Class Charlie Airspace
Class Charlie Airspace allows Air Traffic Control to provide radar service for all aircraft in moderately busy airspace.
Introduction
Introduction
- Class Charlie (also called "Class C") Airspace areas are designed to improve aviation safety by reducing the risk of midair collisions in the terminal area and enhancing the management of air traffic operations therein.
- Air Traffic Control (ATC) provides services to arriving and departing aircraft via the Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) and Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) under both Visual and Instrument Flight Rules (VFR/IFR).
- These air traffic control agencies provide services that apply whenever operating within Class C airspace, as depicted on various aeronautical charts.
- To manage these services, ATC has established operational requirements that the pilot must meet to operate within the airspace.
- When other airports fall within the airspace dimensions as the primary airports, they are considered satellite airports.
- When you have a solid understanding of Class Charlie Airspace, compare your knowledge against the Private Pilot (Airplane) or Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Airman Certification Standards.
Class Charlie Airspace Air Traffic Services
Class Charlie Airspace Air Traffic Services
- ATC provides air traffic services once two-way radio communications and radar contact is established.
- All VFR aircraft are:
- Sequenced to the primary airport.
- Provided Class C services within the Class C airspace and the outer area.
- Provided basic radar services.
- VFR aircraft can expect these services on a workload-permitting basis.
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Approach Control Service for VFR Arriving Aircraft
- Numerous approach control facilities have established programs for arriving VFR aircraft to contact approach control for landing information, including:
- Wind;
- Runway, and;
- Altimeter setting at the airport of intended landing.
- When the pilot states the appropriate Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) code, ATC will omit information in the ATIS broadcast.
- The pilot's use of "have numbers" does not indicate receipt of the ATIS broadcast.
- In addition, the controller will provide traffic advisories on a workload-permitting basis.
- Upon initial contact with the concerned approach control facility, such information will be furnished..
- ATC will instruct the pilot to change the tower frequency at a predetermined time or point to receive further landing information.
- Where available, this procedure will not hinder the operation of VFR flights by requiring excessive spacing between aircraft or devious routing.
- Compliance with this procedure is not mandatory, but pilot participation is encouraged.
- Approach control services for VFR aircraft are normally dependent on ATC radar. These services are not available during periods of a radar outage.
- Numerous approach control facilities have established programs for arriving VFR aircraft to contact approach control for landing information, including:
Class Charlie Airspace Dimensions
Class Charlie Airspace Dimensions
- Class C airspace area locations must include a single primary airport around which the designated Class C airspace.
- However, due to its size, it may encompass other airports, referred to as secondary airports.
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Horizontal Limits:
- Class C airspace areas are generally designed as two circles centered around the primary airport. [Figure 1]
- The inner core has a radius of 5 nautical miles (NM).
- The shelf area has a radius of 10 NM.
- Solid magenta lines identify the horizontal boundaries of class C airspace.
- Class C airspace areas are generally designed as two circles centered around the primary airport. [Figure 1]
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Vertical Limits:
- The ceiling of a Class C airspace should be 4,000 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) above the primary airport's field elevation.
- The inner core spans from the surface to 4000' AGL.
- The shelf area spans from 1,200' AGL (no lower) to 4,000'.
- Magenta numbers or letters identify the vertical boundaries of class C airspace. [Figure 2]
- The altitude above the magenta line is the ceiling, while the altitude below is the floor.
- Altitude dimensions are based on AGL but charted in Mean Sea Level (MSL).
- The ceiling of a Class C airspace should be 4,000 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) above the primary airport's field elevation.
- In congested areas, Class Charlie airspace may be bound against others, such as Class Bravo airspace.
- When this is the case, airspace designations will denote where the transition altitude is by designating a surface altitude and a "T," which denotes the ceiling is up to, but not including, the floor of Class Bravo airspace. [Figure 3]
- Orlando Executive Airport (Class B), for example, bumps against Orland Stanford Airport (Class C), which requires reference to the Class Bravo airspace to determine the ceiling of Class Charlie. [Figure 4]
- Though not requiring regulatory action, an outer area is a procedural companion to Class C airspace.
- This area is usually 20 NM from the primary Class C airspace airport.
- The typical radius of an outer area is 20 NM from the primary Class C airspace airport.
