What defines Class D airspace?

Introduction: Class Delta (also referred to as Class D) Airspace areas established around airports that have an Air Traffic Control Tower but do not provide radar services. Containing an Air Traffic Control Tower, Class D airspace areas provide services to pilots.



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Class D areas should normally extend upward from the surface up to and including 2,500 feet AGL. The altitude must be converted to MSL and rounded to the nearest 100 feet.

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Introduction: Class Delta (also referred to as Class D) Airspace areas established around airports that have an Air Traffic Control Tower but do not provide radar services. Containing an Air Traffic Control Tower, Class D airspace areas provide services to pilots.

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Class C airspace is used around airports with a moderate traffic level. Class D is used for smaller airports that have a control tower. The U.S. uses a modified version of the ICAO class C and D airspace, where only radio contact with ATC rather than an ATC clearance is required for VFR operations.

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At some airports that have part-time control towers, the Class D surface airspace becomes a Class E Surface Area during the hours the tower is closed. At other airports, the Class D airspace becomes Class G (uncontrolled) airspace.

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(b) Unless otherwise authorized or required by ATC, no person may operate an aircraft at or below 2,500 feet above the surface within 4 nautical miles of the primary airport of a Class C or Class D airspace area at an indicated airspeed of more than 200 knots (230 mph.).

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(2) Class B airspace is more restrictive than Class C, Class D, Class E, or Class G airspace; (3) Class C airspace is more restrictive than Class D, Class E, or Class G airspace; (4) Class D airspace is more restrictive than Class E or Class G airspace; and. (5) Class E is more restrictive than Class G airspace.

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The approval needed to enter Class C airspace is like Class D in that you do not need a specific clearance, but you do need to establish two-way communication with control. To be able to enter Class C airspace, a pilot must contact ATC prior to arrival.

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You can identify the Class D on a VFR sectional by a dashed blue line. The airspace will follow the extended lines of the instrument approaches to accommodate the arrival and departure paths of IFR traffic. The airspace normally extends from the surface up to a designated MSL altitude, normally 2500 ft. AGL.

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The flight visibility and cloud clearance for VFR operations in Class D airspace is 3 statute miles visibility, and 500 feet below, 1,000 feet above, 2,000 feet horizontal from all clouds.

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