Class C Airspace

Hey Charlie, there’s some airspace up ahead

Yes, there is, and it’s fairly straightforward and simple airspace at that.  Not only are the dimension of Class C airspace easy to understand, it is also easy to enter.

The Requirements to Enter:

• Transponder
• Two-way radio communication (usually by first calling approach control)
• Establish communication with approach control (or in rarer circumstances, call tower directly).

The Defaults:

• Inner ring is 5nm radius, from the surface to 1,200′ agl
• Outer ring is 10nm radius, from 1,200′ agl to 4,000′ agl (these are default values, actual floor and ceiling values will be given in MSL, i.e. The airport is at 500′ msl, the floor of the outer ring would be 1,700’msl (1,200′ agl) and 4,500′ msl for the ceiling of the outer ring).
• Class C airports typically have some airline traffic, but maybe only 20-30 flights per day.
• They will have Ground Control, Tower, and Approach Control.
• Approach Control typically controls an area 20-30 miles from the airport, yet you only LEGALLY need to talk to them if you are entering into Class C airspace.  It is still a good idea to contact them even if you are just flying by near or the Class C airspace “rings”.

Above you’ll find a video of how to fly into Class Charlie airspace from another airport. Below you can find a video of how to depart a Class C airport and what steps you’ll need to take in contacting all the appropriate air traffic controllers: