#015 | Class E (Echo) Airspace (part 1 of 2) | AIM 3-2-6
Thank You For Listening…
If we learned anything from this episode, it’s that Scott Bores has heard a lot of things, from a lot of people that may or may not be sound. All kidding aside, the three of us looked for the mystical Lake Erie fish spotting law and came up with nothing… Scott is still looking tirelessly until the end of time and if he finds any thing I will add it to this page, but so far its a big fat nothing!
AIM 3-2-6 as of recording
a. Definition. Class E airspace is controlled airspace that is designated to serve a variety of terminal or en route purposes as described in this paragraph.
b. Operating Rules and Pilot/Equipment Requirements:
1. Pilot Certification. No specific certification required.
2. Equipment. Unless otherwise authorized by ATC:
(a) An operable radar beacon transponder with automatic altitude reporting capability and operable ADS-B Out equipment are required at and above 10,000 feet MSL within the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia, excluding the airspace at and below 2,500 feet above the service, and
(b) Operable ADS-B Out equipment at and above 3,000 feet MSL over the Gulf of Mexico from the coastline of the United States out to 12 nautical miles.
NOTE-
The airspace described in (b) is specified in 14 CFR 91.225 (FAR91.225) for ADS-B Out requirements. However, 14 CFR 91.215(FAR91.215) does not include this airspace for transponder requirements.
3. Arrival or Through Flight Entry Requirements. No specific requirements.
c. Charts. Class E airspace below 14,500 feet MSL is charted on Sectional, Terminal, and IFR Enroute Low Altitude charts.
d. Vertical limits. Except where designated at a lower altitude (see paragraph 3-2-6e, below, for specifics), Class E airspace in the United States consists of:
1. The airspace extending upward from 14,500 feet MSL to, but not including, 18,000 feet MSL overlying the 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia and Alaska, including the waters within nautical 12 miles from the coast of the 48 contiguous states and Alaska; excluding:
(a) The Alaska peninsula west of longitude 160 00’00″W.; and
(b) The airspace below 1,500 feet above the surface of the earth unless specifically designated lower (for example, in mountainous terrain higher than 13,000 feet MSL).
2. The airspace above FL 600 is Class E airspace.
e. Functions of Class E Airspace. Class E airspace may be designated for the following purposes:
1. Surface area designated for an airport where a control tower is not in operation. Class E surface areas extend upward from the surface to a designated altitude, or to the adjacent or overlying controlled airspace. The airspace will be configured to contain all instrument procedures.
(a) To qualify for a Class E surface area, the airport must have weather observation and reporting capability, and communications capability must exist with aircraft down to the runway surface.
(b) A Class E surface area may also be designated to accommodate part-time operations at a Class C or Class D airspace location (for example, those periods when the control tower is not in operation).
(c) Pilots should refer to the airport page in the applicable Chart Supplement U.S. for surface area status information.
2. Extension to a surface area. Class E airspace may be designated as extensions to Class B, Class C, Class D, and Class E surface areas. Class E airspace extensions begin at the surface and extend up to the overlying controlled airspace. The extensions provide controlled airspace to contain standard instrument approach procedures without imposing a communications requirement on pilots operating under VFR. Surface area arrival extensions become part of the surface area and are in effect during the same times as the surface area.
NOTE-
When a Class C or Class D surface area is not in effect continuously (for example, where a control tower only operates part-time), the surface area airspace will change to either a Class E surface area or Class G airspace. In such cases, the “Airspace” entry for the airport in the Chart Supplement U.S. will state “other times Class E” or “other times Class G.” When a part-time surface area changes to Class E airspace, the Class E arrival extensions will remain in effect as Class E airspace. If a part-time Class C, Class D, or Class E surface area becomes Class G airspace, the arrival extensions will change to Class G at the same time.
3. Airspace used for transition. Class E airspace areas may be designated for transitioning aircraft to/from the terminal or en route environment.
(a) Class E transition areas extend upward from either 700 feet AGL (shown as magenta vignette on sectional charts) or 1,2oo feet AGL (blue vignette) and are designated for airports with an approved instrument procedure.
(b) The 700-foot/1200-foot AGL Class E airspace transition areas remain in effect continuously, regardless of airport operating hours or surface area status.
NOTE-
Do not confuse the 700-foot and 1200-foot Class E transition areas with surface areas or surface area extensions.
4. En Route Domestic Areas. There are Class E airspace areas that extend upward from a specified altitude and are en route domestic airspace areas that provide controlled airspace in those areas where there is a requirement to provide IFR en route ATC services but the Federal airway system is inadequate.
5. Federal Airways and Low-Altitude RNAV Routes. Federal airways and low-altitude RNAV routes are Class E airspace areas and, unless otherwise specified, extend upward from 1,200 feet AGL to, but not including, 18,000 feet MSL.
(a) Federal airways consist of Low/Medium Frequency (L/MF) airways (colored Federal airways) and VOR Federal airways.
(1) L/MF airways are based on non-directional beacons (NDB) and are identified as green, red, amber, or blue.
(2) VOR Federal airways are based on VOR/VORTAC facilities and are identified by a “V” prefix.
(b) Low-altitude RNAV routes consist of T-routes and helicopter RNAV routes (TK-routes).
NOTE-
See AIM Paragraph 5-3-4, Airways and Route Systems, for more details and charting information.
6. Offshore Airspace Areas. There are Class E airspace areas that extend upward from a specified altitude to, but not including, 18,000 feet MSL and are designated as offshore airspace areas. These areas provide controlled airspace beyond 12 miles from the coast of the U.S. in those areas where there is a requirement to provide IFR en route ATC services and within which the U.S. is applying domestic procedures.
f. Separation for VFR Aircraft. No separation services are provided to VFR aircraft.
AIM 3-2-6