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Chapter 7. Airspace

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Chapter 7. Airspace Guam and CNMI Military Relocation Final EIS (July 2010) CHAPTER 7. AIRSPACE 7.1 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT 7.1.1 Definition of Resource 7.1.1.1 Airspace Management Airspace management is defined as directing, controlling, and handling flight operations in the volume of air that overlies the geopolitical borders of the United States (U.S.) and its territories. In the U.S., airspace is a resource that is managed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with established policies, designations, and flight rules to protect aircraft on the airfield, en route, in Special Use Airspace (SUA) identified for military and other governmental activities, in other military training airspace, and for ground training activities that require the use of airspace over ground firing areas or other hazardous activities on the ground that impact the airspace overlying the activity. The FAA Western Service Area (Renton, Washington) provides guidance and control of U.S. territory airspace in the Pacific that includes Guam and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). Guam Air Traffic Control, Guam Approach Control and Guam Departure Control manage air traffic in Guam. Andersen Air Force Base (AFB) also has tower controllers. For airspace outside of the U.S. and its territories, rules are agreed to by members of the International Civil Aviation Organization, an agency of the United Nations, that codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the coordination, planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth. The practices used to manage airspace consider how the airspace is designated, used, and administered to best accommodate the individual and common needs of the military, commercial organizations, and private aviation enthusiasts. Because of these multiple and sometimes competing demands, the FAA considers all ground training activities that require airspace in addition to requirements related to airport operations, federal airways (FAA air routes approved for use at different altitudes and provided on aeronautical charts available for pilots), jet routes, military flight training activities, military ground training activities and other special needs to determine how the National Airspace System can best be structured to satisfy all user requirements. Classifications National airspace is divided into two broad categories, controlled and uncontrolled airspace. The FAA provides a detailed description of the classifications in FAA Order 7400.2G. Within these two categories, there are a variety of classifications that determine flight rules, pilot qualifications, and aircraft capabilities required in order to operate within any section of the airspace. The specific classification of any area is determined by the FAA and is broadly based upon the following: • Complexity or density of aircraft movements • Nature of operations conducted within the airspace • Level of safety required • National and public interest It is important that pilots, dispatchers and managers be familiar with the operational requirements of each of the various types of airspace in order to assess their impact on the ground activity underlying them and potential conflicts for agency aircraft operating above agency lands. It is also incumbent on both the pilot VOLUME 2: MARINE CORPS – GUAM 7-1 Airspace Guam and CNMI Military Relocation Final EIS (July 2010) and the dispatcher to be familiar with all the points of contact regarding controlled and SUA. There is no “one call solves all” point of contact in airspace coordination. Each type of airspace has its own designated unit that is responsible for controlling, scheduling and/or coordinating the use of the designated portion of the National Airspace System. It is important that pilots, dispatchers and managers be familiar with the operational requirements of each of the various types of airspace in order to assess their impact on the ground activity underlying them and potential conflicts for agency aircraft operating above agency lands. Visual Flight Rules (VFR) are a standard set of rules that all pilots, both civilian and military, must follow when not operating under instrument flight rules and in visual meteorological conditions. These rules require that pilots remain clear of clouds and avoid other aircraft. