Flying the high-altitude routes, including Jet and Q Routes
When the situation permits, ATC may grant authorizations to deviate from operating and equipment requirements
Class Alpha Airspace Dimensions:
Class Alpha Airspace Depicted
Vertically, Class Alpha begins at 18,000' Mean Sea Level (MSL) up to and including FL600 (about 60,000' MSL)
Horizontally, Class Alpha begins when within 12 Nautical Miles (NM) of the coast in 48 contiguous states and Alaska and designated international airspace beyond 12 NM off the coast of the 48 contiguous States and Alaska within areas of domestic radio navigational signal or ATC radar coverage, and within which domestic procedures apply
Examples include Santa Barbara Island, Farallon Islands, and airspace south of latitude 25°04;00" North
Class Alpha airspace does not include the airspace less than 1,500 feet above the surface of the earth and the Alaska Peninsula west of longitude 160°00'00" West
Class Alpha Airspace Depiction:
Amazon, Sectional Charts
Amazon, Sectional Charts
Navigation charts omit Class A airspace depictions
Class Alpha Operating Rules & Pilot/Equipment Requirements:
VFR Visibility Requirements:
Each person operating an aircraft in Class A airspace must conduct operations under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) unless otherwise authorized
See 14 Code of Federal Regulations (FAR) Section 71.33, Sections 91.167 through 91.193, Sections 91.215 through 91.217, and Sections 91.225 through 91.227
After January 1, 2020, the applicable Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out equipment specified in 91.225
ADS-B Out Requirements
Navigation Equipment:
An operable Very High Frequency (VHF) Omni-Directional Range (VOR) or Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) receiver or an operable and suitable Area Navigation (RNAV) system
Communication Equipment:
Two-way radio communications with the controlling agency (described below) are required
Pilots must change their altimeter setting from the local altimeter to 29.92 when climbing through 18,000 feet
Setting 29.92 ensures all aircraft flying in Class A airspace have the same altimeter setting and will have proper altitude separation
Non-Reduced Vertical Separation Minima (RVSM) separation is 2,000' vertically
RVSM separation is 1,000' vertically
Jet & Q Routes:
High Altitude Enroute Chart
Jet Routes:
Within the cruise altitudes, there are Jet Routes, or "J" Routes, which are highways in the sky, much the same as Victor routes
Jet Routes begin at 18,000' MSL and end at Flight Level (FL) 450 (about 45,000')
The letter "J" precedes a number to label the airway
Note the range of Jet Routes is less than the dimensions of Class Alpha airspace [Figure 2]
Limited due to Standard Service Volume (SSV) of ground stations
Jet routes have no defined width
A Navigational Aid (NAVAID) on a continuing jet route is NOT part of the segment and is not to be included in your flight plan
Q Routes:
Q Routes are available for use by RNAV-equipped aircraft between 18,000' MSL and FL450 (about 45,000') inclusive, same as J Routes
Enroute High Altitude Charts depict Q Routes [Figure 2]
Operation above FL450 (about 45,000') are permitted on a point-to-point basis
Area navigation (RNAV) routes have been established in both the low-altitude and the high-altitude structures in recent years, depicted on the enroute low and high chart series
High-altitude RNAV routes are identified with a "Q" prefix (except the Q-routes in the Gulf of Mexico), and low-altitude RNAV routes are identified with a "T" prefix
RNAV routes and data are depicted in aeronautical blue
In addition to the published routes, a random RNAV route may be flown under IFR if it is approved by ATC
Random RNAV routes are 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 on all random RNAV routes
Approval for these routes requires a radar environment
Factors that ATC considers in approving random RNAV routes include the capability to provide radar monitoring and compatibility with traffic volume and flow
ATC will radar monitor each flight; however, navigation on the random RNAV route is the responsibility of the pilot
High Altitude Enroute Chart
ATC Authorizations:
An operator may deviate from any provision of part 91.135 provided an ATC authorization issued by the ATC facility having jurisdiction of the airspace concerned
In the case of an inoperative transponder, ATC may immediately approve an operation within a Class A airspace area allowing the flight to continue, to the airport of ultimate destination, including any intermediate stops, or to proceed to a place where suitable repairs can be made, or both
Requests for deviation from any provision of this section must be submitted in writing at least four days before the proposed operation
ATC may authorize a deviation continuously or for an individual flight
Private Pilot - National Airspace System Airman Certification Standards:
Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with National Airspace System (NAS) operations under VFR as a private pilot