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Special Use

This diagram helps understand how to find airspace classes on a sectional chart; and summarizes some of their requirements and limitations.

Sectional Chart Airspace VFR airspace requirements

Controlled and Uncontrolled

Controlled (AIM 3-2)/ Uncontrolled (AIM 3-3) Airspace
Name Authority Notes
Class A
  • 180 to 600 hft MSL ∩ above 15 hft AGL
  • IFR only
Class B
  • surface to 100hft MSL (generally)
  • private pilot certificate (if not otherwise disallowed: student pilot with endorsement)
  • ‘Mode C veil’ within 30nm of airport
Class C
  • surface to 40 hft AGL (generally)
Class D
  • surface to 25 hft AGL (generally)
Class E
  • 145 to 180 hft MSL ∩ above 15 hft AGL
  • above 600 hft MSL
Class G
  • everywhere else
  • uncontrolled

Special Use

Special Use Airspace (AIM 3-4)
Name Authority Notes
Prohibited
  • flight prohibited
Restricted
  • flight prohibited when active (‘hot’); permitted when inactive
  • check sectional (and NOTAM) and/or controlling agency for time and altitude of activity
Warning
  • AIM 3-4-4
  • like Restricted, but over water
Military Operations
(MOA)
  • AIM 3-4-5
  • don't need clearance, but “exercise extreme caution”
  • check sectional (and NOTAM) and/or controlling agency for time and altitude of activity
  • activity may be unusual (prohibitions against aerobatic flight possibly waived)
  • separation service for IFR flight
Alert
  • AIM 3-4-6
  • don't need clearance, but “be particularly alert”
  • check sectional (and NOTAM) and/or controlling agency for time and altitude of activity
  • activity follows CFRs (no waiver); but possibly higher volume
  • no separatation service for IFR flight
Controlled Firing
  • AIM 3-4-7
  • not charted
  • activity stopped automatically

Other

Other Airspace Areas (AIM 3-5)
Name Authority Notes
Military Training Route
(MTR)
  • AIM 3-5-2
  • four digits: no segment above 1500 AGL
Temporary Flight Restriction
(TFR)
  • AIM 3-5-3
VFR Routes:
VFR Flyway
  • AIM 3-5-5a
  • outside of, or inside lateral boundary of but above/below, Class B
  • clearance not required
  • remain in communication of some ATC?
VFR Corridor
  • AIM 3-5-5b
  • ‘hole’ through Class B airspace
  • clearance not required
  • uncommon
VFR Transition Route
  • AIM 3-5-5c
  • within Class B airspace
  • clearance required within Class B
  • available in some Class B
Terminal Radar Service Area
(TRSA)
  • AIM 3-5-6
  • not regulatory: not part of 14 CFR 71 or 91
Special Flight Rules Area
(SFRA)
  • AIM 3-5-7

References

  1. Teaching MOAs and Restricted Areas Training Aid

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