How is the world’s airspace divided?
Flight Information Regions (FIRs)
These are administered by the countries which they overfly.
What percentage of the world’s airspace is Australia’s FIR?
11%
How is the Australian FIR divided?
Two sub FIRs administered from Melbourne and Brisbane respectively.
What is controlled airspace?
Areas of the greatest need - where traffic levels warrant the greatest level of protection.
To operate in controlled airspace pilots will require an airways clearance specifying the route and altitude the aircraft is allowed to fly.
What is uncontrolled airspace?
Airspace that does not require clearance to operate in.
Air Traffic Control provides an advisory service to uncontrolled airspace.
The majority of light aircraft and helicopters operate outside or underneath controlled airspace.
In uncontrolled airspace, pilots are often not visible to air traffic control but must still follow visual flight rules (VFR) or instrument flight rules (IFR).
In uncontrolled airspace controllers do not provide separation but provide a Flight Information Service and Traffic Information Service to aircraft flying on IFR and an on-request service to aircraft flying on VFR.
What is Class A airspace?
High-level en-route controlled airspace is used predominately by commercial and passenger jets.
Only IFR flights are permitted and they require an ATC clearance.
All flights are provided with an air traffic control service and are positively separated from each other.
What is Class C airspace?
Controlled airspace surrounding major airports.
Both IFR and VFR flights are permitted and must communicate with air traffic control.
IFR aircraft are positively separated from both IFR and VFR aircraft.
VFR aircraft are provided traffic information on other VFR aircraft.
Class C airspace has been established, starting from ground level, and extending in control area (CTA) ‘steps’.
What is Class D airspace?
Controlled airspace that surrounds general aviation and regional airports equipped with a control tower from sea level to 4500 feet.
All flights require ATC clearance.
What is Class E airspace?
Usually sits in a band beneath Class A to provide services for IFR aircraft but allow VFR aircraft to transit the airspace with only an on request service.
What is Class G airspace?
Uncontrolled airspace.
In a non radar environment, what changes to airspace class altitudes are there?
Class G - up to 18000ft
Class E - 18000 - 24500 ft (except where class C steps exist)
Class A - 24500 - 60000 ft
In a radar environment, what altitudes do various airspace classes cover?
Class A - 18000 - 60000 ft
Class D - ground to 4500 ft
Class E - 8500 - 12500 ft
Class G - ground to 8500 ft
What is a prohibited area?
Airspace within which the flight of aircraft is prohibited.
What is a restricted area?
Airspace within which the flight of aircraft is restricted in accordance with specified conditions.
In restricted airspace, aircraft movements are reduced to those with certain specified permissions.
E.g. airspace around military installations, high-density flying operations at an air show or other large public event.
Danger Area
Airspace within which activities dangerous to the flight of aircraft may exist at specified times.
E.g. civil flying training areas and gliding and parachuting areas.
If the PIC of an aircraft finds that the aircraft has entered a prohibited or restricted area what steps must they take?
− immediately have the aircraft flown to a position where it is not over the area; and
− when the aircraft reaches a position where it is not over the area, report the circumstances to air traffic control; and
− land at such aerodrome as is designated by air traffic control and, for that purpose, obey any instructions given by air traffic control as to the movement of the aircraft.
What airspace classes are controlled aerodromes located in?
Class C and Class D
What services do aerodromes in Class C airspace have?
Approach control service – arrival and departure service from a controlled aerodrome provided within a Terminal Control Area (TMA)
Aerodrome control service – controls landing and take-off clearances and surface movements.
What is a Terminal Control Area (TMA)?
A control area normally at the confluence of Air Traffic Service routes around major aerodromes where air traffic services are provided by Approach and Departures control.
A Terminal Control Unit (TCU) provides the Air Traffic Service within the TMA.
What must a PIC do at a controlled aerodrome?
What class of airspace are uncontrolled aerodromes found in?
Class G
How do pilots advise of their intentions at an uncontrolled aerodrome?
Using the Common Terminal Advisory Frequency (CTAF)
What rules shall a PIC abide by at an uncontrolled aerodrome?
What are the separation minima for an uncontrolled aerodrome?
An aircraft must not commence take off until a preceding departing aircraft (using the same runway) has:
An aircraft must not commence take off until: