Airspaces

Overview

Airspace classes according to ICAO

What is airspace? A simple question at first glance, but how about the details? Legislation states that airspace is the area that extends upwards over a certain part of the earth's surface.
However, with more and more air traffic, it was no longer possible to simply categorize ‘airspace’ as being the same everywhere. Rules had become necessary.

To this end, the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) introduced airspace classes. The categorisation of an airspace class regulates, among other things, who is allowed to fly in this airspace, whether they need clearance to do so, how fast they are allowed to fly and much more. In our everyday lives, this can be roughly compared to the introduction of different types of roads. Let's take a motorway as an example and compare it with a local road: while there is no speed limit on the German motorway, you are only allowed a top speed of 50 km/h in urban areas. Alternatively, let's take a look at who is allowed to drive there: Anyone can drive in urban areas, including cyclists. However, bicycles are not allowed on the motorway.
But now back from the road to the air: there are the airspace classes A, B, C, D, E, F and G. These in turn are divided into controlled airspaces (A-E), i.e. airspaces in which an IFR flight receives ATC service, and uncontrolled airspaces (F and G), in which there is only FIS and/or advisory service. A is the most restrictive airspace (for example, only IFR may fly here, VFR is absolutely prohibited), G is the least restricted airspace.


For the sake of simplicity, however, we will limit ourselves to the airspaces currently used in Germany, which are C, D, E and G. You can find an overview of these in the table below. For each air space class, the table shows whether and how different flight rules (VFR - visual flight rules and IFR - instrument flight rules) are separated from each other, what service the flight receives from air traffic control in this airspace, how fast it may fly, whether it must be in contact with a controller in this airspace (COM) and whether it requires an ATC clearance to enter this airspace.

S1-Airspace.png

You can find more information on airspaces on this link, although this is not mandatory for S1/S2 training.

In the two pictures you can see an example of what airspace structure in Germany might look like. The top image shows a large airport such as Munich, while the bottom image shows a smaller airport such as Bremen.

ATD_Airspaces Major.png


ATD_Airspaces Minor.png

Airspace class A

General

There are currently no class A airspaces in Germany. However, they are widespread in the rest of the world, e.g. in Australia, France, Italy, and Great Britain.

Airspace A is the most restrictive airspace of all, counts as controlled airspace and only permits IFR traffic. Let's take a look at the airspace rules.

Rules

Luftraum A.png

VMC Minima

As in all other airspaces, the following minima apply:

The VMC minima only serve as a guideline for pilots and do not mean that VFR flights are accepted.

Airspace class B

General

There are currently no class B airspaces in Germany. They are also not common in the rest of the world, but are typical in the USA. After airspace A, airspace B is the second most restrictive airspace in existence. Airspace B is controlled airspace.

The following rules apply in airspace B.

Rules

Luftraum B.png

In contrast to class A airspace, VFR flights are permitted in Bravo airspace. However, these are separated from all other flights.

VMC Minima

As in all other airspaces, the following minima apply:

Airspace class C

General

In Germany, airspace above FL100 upwards (or FL130 upwards Alpine regions) generally is Class C airspace. This is not always labelled on the charts. Otherwise, Charlie is usually found in the local traffic control area of commercial airports above the control zone to separate VFR traffic from the generally fast, heavy, commercial IFR traffic when the traffic load in the airspace increases. Airspace C is controlled airspace.

Rules

Luftraum C.png

In contrast to airspaces A and B, VFR flights have to independently separate from each other for the first time. We also have a speed limit for VFR traffic below FL100.

The EU stipulates that airspace class C must apply throughout Europe above FL195. However, as mentioned above, Germany is implementing this as low as FL100.

VMC Minima

As in all other airspaces, the following minima apply:

Airspace class D

General

In Germany, Delta is found in the local traffic control area of less frequented commercial airports in order to keep VFR apart traffic from the usually fast, heavy, commercial instrument flight traffic when the traffic load in the airspace increases. In addition, control zones in Germany are classified exclusively as delta airspace. Airspace D is controlled airspace.

Rules

Luftraum D.png

VMC Minima

As in all other airspaces, the following minima apply:

Special minimums in D(CTR):

Control zone (D-CTR)

A control zone (CTR) is the controlled airspace in the immediate vicinity of a commercial airport or larger aerodrome. The responsible authority is a tower, which in reality operates mainly by sight. The radar screen only serves as support.

The control zone has some special features compared to other controlled airspace:

Characteristics

In Germany, control zones are classified as delta airspace without exception. Therefore, all rules that apply in ‘normal’ delta airspace also apply in these zones. Depending on the volume of traffic, control zones can also be kept active only temporarily - either defined by the operating hours of the aerodrome (e.g. 06:00 - 20:00 locally) or activated when required (e.g. approaching IFR traffic). Such temporarily active airspaces can be recognised on charts by the suffix (HX) - e.g. D(HX). When inactive, the classification of the general airspace structure applies (see further links).

Control zones can be recognised on the German ICAO map by the reddish coloring of the area of responsibility.

