Class Echo Air Traffic Services:
- Each pilot of an aircraft must comply with any traffic patterns established for that airport in part 93
- Unless otherwise authorized or required by ATC, no person may operate an aircraft to, from, through, or on an airport having an operational control tower unless two-way radio communications are maintained between that aircraft and the control tower
- Communications must be established prior to 4 NM from the airport, up to and including 2,500' AGL
- If the aircraft radio fails in flight, the pilot in command may operate that aircraft and land if weather conditions are at or above basic VFR weather minimums, visual contact with the tower is maintained, and a clearance to land is received
- If the aircraft radio fails while in flight under IFR, the pilot must comply with IFR two-way radio communications failure procedures
Airspace Dimensions:
-
Horizontal Limits:
- The 48 contiguous States including the waters within 12 miles from the coast of the 48 contiguous States;
- The District of Columbia;
- Alaska, including the waters within 12 miles from the coast of Alaska;
- Excluding the Alaska peninsula west of long 160°00'00''W, and the airspace below 1,500 feet above the surface of the earth unless specifically so designated
-
Vertical Limits:
- Except when designed different in accordance with the functions of Class E Airspace (defined below), Class E airspace is that airspace extending upward from 14,500 feet MSL to, but not including, 18,000 feet MSL, excluding:
- The airspace below 1,500 feet above the surface of the earth unless specifically designated lower (for example, in mountainous terrain higher than 13,000 feet MSL)
- Class E begins again at 60,000' MSL and continues up to unlimited
- Except when designed different in accordance with the functions of Class E Airspace (defined below), Class E airspace is that airspace extending upward from 14,500 feet MSL to, but not including, 18,000 feet MSL, excluding:
Airspace Depiction:
- Class E airspace below 14,500 feet MSL is charted on the following charts:
- VFR Sectionals
- IFR En Route Low Altitude, and
- Terminal Area Charts (where appropriate)

Operating Rules and Pilot/Equipment Requirements:
VFR Visibility Requirements:
- Below 10,000' MSL: 3 SM visibility, 500' below, 1,000' above, 2,000' horizontal
- Above 10,000' MSL: 5 SM visibility, 1,000' below, 1,000' above, 1 SM horizontal
-
Qualifications:
- No specific certificate required
-
Equipment:
- Unless otherwise authorized by ATC:
- An operable radar beacon transponder with automatic altitude reporting capability and operable ADS-B Out equipment are required at and above 10,000 feet MSL within the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia, excluding the airspace at and below 2,500 feet above the surface, and
- Operable ADS-B Out equipment at and above 3,000 feet MSL over the Gulf of Mexico from the coastline of the United States out to 12 nautical miles
- The airspace described here is specified in 14 CFR 91.225 for ADS-B Out requirements. However, 14 CFR 91.215 does not include this airspace for transponder requirements
- Unless otherwise authorized by ATC:
-
Arrival or Through Flight Entry Requirements:
- ATC clearance for IFR, all require radio contact
-
Aircraft Separation:
- Separation is provided for IFR, SVFR, and runway operations
- VFR separation is not provided unless flight following is being used
-
Speed Restrictions:
- 250 knots below 10,000' MSL
-
Small Unmanned Aircraft Operations:
- No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft within the lateral boundaries of the surface area of Class E airspace designated for an airport unless that person has prior authorization from Air Traffic Control (ATC)
- 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

