Interagency Airspace Coordination Guide July 29, 2003 JULY 29, 2003 INTERAGENCY AIRSPACE COORDINATION GUIDE Page i Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 Introduction I. Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1-1 II. Background..................................................................................................... 1-2 III. Purpose, Objectives and Goals ...................................................................... 1-3 IV. Authority.......................................................................................................... 1-4 V. Participating Agencies..................................................................................... 1-4 VI. Guide Organization ......................................................................................... 1-4 VII. Ordering and Distribution ................................................................................ 1-4 VIII. Review and Revisions..................................................................................... 1-5 Figure 1-1 Example of Aviation Traffic in Continental United States ................. 1-5 CHAPTER 2 Agency Organizations, Roles and Responsibilities, and Airspace Committees I. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ............................................................ 2-1 A. FAA Facilities and Functions ............................................................................. 2-2 B. Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) ........................................................ 2-2 Figure 2-1 FAA Regional Boundaries and Regional Office Locations ..............2-2 Figure 2-2 ARTCC Boundary Symbol ..............................................................2-3 C. Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON)................................................... 2-3 D. Flight Service Stations (FSS)............................................................................. 2-3 Figure 2-3 FAA Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC) ............................ 2-4 Figure 2-4 ARTCC Boundaries overlaid on FAA Regional Boundaries ............2-4 E. Flight Standard District Offices (FSDOs) ........................................................... 2-5 F. The United States NOTAM Office (USNOF)...................................................... 2-5 G. The National Flight Data Center (NFDC) .......................................................... 2-5 II. Department of Defense................................................................................... 2-5 A. Military Representative to the FAA (MilReps) .................................................... 2-6 1. Air Force Representative (AFREP) ..........................................................................2-6 2. Navy Representative (NAVREP) ..............................................................................2-6 3. Army Representative (DARR).................................................................................. 2-7 B. Other Sources of Assistance Within DoD .......................................................... 2-7 1. Airspace Manager ...................................................................................................2-7 2. Air Traffic Representative (ATRep) ..........................................................................2-7 C. Using, Controlling and Scheduling Agencies/Activities For SUA/MTR .............. 2-8 1. Using Agency ..........................................................................................................2-8 2. Scheduling Agency/Activity ......................................................................................2-8 3. Controlling Agency ...................................................................................................2-8 Page ii INTERAGENCY AIRSPACE COORDINATION GUIDE JULY 29, 2003 III. Land Management Agencies (USDA-FS, DOI and States) ............................ 2-9 A. Land Management Dispatch/Logistical Support Organizations......................... 2-9 1. National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) (http://www.nifc.gov) ................................2-9 2. National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) ................................................ 2-10 3. Geographic Area Coordination Centers ................................................................ 2-10 Figure 2-5 Geographic Areas and Coordination Centers (GACC) ................. 2-10 4. Local Dispatch Coordination Centers .................................................................... 2-11 Figure 2-6 Dispatch Organization and Ordering Channels ............................. 2-11 VI. Land Management Agencies Roles And Responsibilities ............................. 2-12 A. State or Regional Aviation Manager ................................................................ 2-12 B. Agency Resource Managers ........................................................................... 2-13 C. National Interagency Coordination Center (http://www.nifc.gov) ..................... 2-13 D. Geographic Area Coordination Center ............................................................ 2-14 E. Local Dispatch and Aviation Staff .................................................................... 2-15 F. Pilot.................................................................................................................. 2-17 G. On-Scene Personnel ....................................................................................... 2-18 H. Air Tactical Group Supervisor .......................................................................... 2-20 I. Airspace Coordination Specialist (THSP) ........................................................ 2-21 V. Airspace Committees .................................................................................... 2-24 A. Interagency Airspace Natural Resource Coordination Group (IANRCG) ........ 2-24 B. USAF/ANG Airspace and Range Council Meetings ........................................ 2-25 Figure 2-7 Airspace and Range Council Meeting Boundaries ......................... 2-25 C. Interagency Military Land Use Coordination Committee (IMLUCC) ................ 2-26 D. Federal Interagency Committee for Aviation Noise (FICAN) (www.fican.org) . 2-26 E. DOT/NPS Interagency Working Group (IWG) (www.nps.gov) ........................ 2-26 F. DoD Policy Board on Federal Aviation (PBFA) ................................................ 2-27 G. FAA Users Group/Users Forum....................................................................... 2-28 H. Other Committees and Groups ....................................................................... 2-28 VI. Aviation Interest Committees and Groups .................................................... 2-28 A Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) (www.aopa.org) .................... 2-28 B. National Business Aircraft Association (NBAA) (www.nbaa.org) ..................... 2-28 C. Helicopter Association International (HAI) (www.rotor.com) ............................ 2-28 D. National Broadcasting Pilot’s Association (NBPA) (www.nbpa.rotor.com)....... 2-29 CHAPTER 3 Airspace Basics I. The National Airspace System (NAS) ............................................................. 3-1 II. Conceptualizing Airspace................................................................................ 3-1 A. Volume............................................................................................................... 3-1 B. Proximity ............................................................................................................ 3-1 C. Time................................................................................................................... 3-2 D. Attributes ........................................................................................................... 3-2 III. Understanding VFR/IFR Flight Terms ............................................................. 3-2 IV. Airspace Categories........................................................................................ 3-3 JULY 29, 2003 INTERAGENCY AIRSPACE COORDINATION GUIDE Page iii V. Overview of Airspace Designations of the United States ................................ 3-4 VI. Airspace Classifications .................................................................................. 3-5 A. Class A Airspace Areas...................................................................................... 3-5 Figure 3-1 Airspace Classifications ..................................................................3-5 B. Class B Airspace Areas ..................................................................................... 3-6 Figure 3-2 Class B Airspace .............................................................................3-6 C. Class C Airspace Areas ..................................................................................... 3-6 Figure 3-3 Class C Airspace ............................................................................ 3-7 D. Class D Airspace Areas ..................................................................................... 3-7 Figure 3-4 Class D Airspace ............................................................................ 3-7 E. Class E Airspace Areas ..................................................................................... 3-8 Figure 3-5 Class E Airspace .............................................................................3-8 F. Class F Airspace Areas ....................................................................................