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) are a standard set of rules that all pilots, civilian and military, must follow when operating under flight conditions that are more stringent than visual flight rules. These conditions include operating an aircraft in clouds, operating above certain altitudes prescribed by FAA regulations, and operating in some locations such as major civilian airports. Air Traffic Control (ATC) agencies ensure separation of all aircraft operating under IFR. To describe how airspace is structured and managed, the explanation is grouped into major categories with sub-categories and definitions. Figure 7.1-1 shows the airspace classifications and features of each class of airspace are summarized in Table 7.1-1. • Class A Airspace (Controlled). Class A Airspace Areas include airspace from 18,000 feet (ft) (5,486 meters [m]) above mean sea level (msl) up to 60,000 ft (18,288 m) msl, including the airspace overlying the waters within 12 nautical miles (nm) (22.3 kilometers [km]) of the coast of the 48 contiguous states, U.S. Territories, Alaska, and Hawaii. All operations within Class A airspace must be under IFR and are under direct control of ATC or positive control. Class A airspace always starts at 18,000 ft (5,486 m) msl and it is not specifically charted or designated on commonly used maps. All flights in Class A airspace are under positive control. • Class B Airspace (Controlled). This airspace surrounds the nation’s busiest commercial airports. This is the most congested airspace and has the most complex mix of aircraft operations with everything from single engine trainers to high speed jet transports. At its core, it extends from the surface airspace areas to 10,000 ft (3,048 m) msl. The overall shape of Class B can be likened to an upside down wedding cake of several layers (Figure 7.1-1). Each layer is divided into sectors with the exact dimensions and shape individually tailored to meet local traffic and safety needs. The outer limit of Class B can extend to 30 nm (55.8 km) from the primary airport. ATC clearance is required to operate in Class B airspace areas. To increase safety, the airspace is designed to minimize the number of turns aircraft are required to perform as they descend to an airport, while still enabling other aircraft to safely transition the area. Class B airspace is charted on sectional charts, IFR Enroute Low Altitude Charts, and terminal area charts. Operations must be with air traffic clearance. VOLUME 2: MARINE CORPS – GUAM 7-2 Airspace Guam and CNMI Military Relocation Final EIS (July 2010) Figure 7.1-1. Airspace Classifications Table 7.1-1. Airspace Features for Classes of Airspace Airspace Features Class A Class B Class C Class D Class E Class G Positive Airport Traffic General Former Airspace Terminal Airport Radar Uncontrolled Control Area and Controlled Equivalent Control Area Service Area Airspace Area Control Zone Airspace Operations Permitted IFR IFR and VFR IFR and VFR IFR and VFR IFR and VFR IFR and VFR ATC ATC ATC Clearance for Clearance for Clearance for ATC ATC Entry Requirements IFR. All IFR. All IFR. All None Clearance Clearance require Radio require Radio require Radio Contact Contact Contact Private or Minimum Pilot Instrument Student Student Student student None Qualifications Rating Certificate Certificate Certificate certificate Two-way Radio Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes for IFR No Communications VFR Minimum 3 statute NA 3 statute mi 3 statute mi 3 statute mi 1 statute mi Visibility miles (mi) 500’ below, 500’ below, 500’ below, VFR Minimum Clear of 1,000’ above 1,000’ above 1,000’ above Clear of NA distance from Clouds Clouds and 2,000’ and 2,000’ and 2,000’ Clouds horizontal horizontal horizontal IFR, SVFR, IFR, SVFR, IFR and Aircraft Separation All All and runway and runway None SVFR operations operations Workload Workload Workload Traffic Advisories NA NA Yes permitting permitting permitting Safety Alerts Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Differs from International Civil No Yes Yes Yes for VFR No Yes for VFR Aviation Organization Changes the Existing No Yes for VFR No Yes No No Rule Legend: SVFR= Special Visual Flight Rules VOLUME 2: MARINE CORPS – GUAM 7-3 Airspace Guam and CNMI Military Relocation Final EIS (July 2010) • Class C Airspace (Controlled). This airspace surrounds the busy airports of mid-sized cities with a large number of commercial flight operations as well as some military airports. An operating control tower at the primary airport and radar services are key components of Class C airspace. The overall shape is also that of an upside down wedding cake but there are only two layers. The inner ring has a radius of 5 nm (9.3 km) and is from the surface up to, but not including 4,000 ft (1,219 m) above airport elevation. The outer ring has a radius of 10 nm (18.5 km) and is from 1,200 ft (366 m) above ground level (AGL) to 4,000 ft (1,219 m) above airport elevation. A third ring with a 20 nm (37 km) radius exists in which air traffic control provides traffic separation services to pilots flying under VFR who voluntarily request this service. Radio communications must be established with ATC prior to entering Class C airspace but specific permission to operate within the airspace is not required as it is in Class A and B. Class C airspace is charted on sectional charts, IFR Enroute Low Altitude Charts, and in specific terminal area charts. Aircraft flight operations within Class C airspace should be viewed as complex and would normally require planning and coordination similar to that for operations in Class B airspace.
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