Functions of Class E Airspace:
-
Extension to Surface Area:
- Class E airspace may be designated as extensions to Class B, Class C, Class D, and Class E surface areas
- Class E airspace extensions begin at the surface and extend up to the overlying controlled airspace
- The extensions provide controlled airspace to contain standard instrument approach procedures without imposing a communications requirement on pilots operating under VFR
- Surface area arrival extensions become part of the surface area and are in effect during the same times as the surface area
- In the example shown to the right, you see the Class echo extension connects with Class Delta airspace [Figure 2]
- When a Class C or Class D surface area is not in effect continuously (for example, where a control tower only operates part-time), the surface area airspace will change to either a Class E surface area or Class G airspace. In such cases, the "Airspace" entry for the airport in the Chart Supplement U.S. will state "other times Class E" or "other times Class G." When a part-time surface area changes to Class E airspace, the Class E arrival extensions will remain in effect as Class E airspace. If a part–time Class C, Class D, or Class E surface area becomes Class G airspace, the arrival extensions will change to Class G at the same time
-
En-route Domestic Area:
- Echo airspace that extends upward from a specified altitude and are used for en-route domestic airspace areas to provide controlled airspace where there is a requirement to provide IFR en route ATC services but the Federal Airway does not exist and would be inadequate
- Depicted on the outside of the transition area where Class Echo starts at 1,200' AGL
- The lateral extend is identical to that of a federal airway
-
Transition Area:
- Class E airspace areas may be designated for transitioning aircraft to/from the terminal or en route environment
- Class E transition areas extend upward from either 700 feet AGL (shown as magenta vignette on sectional charts) or 1,200 feet AGL (blue vignette) and are designated for airports with an approved instrument procedure
- The 700-foot/1200-foot AGL Class E airspace transition areas remain in effect continuously, regardless of airport operating hours or surface area status
- Do not confuse the 700-foot and 1200-foot Class E transition areas with surface areas or surface area extensions
- Class E airspace areas may be designated for transitioning aircraft to/from the terminal or en route environment
-
Surface Area Designated For An Airport:
- Class E surface areas extend upward from the surface to a designated altitude, or to the adjacent or overlying controlled airspace. The airspace will be configured to contain all instrument procedures
- To qualify for a Class E surface area, the airport must have weather observation and reporting capability, and communications capability must exist with aircraft down to the runway surface
- A Class E surface area may also be designated to accommodate part-time operations at a Class C or Class D airspace location (for example, those periods when the control tower is not in operation)
- Pilots should refer to the airport page in the applicable Chart Supplement U.S. for surface area status information
- Class E surface areas extend upward from the surface to a designated altitude, or to the adjacent or overlying controlled airspace. The airspace will be configured to contain all instrument procedures
-
Offshore (beyond 12NM):
- There are Class E airspace areas that extend upward from a specified altitude to, but not including, 18,000 feet MSL and are designated as offshore airspace areas
- This areas offshore control of incoming and outgoing international flights
- These areas provide controlled airspace beyond 12 miles from the coast of the U.S. in those areas where there is a requirement to provide IFR en route ATC services and within which the U.S. is applying domestic procedures
-
14,500:
- Remember, 14,500 is the standard start of class E airspace (14,500-17,999)


Acronym: | |
Federal Airway (1,200' AGL - 18,000' MSL) | |
Extension to a surface area | |
En-route domestic area | |
Transition Area (700) | |
Surface for airport | |
Offshore (beyond 12 NM) | |
14,500' unless otherwise noted |
Private Pilot - National Airspace System Airman Certification Standards:
- Applicants must satisfy the requirements of Section I, Task E by exhibiting satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with the National Airspace System (NAS) operating under VFR as a private pilot
- References: 14 CFR parts 71, 91, 93; FAA-H-8083-2; Navigation Charts; AIM
National Airspace System Knowledge:
The applicant must demonstrate an understanding of:PA.I.E.K1:
Types of airspace/airspace classes and associated requirements and limitations-
PA.I.E.K2:
Charting symbology PA.I.E.K3:
Special use airspace (SUA), special flight rules areas (SFRA), temporary flight restrictions (TFR), and other airspace areas
National Airspace System Risk Management:
The applicant demonstrates the ability to identify, assess and mitigate risks, encompassing:-
PA.I.E.R1:
Various classes and types of airspace
National Airspace System Skills:
The applicant demonstrates the ability to:-
PA.I.E.S1:
Identify and comply with the requirements for basic VFR weather minimums and flying in particular classes of airspace -
PA.I.E.S2:
Correctly identify airspace and operate in accordance with associated communication and equipment requirements -
PA.I.E.S3:
Identify the requirements for operating in SUA or within a TFR. Identify and comply with SATR and SFRA operations, if applicable
Conclusion:
- Remember to comply with all noise abatement procedures, found in the Chart Supplement U.S.
- Still looking for something? Continue searching:
References:
- Federal Aviation Administration - Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Aeronautical Information Manual (3-2-6) Class E Airspace
- Aeronautical Information Manual (5-3-4) Airways and Route Systems
- AeroNav Products - Aeronautical Chart User's Guide
- CFI Notebook.net - Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)
- CFI Notebook.net - Aviation Roles
- Federal Aviation Administration Order (7400.2-Chapter 18) Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters
- Federal Aviation Administration Order (7400.9) Airspace Designations and Reporting Points
- Federal Aviation Regulations (Part 71 subpart E) Class E Airspace
- Federal Aviation Regulations (91.126) Operating on or in the vicinity of an airport in Class G airspace
- Federal Aviation Regulations (91.127) Operating on or in the vicinity of an airport in Class E airspace
- Federal Aviation Regulations (91.181) Course to be flown
- Federal Aviation Regulations (91.185) IFR operations: Two-way radio communications failure
- Instrument Flying Handbook (1-2) Airspace Classification