- Its vertical limit extends from the lower radio/radar coverage limits up to the ceiling of the approach control's delegated airspace, excluding Class C and other airspace as appropriate.
- This outer area is NOT depicted and imposes no limitation on pilots.
- Pilot participation is voluntary within the outer area.
- Class C services are provided in the outer area unless the pilot requests termination of the service.
- Other locations may not have standard rings or standard altitudes, which require attention to actual airspace dimensions, both vertical and lateral. [Figure 5]
Class Charlie Airspace Depiction
Class Charlie Airspace Depiction
- Class Charlie airspace is depicted on the following charts:
- VFR Sectionals; [Figure 5]
- IFR En Route Low Altitude and;
- Terminal Area Charts (where appropriate).
Class Charlie Operating Rules & Pilot/Equipment Requirements
Class Charlie Operating Rules & Pilot/Equipment Requirements
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Pilot Certification Requirements:
- No specific pilot certification is required, meaning if an aircraft meets the equipment requirements below, anyone from a student and up can operate within Class Charlie Airspace.
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VFR Visibility Requirements:
- If the pilot is operating under VFR, then they must have at least 3 Statue Miles visibility and be able to maintain 500' below, 1,000' above, and 2,000' horizontal of any clouds.
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Equipment:
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Transponder:
- Unless otherwise authorized by ATC, when operating within or above Class Charlie airspace, a transponder in compliance with 91.215 and operable Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out equipment is required.
- When below Class Charlie airspace, a transponder is not required as it is for Class Bravo.
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Communication Equipment:
- Radios are required to maintain two-way radio communications with the controlling agency (described below).
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Aircraft Separation:
- ATC provides separation within the Class C airspace and the outer area after establishing two-way radio communications and radar contact.
- ATC separates IFR from VFR aircraft at all times.
- VFR aircraft are separated from IFR aircraft within the Class C airspace by any of the following:
- Visual separation;
- 500' vertical separation or;
- Target resolution.
- Wake turbulence separation will be provided to all aircraft operating:
- Behind and less than 1,000 feet below super or heavy aircraft;
- To small aircraft operating behind and less than 500 feet below B757 aircraft and;
- To small aircraft following a large aircraft on final approach.
- Separation and sequencing of VFR aircraft will be suspended in the event of a radar outage, as this service is dependent on radar.
- ATC will advise pilots if the service is unavailable, issue wind and runway information, and the time or place to contact the tower.
- Some facilities provide Class C services only during published hours.
- At other times, terminal IFR radar service will be provided.
- It is important to note that the communications and transponder/ADS-B requirements depend on the airspace class established outside the published hours.
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Flight Procedures:
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Arrival:
- Pilots must establish two-way radio communication with Air Traffic Control before entry and maintain those communications while in Class C airspace.
- Pilots of arriving aircraft should contact the Class C airspace ATC facility on the publicized frequency and give their position, altitude, radar beacon code, destination, and request Class C service.
- This is a lot of information to contact a controller; they may not be ready.
- Consider the use of a "cold call" first:
- Pilot: "[Agency], [Callsign], Request."
- Once the controller responds, give them the full call.
- Pilot: "[Agency], [Position], [Altitude], [Transponder Code], [Destination], [Request]."
- ATC: "[Callsign] report [Instructions]."
- Radio contact should be initiated far enough from the Class C airspace boundary to preclude entering Class C airspace before establishing two-way radio communications.
- Permission is recognized by hearing your call sign:
- ATC: "Aircraft calling, standby."
- A controller must respond to the initial radio call using the aircraft's callsign for two-way radio communications to be considered established.
- If workload or traffic conditions prevent immediate provision of Class C services, the controller will inform the pilot to remain outside the Class C airspace until conditions permit the services to be provided.
- Pilots of arriving aircraft should contact the Class C airspace ATC facility on the publicized frequency and give their position, altitude, radar beacon code, destination, and request Class C service.
- Pilots must establish two-way radio communication with Air Traffic Control before entry and maintain those communications while in Class C airspace.
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Departure:
A primary or satellite airport with an operating control tower:
- Two-way radio communications must be established and maintained with the control tower and thereafter, as instructed by ATC while operating in Class C airspace.
