Question
1. In what instances does controlled airspace start at ground level.
2. How is a airspace zone that does not allow Special VFR operations depicted on the Sectional?
3. What is Class A Airspace?
Answer
1. Class D Airspace
a. Class D airspace is regulatory in nature and established as controlled airspace. They extend upward from the surface and terminate 2500' AGL.
2. Class B Airspace
a. Class B Airspace consists of controlled airspace extending upward from the surface or higher to specified altitudes, within which all aircraft are subject to operating rules and pilot/equipment requirements specified in FAR 91....
3. Class C Airspace
a. Class C airspace consists of controlled airspace extending upward from the surface or higher to specified altitudes, within which all aircraft are subject to operating rules and pilot and equipment requirements specified in FAR 91.
SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE
AIM 3-31 PROHIBITED AREA
Prohibited Areas contain airspace of defined dimensions identified by an area on the surface of the earth within which the flight of aircraft is prohibited...
AIM 3-32 RESTRICTED AREA
a. Restricted Areas contain airspace identified by an area on the surface of the earth within which the flight of aircraft, while not wholly prohibited, is subject to restrictions....
AIM 3-33 WARNING AREA
Warning Areas are airspace which may contain hazards to non-participating aircraft in international airspace.....
AIM 3-35 ALERT AREA
Alert Areas are depicted on aeronautical charts to inform non-participating pilots of areas that may contain a high volume of pilot training or an unusual type of aerial activity....
2. AIM 4-85 e. Special VFR operations by fixed-wing aircraft are prohibited in some Class B airspace due to the volume of IFR traffic. A list of these control zones is contained FAR 93.113. They are also depicted on Sectional Aeronautical Charts with a note indicating No SVFR. San Francisco is such a control zone. Helicopters are an exception.
3. Class A Airspace
Positive Control Area is airspace so designated as positive control area in FAR 71.193. This area includes specified airspace within the coterminous U.S. from 18,000 feet to and including FL 600....
Question
1. What pilot and aircraft capabilities are required for night special VFR operations?
2. How is Class D airspace depicted on a sectional.
3. How is an airport that offers airport advisory service (not UNICOM) depicted on the sectional?
4. If controlled airspace starts at a level other than (1) ground, (2) 700' AGL, or (3) 1200' AGL how is the lower limit depicted on a sectional chart?
Answer
1. FAR 91.157e No person may operate an aircraft in Class C or D airspace under the special weather minimums of this section, between sunset and sunrise...unless:
(1) That person meets the applicable requirements for instrument flight under Part 61 of this chapter; and
(2) The aircraft is equipped as required in Sec. 91.205(d)
AIM 4-85 g. Special VFR operations by fixed-wing aircraft are prohibited between sunset and sunrise unless the pilot is instrument rated (current) and the aircraft is equipped for IFR flight. (Simply: IFR pilot and aircraft)
2. AIM Chapter 3 ...Class D airspace is indicated on aeronautical charts by the blue airport symbol with a dashed circle plus extensions.
AIM 3-2 shows 4.1 nautical mile radius circle up to but not including 2500'. See also AIM 4-52
3. AIM AIRPORT ADVISORY AREA
a. the airport advisory area is the area within 10 statute miles of an airport where a control tower is not operating but where a FSS is located. At such locations, the FSS provides advisory service to arriving and departing aircraft. See AIM 4-8
a. It is not mandatory that pilots participate in the Airport Advisory Service program, but it is strongly recommended that they do. AIM
COMMUNICATIONS FOR VFR FLIGHTS
a. FSS's are allocated frequencies for different functions; for example, 122.0 MHz is assigned as En Route Flight Advisory Service (Flight Watch) frequency at selected FSS's. In addition, certain FSS's provide Airport Advisory Service on 123.6 MHz. Other FSS frequencies are listed in the Airport/Facility Directory. If you are in doubt as to what frequency to use, 122.2 MHz is assigned to the majority of FSS's as a common en route simplex frequency....
b. Certain VOR voice channels are being utilized for recorded broadcasts; i.e., ATIS, HIWAS, etc. These services and appropriate frequencies are listed in the Airport/Facility Directory. On VFR flights, pilots are urged to monitor these frequencies. When in contact with a control facility, notify the controller if you plan to leave the frequency to monitor these broadcasts.
4. Refer to latest San Francisco Sectional. Representative areas north of Ukiah as shown with overlapping blocked blue lines. Altitudes are along block borders or inside areas. Extends along the Pacific Coast line at 5000'. This negates the necessity of following the terrain at 1200'. and allows level daytime flight in these areas below the named altitudes with minimums of 1 mile and clear of clouds. IFR and MOA operations will be above this level.
Question
1. What is the significance of daytime operation of an airport beacon?
2. Define and give actual V airspeeds for the aircraft you are using.
Define and give actual V airspeeds for the aircraft you are using.
3. What is the lower limit of controlled airspace in a transition area.
What is the purpose of a transition area? (No longer mentioned in AIM)
4. Discuss the color coding on the airspeed indicator.
Answer
1. AIM Chapter 2 AIRPORT (ROTATING) BEACONS
d. In Class D airspace, operations of the airport beacon during the hours of daylight often indicates that the ground visibility is less than 3 miles and/or the ceiling is less than 1,000 feet. ATC clearance in accordance with FAR 91 (SVFR) is required for landing, takeoff and flight in the traffic pattern.
Pilots should not rely solely on the operation of the airport beacon to indicate if weather conditions are IFR or VFR. At some locations with operating control towers, ATC personnel turn the beacon on or off when controls are in the tower. At many airports the airport beacon is turned on by a photoelectric cell or timer and ATC personnel cannot control them.
There is no regulatory requirement for daylight operation and it is the pilot's responsibility to comply with proper preflight planning as required by FAR 91.103. (No student SVFR)
2. Vso = the stalling speed or the minimum steady flight speed in the landing configuration; 35-40 kts.
Vs = the stalling speed or the minimum steady flight speed at which airplane is controllable; 40-50 kts.
Vx = speed for best angle of climb; 60 kts. This is the speed that gets you over the 50' FAA tree. Best altitude over distance.
Vy = speed for best rate of climb; 68 kts. this is the speed that gets you highest in a given amount of time.
Vno = means maximum structural cruising speed. This is where the green and orange arcs of the airspeed indicator meet.
Va = design maneuvering speed; 95 kts. This is the speed below which the aircraft is "guaranteed" not to fold, spindle, or mutilate with abrupt control movements.
Vne = never exceed speed. This is the red line speed of the airspeed indicator.
3. TRANSITION AREAS
a. Transition Areas are designated to contain IFR operations in controlled airspace. above uncontrolled airspace, during portions of the terminal IFR operation and while transitioning between the terminal and en route environment.
b. Transition Areas are controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface when designated in conjunction with an airport for which an instrument approach procedure has been prescribed (magenta shaded borders; or from 1,200 feet or more above the surface when designated in conjunction with airway route structures or segments (rarely indicate by blue borders any longer). Unless specified otherwise, Transition Areas terminate at the base of the overlying controlled airspace.
4. White arc - Normal flap operation speed range.
Yellow arc - Speed range where in turbulence reduction is required
Red line - Never exceed speed
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