What is Class B airspace in aviation?

Class B is a class of airspace in the United States which follows International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) airspace designation. Class B airspace areas are designed to improve aviation safety by reducing the risk of midair collisions in the airspace surrounding airports with high-density air traffic operations.



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What Is Considered Class B Airspace? Class Bravo (B) airspace is the 2nd most restrictive airspace after Class Alpha (A) airspace. It starts from the ground and extends up to 10,000' Mean Sea Level (MSL.) However, Denver and Atlanta are two exceptions here.

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Class B. Generally, from surface to 10,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) including the airspace from portions of Class Bravo that extend beyond the Mode C Veil up to 10,000 feet MSL (e.g. LAX, LAS, PHX)

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You must receive official clearance. Also, pilots must hold a minimum of a private pilot certification to enter Class B airspace.

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


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Flights. Aircraft within Class B airspace are required to operate in accordance with current IFR procedures. A clearance for a visual approach to a primary airport is not authorization for turbine- powered airplanes to operate below the designated floors of the Class B airspace.

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Class B airspace locations must include at least one primary airport around which the Class B airspace area is designated. General Design. There is no standard Class B design. Instead, the size and shape of the Class B airspace area will vary depending upon location-specific ATC operational and safety requirements.

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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.

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Class B Airspace, indicated by a solid blue line. Class B airspace is shown with a solid blue line around major airports in circles radiating outward.

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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.

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However, if you wish to operate in class A, B, or C airspace, or at an altitude of over 10,000' MSL, or within a 30 nautical mile radius of the primary airport in class B airspace, you will need a transponder and altitude encoder (commonly referred to as mode C).

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If you fly IFR in Class B airspace, your aircraft must have an operating VOR or TACANreceiver. VFR aircraft are exempt from this requirement, so if a controller tells you totrack to or from a VOR, and you don't have a working VOR receiver, you can replyunable, and the controller will give you a heading to fly.

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You may fly without ADSB under the Class B or Class C shelf provided you remain outside of any Mode C veil. §91.225 tells you where you cannot fly. It says you cannot fly within the lateral boundaries of the Class B or C airspace or above the airspace.

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Class A: All Airspace above 18,000 ft. Anybody flying here must receive a clearance from, be talking to, and be controlled by ATC. Class B: Airspace within approximately 30 miles and 10,000 feet of the ground around the busiest airports in the US.

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VFR aircraft must obtain an ATC clearance to operate in Class B airspace.

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You must receive official clearance. Also, pilots must hold a minimum of a private pilot certification to enter Class B airspace. Sport pilots, recreational pilots, and student pilots are not authorized to operate in Class B airspace.

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Such operations shall comply with paragraph (a) of this section. (c) No person may operate an aircraft in the airspace underlying a Class B airspace area designated for an airport or in a VFR corridor designated through such a Class B airspace area, at an indicated airspeed of more than 200 knots (230 mph).

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