Class
Airspace Equipment*Entry Requirements Minimum Pilot Certificate
ATC clearance
ATC clearance
Two-way radio communications
prior to entry
Two-way radio communications
prior to entry
None for VFR
None
IFR equipped
Two-way radio, transponder
with altitude reporting capability
Two-way radio, transponder
with altitude reporting capability
Two-way radio
No specific requirement
No specific requirement
Instrument rating
Private—(However, a student or
recreational pilot may operate at
other than the primary airport if
seeking private pilot certification and
if regulatory requirements are met.)
No specific requirement
No specific requirement
No specific requirement
No specific requirement
Class
A
Class
B
Class
C
Class
D
Class
E
Class
G
*Beginning January 1, 2020, ADS-B Out equipment may be required in accordance with 14 CFR part 91, section 91.225.
Figure 15-9. Requirements for airspace operations.
2. A recreational pilot certificate and all requirements
contained within 14 CFR part 61, section 61.101(d), or
the requirements for a student pilot seeking a recreational
pilot certificate in 14 CFR part 61, section 61.94.
3. A sport pilot certificate and all requirements contained
within 14 CFR part 61, section 61.325, or the
requirements for a student pilot seeking a recreational
pilot certificate in 14 CFR part 61, section 61.94, or
the aircraft is operated by a student pilot who has met
the requirements of 14 CFR part 61, sections 61.94
and 61.95, as applicable.
Unless otherwise authorized by ATC, all aircraft within Class
B airspace must be equipped with the applicable operating
transponder and automatic altitude reporting equipment
specified in 14 CFR part 91, section 91.215(a) and an
operable two-way radio capable of communications with
ATC on appropriate frequencies for that Class B airspace
area. Additionally, beginning January 1, 2020, aircraft
operating in the Class B airspace described in 14 CFR part 91,
section 91.225, must have ADS-B Out equipment installed,
which meets the performance requirements of 14 CFR part
91, section 91.227.
Class C
For the purpose of this section, 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. No pilot may take off or land an aircraft at a satellite
airport within a Class C airspace area except in compliance
with FAA arrival and departure traffic patterns.
Two-way radio communications must be established and
maintained with the ATC facility providing air traffic services
Pilots also comply with very strict FAA general operating
and flight rules as outlined in the CFR, including the FAA’s
important “see and avoid” mandate. These regulations provide
the historical foundation of the FAA regulations governing
the aviation system and the individual classes of airspace.
Figure 15-9 lists the operational and equipment requirements
for these various classes of airspace. It is helpful to refer to this
figure as the specific classes are discussed in greater detail.
Class A
Pilots operating an aircraft in Class A airspace must conduct
that operation under IFR and only under an ATC clearance
received prior to entering the airspace. Unless otherwise
authorized by ATC, each aircraft operating in Class A
airspace must be equipped with a two-way radio capable of
communicating with ATC on a frequency assigned by ATC.
Unless otherwise authorized by ATC, all aircraft within
Class A airspace must be equipped with the appropriate
transponder equipment meeting all applicable specifications
found in 14 CFR part 91, section 91.215. Additionally,
beginning January 1, 2020, aircraft operating in the Class
A airspace described in 14 CFR part 91, section 91.225,
must have ADS-B Out equipment installed, which meets the
performance requirements of 14 CFR part 91, section 91.227.
Class B
All pilots operating an aircraft within a Class B airspace area
must receive an ATC clearance from the ATC facility having
jurisdiction for that area. The pilot in command (PIC) may
not take off or land an aircraft at an airport within a Class
B airspace unless he or she has met one of the following
requirements:
1. A private pilot certificate
If the aircraft radio fails in flight under VFR, the PIC 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.
Class E
Unless otherwise required by 14 CFR part 93 or unless
otherwise authorized or required by the ATC facility having
jurisdiction over the Class E airspace area, each pilot
operating an aircraft on or in the vicinity of an airport in a
Class E airspace area must comply with the requirements
of Class G airspace. Each pilot must also comply with any
traffic patterns established for that airport in 14 CFR 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 within
four nautical miles from the airport, up to and including 2,500
feet AGL. However, if the aircraft radio fails in flight, the PIC
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 in flight under IFR, the pilot should
continue the flight by the route assigned in the last ATC
clearance received; or, if being radar vectored, by the direct
route from the point of radio failure to the fix, route, or
airway specified in the vector clearance. In the absence of
an assigned route, the pilot should continue by the route
that ATC advised may be expected in a further clearance;
or, if a route had not been advised, by the route filed in the
flight plan. Additionally, beginning January 1, 2020, aircraft
operating in the Class E airspace described in 14 CFR part 91,
section 91.225, must have ADS-B Out equipment installed,
which meets the performance requirements of 14 CFR part
91, section 91.227.
Class G
When approaching to land at an airport without an operating
control tower in Class G airspace:
1. Each pilot of an airplane must make all turns of that
airplane to the left unless the airport displays approved
light signals or visual markings indicating that turns
should be made to the right, in which case the pilot
must make all turns to the right.
2. Each pilot of a helicopter or a powered parachute must
avoid the flow of fixed-wing aircraft.
prior to entering the airspace and thereafter maintained while
within the airspace.
A pilot departing from the primary airport or satellite airport
with an operating control tower must establish and maintain
two-way radio communications with the control tower,
and thereafter as instructed by ATC while operating in the
Class C airspace area. If departing from a satellite airport
without an operating control tower, the pilot must establish
and maintain two-way radio communications with the ATC
facility having jurisdiction over the Class C airspace area as
soon as practicable after departing.
Unless otherwise authorized by the ATC having jurisdiction
over the Class C airspace area, all aircraft within Class C
airspace must be equipped with the appropriate transponder
equipment meeting all applicable specifications found in 14
CFR part 91, section 91.215. Additionally, beginning January
1, 2020, aircraft operating in the Class C airspace described
in 14 CFR part 91, section 91.225, must have ADS-B
Out equipment installed, which meets the performance
requirements of 14 CFR part 91, section 91.227.
Class D
No pilot may take off or land an aircraft at a satellite airport
within a Class D airspace area except in compliance with
FAA arrival and departure traffic patterns. A pilot departing
from the primary airport or satellite airport with an operating
control tower must establish and maintain two-way radio
communications with the control tower, and thereafter as
instructed by ATC while operating in the Class D airspace
area. If departing from a satellite airport without an operating
control tower, the pilot must establish and maintain two-
way radio communications with the ATC facility having
jurisdiction over the Class D airspace area as soon as
practicable after departing.
Two-way radio communications must be established and
maintained with the ATC facility providing air traffic services
prior to entering the airspace and thereafter maintained while
within the airspace.
If the aircraft radio fails in flight under IFR, the pilot should
continue the flight by the route assigned in the last ATC
clearance received; or, if being radar vectored, by the direct
route from the point of radio failure to the fix, route, or
airway specified in the vector clearance. In the absence of
an assigned route, the pilot should continue by the route
that ATC advised may be expected in a further clearance;
or, if a route had not been advised, by the route filed in the
flight plan.