FREE ESSAY ON CONTROLLED AIRSPACE IN THE UNITED STATES

CONTROLLED AIRSPACE IN THE UNITED STATES

The value of controlled airspace in the United States is for the safety of all commercial
and general aviation flights. Utter chaos reigns in skies without controlled airspace.
With thousands of airplanes in the skies every day carrying hundred of thousand of people
the necessity of a means of controlling them becomes relevant. The (FAA) Federal Aviation
Administration is the regulative department of the United States Government that controls
the skies in the U.S. The FAA divided the airspace into different categories, all of
which have different regulations and limits on both horizontal and vertical airspace
restrictions. They are broken down into basically three distinct airspaces: Class B,
Class C, and Class D.
Class B airspace is controlled airspace that extends upward from the ground surface to a
specified altitude of 10,000 msl (mean sea level). All aircraft that operate in this
airspace are subject to regulations set forth by the FAA. Some of the requirements for
the pilot to operate in Class B airspace are: the pilot must at the minimum hold a
private pilot certificate, and a current medical certificate. The aircrafts operating in
Class B airspace must have at least three pieces of equipment; the first is a two-way
radio for communication. The second piece of equipment, a transponder, tracks the
aircraft's position. The third piece of equipment is a VOR (vertical omni range), which
directs the pilot's position. Also, in order to operate in Class B airspace a person must
obtain a clearance for ATC (Air Traffic Control). The speed limit in Class B airspace is
restricted to 200 knots.
Throughout the country, metropolitan airports designate Class C airspace with a set of
rings, extending from the surface of the earth to an altitude of 4,000 feet above the
airport elevation and a radius of 5nm (nautical miles) from the center of the airport.
This area is known as a primary Class C airport. There is an outer ring that extends out
10 nm from the airport and above the surface from 1,200 feet to 4,000 feet. This area is
used for transitioning to and from the airport. The operating rules in the Class C are
similar to that of the Class B. The pilot is required to hold at least a private pilot
license and a valid medical certificate and to be classified as "current." Current
requirement entails having completed at least three takeoffs and landings in the same
type of aircraft. The pilot must also complete a biannual flight review with a certified
fight instructor. The aircraft must be equipped with a two-way in order to communicate
with ATC, which is required prior to entering the airspace. The aircraft needs to have a
transponder with altitude encoding in order for ATC to track them in the air. The VOR is
also required for navigation in and around this airspace. Flights at or below 2,500 feet
within 4 nm of the airport must not exceed 200 knots. This speed restriction helps to
alleviate the noise caused by large aircraft over densely populated areas. A pilot is
required to have aboard the aircraft a sectional chart that depicts the airspace and
transition areas. 
The next airspace is the Class D. This area is generally the airspace above an airport,
from ground level to 2,500 feet and outward for 4 nm. The Class D airspace is considered
part of the airport itself. A pilot is required to hold the same license, have a valid
medical certification as the Class C and they must adhere to the same current
classification requirements. A pilot must already be in communication with ATC and be
cleared before entering the Class D airspace. Once the pilot is cleared he is transferred
to the airport tower, which handles all the traffic within that airspace. No matter
whether the aircraft is on the ground or in the air, the local tower is responsible for
guiding them safely within its boundaries. The speed is limited to 200 knots within this
airspace as well.
The airspace categories are a valuable asset to the United States transportation system
and has been designed to protect the public and ensure the safety of the thousands of
aircraft that transverse the skies. These areas are configured to allow aircraft to fly
from a relatively open area into the more congested airspace over the larger cities.
Without this system and its transition areas, air travel would be a very dangerous form
of transportation. 
Bibliography
"Class B, C, D Airspace" AOPA's Airport Directory. 2001-2001 ed.: 35-38