While instrument flight traffic mainly flies published procedures (e.g. an ILS approach or a SID) in and out of the control zone, mandatory reporting points are usually used for VFR, regulating entries and exits. More details are defined in the Standard Operating Procedures of the respective aerodrome.

ATD_CTR_EDDS.pngControl zone Stuttgart - © openflightmaps.org

Airspace class E

General

In Germany, airspace E usually extends from 2500 ft GND to FL100, provided it is not interrupted by airspace C or D. In the Alps, the airspace is raised to FL130, and lowered in the vicinity of commercial airports. There are 3 different lower limits. These are color-coded on the 1:1 000 000 route maps.


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With the kind permission of DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH. Not to be used for navigational purposes!

Airspace E is controlled airspace.

Rules

Luftraum E.png

Important: In contrast to the other controlled airspaces, VFR traffic neither needs an active radio communication with air traffic control nor clearance to enter the airspace.

VMC Minima

As in all other airspaces, the following minima apply:

Airspace class F

General

There are currently no class F airspaces in Germany, and neither are there in the rest of the world. Airspace F is uncontrolled airspace.

The Standardised European Rules of the Air (SERA) also state that airspace F is only to be regarded as a temporary measure until it can be replaced by airspace of another class.

The following rules apply in airspace F.

Rules

Luftraum F.png

VMC Minima

According to SERA 5001 the minima may be reduced at or below 3000ft AMSL or 1000ft above GND (whichever is higher):

Airspace class G

General

In Germany, Class G airspace extends from the ground or water to 2500 ft, provided it is not interrupted by airspaces C, D, D(CTR) or E. Airspace G is also the only uncontrolled airspace in Germany.

In Golf airspace, IFR flights are only permitted on published IFR procedures.

Let's take a look at the airspace rules.

Rules

Luftraum G.png

VMC Minima

According to SERA 5001 the minima may be reduced at/below 3000ft AMSL or 1000ft above GND (whichever is higher):

For the military, the following reduced VMC minima apply at/below 3000ft AMSL or 1000ft above GND (whichever is higher):

Aerodrome Traffic Zone (ATZ)

An Aerodrome Traffic Zone (ATZ) is intended to protect traffic around a highly frequented, uncontrolled aerodrome. As little traffic as possible should fly into the ATZ if it does not also land there. An ATZ is only active if the aerodrome in the zone is active. If it is not, the ATZ is also inactive (see AIP). An ATZ does not affect the airspace class; all rules of the airspace in which the ATZ is located still apply.

There are currently two aerodromes in Germany with an ATZ: Cochstedt and Egelbach.

Characteristics

Transponder Mandatory Zone (TMZ)

A Transponder Mandatory Zone (TMZ) is a defined area where carrying and using a transponder transmitting the barometric altitude of the aircraft’s altimeter is mandatory.

The pilot must set the published TMZ code in the transponder before flying into a TMZ. In addition, the pilot must listen to the corresponding published frequency and be available for two way voice communication at all times.

TMZ.png

With friendly permission of DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH. Not to be used for navigational purposes!

Radio Mandatory Zone (RMZ)

IFR arrivals and departures require increased attention in the vicinity of aerodromes, which is why so-called Radio Mandatory Zones (RMZ) have been introduced at aerodromes with IFR traffic. These are airspace class G and therefore uncontrolled.

The AIP for Germany states that aircraft intending to fly into an RMZ must make an introductory call on the published frequency to declare their intentions. In the example, the published frequency of ‘Schwäbisch Hall Information’ should be used and the following content transmitted:

Durchflug RMZ / Transition through RMZ
Station
German
English
Pilot Schwäbisch Hall Information, DELFE Schwäbisch Hall Information, DELFE
ATC DELFE, Schwäbisch Hall Information DELFE, Schwäbisch Hall Information
Pilot DELFE, C172, 5 NM nördlich Braunsbach, 2000 Fuß, werde in die RMZ einfliegen und entlang des Kocher Richtung Süden verlassen DELFE, C172, 5 NM north of Braunsbach, 2000 feet, will cross RMZ southbound via the River Kocher
ATC DELFE, verstanden, QNH 1008, Verkehr, C152 im kurzen Endanflug Piste 28 DELFE, roger, QNH 1008, traffic, C152 on short final runway 28
Pilot DELFE, QNH 1008, Verkehr in Sicht, bleibe frei DELFE, QNH 1008, traffic in sight, will stay clear
Pilot DELFE über Rosengarten, 2000 Fuß, hat die RMZ verlassen DELFE over Rosengarten, 2000 feet, left the RMZ
ATC DELFE, verstanden, tschüss DELFE, roger, bye

During the flight through the RMZ, the pilot must continually monitor the frequency. Initiatial calls by pilots are made in the same way as traffic pattern messages and do not need to be acknowledged or confirmed by AFIS. Pilots intending to land or take off at the aerodrome will generally continue to use the shorter introductory call to establish communication.

If the corresponding AFIS position is not occupied on Vatsim, the blind messages must be made on Unicom 122.800.

ATD_RMZ_EDTY.pngRMZ Schwäbisch Hall EDTY - © openflightmaps.org