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 National Airspace System Class Echo Class E Airspace ­ What You Need To Learn Class E airspace is the most common type of airspace in the United States. It's also the most confusing ­ because its requirements are so different from other classes of controlled airspace. What do you need to know about Class E airspace? This section covers: ● What Class E airspace is and why it exists ● How it's shown on a sectional chart ● VFR weather minimums ● Radio communication requirements ● Speed restrictions ● Required equipment inside Class E airspace 1 of 13 1. Intro ­ Class E Airspace What Is Class E Airspace? Class E is nearly everywhere ­ and it starts at different altitudes all over the map. That fact alone makes it confusing to understand. Plus, it's controlled airspace, but under VFR, you don't need to talk to ATC. So ­ why is it so complicated?!? To really understand Class E airspace, you need to understand why it exists. Class E airspace separates VFR (visual flight rules) and IFR (instrument flight rules) traffic. In fact, it's really designed to protect IFR flights. And, IFR flights occur in any weather ­ good and bad ­ so understanding Class E rules is very important to a VFR pilot. Why Is It "Controlled" Airspace? If you fly VFR in Class E airspace, you don't need to talk to ATC. But, if you fly IFR in Class E airspace, you not only need to talk to ATC, but you also need a specific ATC clearance for your route of flight. That's why Class E airspace is considered "controlled" airspace. Why Does It Start At So Many Altitudes? Class E airspace protects aircraft from takeoff to landing ­ so you can break down the airspace in four groups by phases of flight: 1. Class E airspace at an airport 2. Class E airspace that transitions you from the airport to the en­route airspace 3. Class E airspace that covers the en­route section of your flight 4. Class E airspace starting at FL600 (Important if you're flying a U2 spy plane) How High Does It Go? Unlike other types of controlled airspace, ​
Class E airspace doesn't have a published ceiling​
. Instead, it stops when it hits the floor of Class A, B or C airspace above it. 2 of 13 2. Starting at the Surface for an airport You'll find Class E airspace at both tower controlled and uncontrolled airports. While the field may not have a control tower, Class E is always considered "controlled" airspace. When you see Class E airspace starting from the surface at an airport, it's a good bet that the airport has precision instrument approaches. The shape of the Class E airspace varies to protect different approach paths. Class E Airports ­ Airspace Borders When Class E airspace starts at the surface, sectional charts outline it with a dashed magenta line. You'll notice that the airspace doesn't have a published ceiling. Remember that Class E airspace always extends up until it hits the floor of more controlled airspace ­ A, B or C. (Class D airspace is also more controlled, but it always starts at the surface.) These airports don't have a control tower, so there's no ATC to talk to in the pattern Odd Shapes Class E airspace starting from the surface is usually shaped like a circle ­ but sometimes it has odd rectangular or wedge­shaped extensions. These extensions protect traffic on arrival and departure paths. Usually, they're aligned with the airport's precision instrument approaches. But, they can also protect traffic on departure paths with rising terrain. Extensions On D And C Airports You'll also find Class E extensions on some Class D and C surface areas. These extensions also protect approach and departure corridors. 3 of 13 Class E When Class D Towers Are Closed Some Class D airports have part­time towers. Usually, a part­time tower is only open during the day. When it closes, the Class D airspace reverts to Class E airspace. You'll find information on a tower's operating hours in the Airport/Facility Directory. 4 of 13 3. Transition Airspace Class E airspace also protects aircraft transitioning between an airport (called the "terminal area") and en­route airspace. This airspace starts at 700' AGL, and covers the airspace used by aircraft on an instrument approach. It also covers transition routes between some navaids and airports, and it covers departure paths with rising terrain. Class E Starting At 700' AGL ­ Borders Class E airspace starting at 700' AGL is shown by a thick magenta border with a gradient. The Class E at 700' AGL exists on the fuzzy, lighter side of the border. There's no published ceiling, because Class E extends up until it hits the floor of "more controlled" airspace ­ Class A, B or C. (Class D airspace is also more controlled, but it always starts at the surface.) Odd Shapes Approach procedures, navaids, terrain and nearby airports all affect the size and shape of a Class E transition area. So, you'll often see it shaped like a circle. Sometimes you'll see rectangular or wedge­shaped extensions, and sometimes the airspace will simply be a large, odd­shaped area. 5 of 13 4. En­Route Airspace Class E airspace protects most of the en­route airspace used by aircraft below 18,000' MSL (Class A airspace). Because Class E airspace is controlled, its floor depends on ATC's ability to control it. Over most of the United States, Class E en­route airspace starts at 1,200' AGL. However, in some remote areas, it starts at 14,500' MSL. And, in other areas, it may start at a seemingly random altitude. With all these variations, you'll never see a published ceiling. Remember, Class E airspace always extends up until it hits the floor of "more controlled" airspace ­ Class A, B or C. (Class D is also more controlled, but it always starts at the surface.) Class E Starting At 1,200' AGL Most of the Class E en­route airspace starts at 1,200' AGL. You'll see this airspace protecting victor airways, but it often covers entire sections of a sectional chart. Sectional charts show Class E starting at 1,200' AGL using a ​
thick blue border with a gradient​
. The E starting at 1,200' AGL exists on the fuzzy, lighter side of the border. However, in many busy areas, Class E starting at 1,200' AGL covers massive amounts of airspace. In this case, you may not see the borders on a sectional, because the airspace extends off the chart. 6 of 13 Class E Starting At 14,500' MSL In remote areas of the United States without much air traffic, you'll find Class E airspace starting at 14,500' MSL. This airspace lies on the ​
