has established the Karman line at an
altitude of 100 km (62 mi).

○That’s 328084 feet!!!

●This is a general guideline that is not strictly
enforced.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airspace

1.03 B
Who Regulates
Airspace?

In the United States, the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA)
regulates the entire National
Airspace System (NAS).

●

Other FAA duties include
issuing and enforcing aircraft
manufacturing, operation, and
maintenance regulations.

●

The FAA’s purpose is to keep
flying safe in the U.S.

A Brief History of the FAA

The National
Airspace System
(NAS)

What is the NAS?

●The NAS is a network of both
controlled and uncontrolled airspace,
both domestic and oceanic.

○More than 29 million square miles of
airspace.

●It is complex system composed of the
people, equipment, and systems that
monitor every commercial and civil
aircraft in the sky.

○More than 45,000 flights, an 2.9
million passengers.

●All pilots, even drone pilots must operate
safely in the NAS.

Airspace 101 - Rules of the Sky

See Additional Resource:

Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge

Chapter 15 - Airspace (page 377)

Controlled vs.
Uncontrolled
Airspace.

While the entire NAS is regulated it can be divided
into two major categories:

Controlled Airspace:

●The airspace found around some airports
and at certain altitudes where air traffic
controllers are actively communicating with,
directing, and separating all air traffic.

○Divided into classes:

■A, B, C, D, E

Uncontrolled Airspace:

●Other airspace is considered uncontrolled
in the sense that air traffic controllers are
not directing air traffic within its limits.
See Additional Resource:

Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge

Chapter 15 - Airspace (page 377)

Airspace 101 - Rules of the Sky

1.03 C
Airspace
Classification
(Controlled)

Airspace classification is determined by the
complexity and type of air traffic within the airspace.

Controlled Airspace Classifications:

●Class A (Alpha)

○Conducted under instrument flight rules (IFR).

●Class B (Bravo)

○Surrounds the nation’s busiest airports.

●Class C (Charlie)

○Requires 2-way radio contact with ATC (air
Traffic Control).

○Generally has tailored airspace with an inner
circle (5NM) and an outer circle (10NM).

●Class D (Delta)

○Found near a smaller airport with an operational
control tower.

●Class E (Echo)

○Controlled airspace not classified as A, B, C, or D.

See Additional Resource:

Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge

Chapter 15 - Airspace (page 377)

Airspace for
sUAS Pilots

1.03 C
Airspace
Classification
(Uncontrolled)

Uncontrolled Airspace Classification

●Class G (Golf)
○Does not have ATC.

○Minimum visual flight rules must be
followed.

○sUAS operators will typically operate
in Class G airspace.

See Additional Resource:

Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge

Chapter 15 - Airspace (page 377)