A satellite airport without an operating control tower:
- Two-way radio communications must be established as soon as practicable after departing with the ATC facility having jurisdiction over the Class C airspace.
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Speed Restrictions:
- 200 knots (230 mph) within 4 NM and 2,500' of the primary airport of a Class C airspace area without ATC authorization.
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Small Unmanned Aircraft Operations:
- No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) in Class C unless that person has prior authorization from ATC.
- Authorization may be obtained through the FAA's UAS data exchange, Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC), or the FAA's DroneZone.
- No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft in a manner that interferes with operations and traffic patterns at any airport, heliport, or seaplane base.
- No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) in Class C unless that person has prior authorization from ATC.
Secondary/Satellite Airports
Secondary/Satellite Airports
- Sometimes, multiple airports may fall within the airspace dimensions described above:
- The primary airport is the airport for which the Class C airspace area is designated.
- A satellite airport is any other airport within the Class C airspace area.
- Class C airspace may extend over a secondary airport's Class D surface area.
- Portions of the overlapping Class C airspace may be procedurally excluded when the secondary airport tower is operating so that the control tower can provide services.
- Aircraft operating in these procedurally excluded areas will only be provided airport traffic control services when in communication with the secondary airport tower.
- Aircraft proceeding inbound to a satellite airport will be terminated at a sufficient distance to allow time to change to the appropriate tower or advisory frequency.
- Class C services to these aircraft will be discontinued when the aircraft is instructed to contact the tower or change to advisory frequency.
- Aircraft departing secondary controlled airports will not receive Class C services until they have been radar-identified and two-way communications have been established with the Class C airspace facility.
- This program is not to be interpreted as relieving pilots of their responsibilities to see and avoid other traffic operating in basic VFR weather conditions, to adjust their operations and flight path as necessary to preclude serious wake encounters, to maintain appropriate terrain and obstruction clearance or to remain in weather conditions equal to or better than the minimums required by 14 CFR Section 91.155.
- Approach control should be advised, and a revised clearance or instruction should be obtained when compliance with an assigned route, heading, and/or altitude is likely to compromise pilot responsibility regarding terrain and obstruction clearance, vortex exposure, and weather minimums.
Conclusion
Conclusion
- Federal Aviation Regulation 91.155 governs VFR ceiling and visibility minimums.
- Standardization is key, so variations in airspace design are only applied when absolutely required based on local requirements.
- Class Charlie airspace is not always operated full-time.
- Pilots approaching an airport with Class C service should know that if they descend below the base altitude of the 5 to 10-mile shelf during an instrument or visual approach, they may encounter non-transponder/non-ADS-B, VFR aircraft.
- Unless otherwise authorized by ATC, each aircraft operation in Class C airspace must comply with Federal Aviation Regulations 91.129 and 91.130.
- An operator may deviate from any provision of this section under the provisions of an ATC authorization issued by the ATC facility having jurisdiction over the airspace concerned.
- ATC may authorize a continuous deviation or an individual flight, as appropriate.
- Table 3-2-1 of the AIM lists Class C airspace by State.
- Remember to comply with all noise abatement procedures in the Chart Supplement U.S.
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References
References
- Federal Aviation Administration - Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Aeronautical Information Manual (3-2-4) Class C Airspace
- Aeronautical Information Manual (4-1-8) Approach Control Service for VFR Arriving Aircraft
- Aeronautical Information Manual (4-1-20) Transponder and ADS-B Out Operation
- AeroNav Products - Aeronautical Chart User's Guide
- AOPA - Know Before You Go: Navigating Today's Airspace
- BoldMethod - The VFR Pilot's Guide For Landing At Busy Airports
- CFI Notebook.net - Transponder
- Federal Aviation Administration Order (7400.2 [Chapter 16]) Class C Airspace
- Federal Aviation Administration Order (7400.9) Airspace Designations and Reporting Points
- Federal Aviation Regulations (Part 71 subpart C) Class C Airspace
- Federal Aviation Regulations (91.215) ATC transponder and altitude reporting equipment and use
- Federal Aviation Regulations (91.225) Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out equipment and use
- Federal Aviation Regulations (91.129) Operations in Class D Airspace
- Federal Aviation Regulations (91.130) Operations in Class C Airspace
- Instrument Flying Handbook (1-2) Airspace Classification