hard edge​
of the blue border used to show Class E starting at 1,200' AGL. You can think of it as "holes" in the airspace, where Class E doesn't start until 14,500' MSL. Class E Starting At Special Published Altitudes Sometimes, ATC requirements don't allow en­route Class E airspace to start at the standard 1,200' AGL or 14,500' MSL altitude. In this case, a ​
zigzagging blue border surrounds the airspace, and the floor appears in blue. The floor always specifies "AGL" or "MSL." This airspace can seem random ­ and often you'll find it in remote, small slivers. 7 of 13 5. VFR Weather Minimums below 10,000 MSL Now that you can identify Class E airspace, it's time to talk about the minimum weather you need to fly VFR in it. Class E minimum weather requirements exist so that you can see and avoid other aircraft, and stay out of the clouds. We'll break the minimums down into ​
two major categories​
: ● VFR weather minimums below 10,000 feet MSL ● VFR weather minimums 10,000 feet MSL and higher Why is there a difference in weather minimums at different altitudes? Starting at 10,000' MSL, you can fly faster than 250 knots, and ​
faster airplanes = higher weather minimums,​
so everyone can see­and­avoid each other. VFR weather minimums for Class E can be broken down into four distances: ● Visibility ● Height above clouds ● Height below clouds ● Horizontal distance from clouds The minimums are the same for both day and night. Visibility You need at least ​
3SM​
(statute miles) of visibility to operate VFR in Class E airspace, day or night. Height Above Clouds You need to stay ​
1000 feet above​
clouds, day or night. Height Below Clouds You need to stay ​
500 feet below​
clouds, day or night. Horizontal Distance From Clouds And last of all, you need to stay ​
2000 feet horizontally​
from clouds, day or night. 8 of 13 3 Cessna 152s An easy way to remember VFR weather minimums for Class E airspace below 10,000 feet MSL is the phrase "3 Cessna 152s". Each number in the phrase stands for one of the distances: ● 3SM visibility ● 1000' above ● 500' below ● 2000' horizontal Easy, right? 9 of 13 6. VFR Weather Minimums 10,000' MSL And Above Now let's go through the weather minimums at 10,000 feet MSL and higher. Remember, since you can fly faster than 250 knots starting at 10,000', faster speed = higher weather minimums. Visibility You need at least ​
5SM​
(statute miles) of visibility to operate VFR in Class E airspace, day or night. Above Clouds You need to stay ​
1000 feet above​
clouds, day or night. Below Clouds You need to stay ​
1000 feet below​
clouds, day or night. Horizontal And last of all, you need to stay ​
1SM​
(statute mile) horizontally from clouds, day or night. 5 F­111s An easy way to remember VFR weather minimums for Class E airspace at 10,000 feet MSL and above is the phrase "5 F­111s". Each number in the phrase stands for one of the distances: ● 5SM visibility ● 1000' above ● 1000' below ● 1SM horizontal Easy, right? The 1000' And 3 SM Rule When Class E airspace starts at the surface, you cannot fly under the ceiling (a broken or overcast cloud layer) when the ​
ceiling is less than 1000' AGL or the visibility is less than 3SM. When weather conditions are worse than 1000' and 3SM, IFR aircraft could be flying instrument approach procedures, and you wouldn't have the ability to see­and­avoid them as they break out to land. 10 of 13 Special VFR Weather Minimums Since Class E airspace is controlled to the surface, you may request a ​
Special VFR (SVFR) clearance​
when weather conditions are below the standard minimums. Under Special VFR, you must remain ​
clear of clouds and maintain a ​
flight visibility of at least 1SM.​
If you're taking off or landing, the reported ground visibility must be at least 1SM. You also need to hold a private pilot certificate, and you can only operate SVFR between sunrise and sunset. To operate SVFR after sunset, you must be qualified for instrument flight under FAR 61, and your aircraft must be equipped for instrument flight. To request a Special VFR clearance, contact Flight Service by phone or radio. They'll coordinate with the controlling ATC facility to issue a SVFR clearance. If traffic permits, ATC can clear you into the airspace under Special VFR. However, if aircraft are using instrument approach procedures for the airport, you won't be cleared. 11 of 13 7. Requirements and Restrictions Radio Communication Do you hear that? Neither did we. That's because ​
you don't need to talk to anybody in Class E airspace​
(when you're VFR). However, when you're flying into a Class E airport, we recommend that you communicate your position at all times on the traffic advisory frequency. Suggested Radio Communication At Class E Airports If you're landing at an airport in Class E airspace, you don't need to talk to anyone, or make any radio calls. However, it's ​
strongly​
recommended you do. The AIM suggests that you make position calls around a Class E airport at these points: ● 10 miles away from the airfield ● 5 miles away from the airfield ● Airfield overflight (if necessary) ● 45 degree entry to the downwind ● Downwind ● Base ● Final Speed Restrictions In Class E The speed restrictions in Class E are pretty straight forward. There's only one thing you need to think about: ● Flying below 10,000 feet MSL Class E Below 10,000' MSL In Class E, ​
you can't fly faster than 250 knots when you're below 10,000 feet MSL. So why is there a speed restriction below 10,000 feet? Think about the planes that fly lower than 10,000 feet, and the planes that fly higher. The airplanes that spend the majority of their time below 10,000 feet are usually ​
slower​
in comparison to the planes that spend the majority of their time above 10,000 feet. 12 of 13 By limiting planes from going faster than 250 knots below 10,000', it's easier for planes to ​
see and avoid ​
each other, helping reduce the chance of mid­air collisions. Required Equipment In Class E Equipment requirements for Class E airspace are pretty easy. ● If you're ​
10,000 feet MSL or higher, and more than 2,500 feet AGL​
, you need a Mode­C transponder ● If you're below 10,000 feet MSL, there's no required equipment ● Finally, if you're flying over the ​
lateral boundaries​
of Class C or Class B airspace, you need a transponder 13 of 13