Airspace Basics
Define the National Airspace System (NAS) and explain its primary purpose
the invisible network of sky over the US - it divides airspace & sets rules for where/what altitude crafts fly at
Which airspace classes are represented by solid blue, solid magenta, and dashed blue lines on a sectional chart? (Match each to their common class - B, C, D)
Solid Blue - Class B
Solid Magenta - Class C
Dashed Blue - Class D
List the 5 types of Special Use Airspace remembered by the acronym PRAWM and give a brief description of each.
P-Prohibited (never fly), R-Restricted (need permission), A-Alert (training/unusual activity=fly with caution), W-Warning (hazardous areas often over water), M-MOA (military training, see-and-avoid applies)
Define latitude and longitude and give the degree ranges that approximately contain the continental US for each.
Latitude - horizontal lines parallel to equator (continental US - 25 degrees N to 49 degrees N). Longitude - vertical lines (continental US - 67 degrees W to 125 degrees W)
What is a towered airport vs. a non-towered airport? How are they indicated on a sectional chart (color/icons)?
Towered - have control tower (ATC), indicated with blue airport symbol on sectional. Non-Towered - magenta airport icon.
Contrast controlled vs uncontrolled airspace and give one example of where each is commonly found
Controlled - near busy airports with ATC (class B)
Uncontrolled - rural/smaller airports with no tower (class G)
For class D airspace, describe its shape, approximate vertical extent, and what happens when the control tower is not operating
Class D - cylindrical SFC to 2,500 ft MSL, radius 4NM. When tower is off, it reverts to Class E or G and waiver requirements change
What is a Prohibited area versus a Restricted area? Describe permission requirements for each.
Prohibited - no flights ever (national security)
Restricted - flights allowed only with controlling agency permission/coordination
Convert the decimal coordinate 46.93 degrees to degrees and minutes (show the steps).
Decimal conversion - 46.93 degrees becomes 0.93 X 60 = 55.8 minutes
46 degrees 55.8 minutes (rounded 56 minutes)
Explain the purpose of UNICOM frequency and two pieces of airport information that a UNICOM operator might give pilots.
UNICOM promotes advisory info (traffic advisories, wind direction, runway in use)
What is the role of ATC (Air Traffic Controllers) and why are they more prevalent at some airports than others?
ATC guide aircraft using radar/radio to ensure separation, more common at larger airports due to traffic volume
Compare Class C and Class B airspace in terms of size (layers/radii), typical vertical extent, and typical airport type (city/traffic leve)
Class C - two-layer upside-down wedding cake, inner 5NM/outer 10NM, up to 4,000 ft, used at medium airports. Class B - multiple-layered, up to 10,000 ft, around the largest airports
How are Military Operations Areas (MOAs) depicted (visual/pattern) and what responsibility do pilots have when flying through an active MOA?
MOAs - shown with magenta hashed lines - pilots are responsible for see-and-avoid military activity may be present. non-participating IFR traffic may be separated by ATC
Low-altitude navigation routes
Altitude 1,200 ft AGL to 18,000 ft MSL
Designated Class E
Define "traffic pattern" and describe the standard pattern direction and how an aircraft typically enters the pattern.
Traffic pattern: standard circuit around runway (usually left turns), enter at 45 degrees to the downwind leg
Describe what a sectional chart is and list 3 different types of information it provides to pilots.
Sectional chart - a VFR map showing airspace boundaries, obstacles, terrain elevation/color shading, airports, and radio frequencies, isogenic lines, etc.
Explain how numbers 110/30 are read: identify ceiling and floor, including units.
110/30 - ceiling - 11,000 ft MSL, floor = 3,000 ft MSL. Parenthesis indicate AGL if present (numbers shown in feet). SFC means surface.
What information do Notice to Airmen (NOTAMs) and Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) provide, and how should a drone pilot check for them before flight?
NOTAMs/TFRs provide time-critical, temporary airspace restrictions and hazards; drone pilots should check FAA NOTAMs/TFRs and services like LAANC or official NOTAM sources before flight.
Explain how degrees, minutes, and seconds relate (how many minutes in a degree, seconds in a minute) and how sectional chart spacing relates to minutes.
1 degree = 60' (min)
1' = 60" (sec)
Sectional chart quadrants are 0.5 degrees (30') of latitude x 0.5 degrees (30') longitude
A chart supplement lists the traffic pattern altitude for an airport. Describe 2 reasons why a drone operator should consult the chart supplement before flying near that airport.
Chart supplements provide the traffic pattern altitude, UNICOM frequencies, and operational notes (noise abatement, parachute activity).
1-Consult to avoid conflicts
2-Comply with local procedures
Explain Maximum Elevation Figures (MEFs) - what do the big and little numbers represent and how would a drone pilot use the MEF when planning a flight?
MEF big number = thousands of feet MSL - small/parenthesis = hundreds (AGL may be in parenthesis). Use MEF to ensure clearance above highest terrain/obstacle in quadrant
For each of these scenarios, identify the airspace class you would expect: a-busiest international metro airport, b-medium city with regular commercial service, c-small towered regional airport
a-Class B
b-Class C
c-Class D (small towered airports)
Describe isogenic lines - what do they show on a sectional chart and how do you use the label "W" versus "E" when converting between True North and Magnetic North?
Isogenic lines show variation between True and Magnetic North. If labeled "W" (west), you add the variation to convert from True to Magnetic. If labeled "E" (east), you subtract the variation.
A sectional chart shows a runway labeled RWY 09/27. Explain what those numbers mean in terms of compass headings, and why runways have reciprocal numbers.
RWY 09/27: RWY 09 = 90 degrees magnetic (east), RWY 27 = 270 degrees (west). Reciprocal runway = heading +/- 180 degrees.
A runway is listed as RWY 22. What magnetic heading does that imply? If the winds favor the reciprocal direction, which runway number would be used for takeoff/landing?
RWY 22 implies heading 220 degrees magnetic. Reciprocal is RWY 04 (approx 40 degrees).