What are Class B airports?


What are Class B airports? The airspace around the busiest US airports is classified as ICAO Class B, and the primary airport (one or more) for which this airspace is designated is called Class B airport. As of January 2023, there are 37 Class B airports in the United States.


Can a private pilot land at a Class B airport?

No person may take off or land a civil aircraft at the following primary airports within Class B airspace unless the pilot-in-command holds at least a private pilot certificate: Andrews Air Force Base, MD. Atlanta Hartsfield Airport, GA. Boston Logan Airport, MA.


What is Class A in airport?

There are six classifications of airspace in the United States; A, B, C, D, E, and G. Class A is the most restrictive and Class G the least restrictive. They can be categorized as: Class A – 18,000 feet and higher above mean sea level (MSL). Class B – Airspace around the 40 most congested airports in the country.


What is a Class B flight?

B - Economy/Coach – Usually an upgradable fare to Business. C - Business Class. D - Business Class Discounted. E - Shuttle Service (no reservation allowed) or Economy/Coach Discounted. F - First Class.


What are Level 3 airports?

When the number of flights increases to a level that creates regular and significant flight delays, and infrastructure improvements to manage the capacity are not feasible in the near future, the airport may be declared a Level 3 airport by the FAA.


What does B mean in aviation?

Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS–B) is an advanced surveillance technology that combines an aircraft's positioning source, aircraft avionics, and a ground infrastructure to create an accurate surveillance interface between aircraft and ATC.


What color is a class C airport?

Class C Airspace (Mandatory Radar) A shelf area with an outer radius of 10 nautical miles surrounds the core area. It extends from 1200 feet AGL to 4000 feet AGL. The airspace is depicted on charts as 2 concentric magenta circles. For example, an airport with a surface altitude of 500 feet MSL is depicted above.


How do you fly into a class C airport?

Class C service requires pilots to establish two-way radio communications before entering Class C airspace. If the controller responds to a radio call with, “(a/c call sign) standby,” radio communications have been established and the pilot can enter Class C airspace.


What are Class C airports?

Class C airspace areas are designed to improve aviation safety by reducing the risk of mid-air collisions in the terminal area and enhance the management of air traffic operations therein. Aircraft operating in these airspace areas are subject to certain operating rules and equipment requirements.


Are Class D airports controlled?

Class D airports have an Air Traffic Control Tower to coordinate airport operations. However, unlike Class B and C airports, they don't require a mandatory approach and departure control (though many do have approach/departure).


What is the difference between Class B and Class C airports?

Most Class C airports are home to flight schools and small aircraft hangars as well as scheduled service by airlines. While still busy, Class C airports have less traffic than Class B, so ATC doesn't need as much space to keep them organized. Like Class B, approach control services are provided.


How do you fly to a Class B airport?

To enter Class B airspace, all aircraft must meet the following requirements:
  1. ATC clearance required to enter.
  2. Establish and maintain two-way communication prior to entering and while in airspace.
  3. Mode C transponder (within 30 nm, up to 10,000 feet msl)
  4. Student pilot operations restricted.