Airspace Classes

Location : Glasgow

UK airspace is subdivided into various classes and functional areas in order to meet national or international airspace management requirements.
For the purpose of international standardisation, certain of these subdivisions are classified according to an ICAO system within which minimum ATS are specified. The 7 airspace classifications (Classes A to G) agreed within ICAO have been adopted by the UK.

Airspace Classes Classeswq8

CLASS A

Class A controlled airspace comprises :

All Control Areas (Airways) within UK FIR, except those parts which lie within the Belfast TMAs/CTRs and Scottish TMAs, part of airway B3 (between Isle of Man VOR IOM and Belfast VOR BEL) and part of airway P600 (between GELKI and N56 14 00 W003 38 19).

Channel Islands CTA & CTR, except the Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney Control Zone. Outside the notified hours of watch of Jersey ATC, those parts which lie within Brest FIR are Class E and those which lie within London FIR, Class G.

Cotswold Control Area.

Daventry Control Area.

London Terminal Control Area.

London Control Zone , except for flights made in accordance with certain special procedures for Denham, White Waltham Fairoaks and Northolt ATZ and Radar Manoeuvring Area.

Manchester Terminal Control Area

Shanwick Oceanic Control Area . Shanwick, Santa Maria, New York and Reykjavik Control Areas are Class A at and above FL55.

Worthing Control Area

CLASS B

Within the London and Scottish UIRs, Class B airspace extends from FL 245 to FL 660. This Upper Control Area contains, a network of domestic and international routes for use by GAT. Military upper airspace routes, based on TACAN beacons, are available to OAT operating above FL245. For military purposes, all Class B airspace is promulgated as Mandatory Radar Service Areas (MRSAs). Class B airspace comprises:

Upper Airspace Control – The London and Scottish UIRs between FL245 and FL660. (Includes Hebrides Upper Control Area)

CLASS C

The London & Scottish FIRs above FL195 including all Control Areas(including airways) as notified within the UK FIR and Upper Airspace Control Area – the London & Scottish UIR between FL245 & FL660 (which includes the Hebrides Upper Control Area (UTA))

LTMA above FL195
Manchester TCA above FL195
Scottish Control Area above FL195
Airway L18 below FL195 between BADSI & LIPGO
Airway L70 below FL195 between RAMOX & BAGSO
Airway L975 below FL195 between GINIS & LIFFY

CLASS D

Class D controlled airspace comprises:

CTAs and/or CTRs surrounding notified aerodromes, including some
military aerodromes, together with part of the Scottish TMA. Class D controlled airspace comprises:

Aberdeen CTR/CTA
AlderneyCTR
Belfast CTR
Belfast/City CTR/CTA
Birmingham CTR/CTA
Bournemouth CTR
Bristol CTR/CTA
Brize Norton CTR
Cardiff CTR/CTA
East Midlands CTR/CTA
Edinburgh CTR
Glasgow CTR
Guernsey CTR
Isle of Man CTR/CTA
Jersey CTR Leeds Bradford CTR/CTA
Liverpool CTR
London/City CTR
London Gatwick CTR/CTA
London Luton CTR/CTA
London Stansted CTR/CTA
Lyneham CTR/CTA
Manchester CTR/CTA
Newcastle CTR/CTA
Scottish TCA
Solent CTA
Southampton CTR
Sumburgh CTR/CTA
Teeside CTR/CTA

CLASS E

Class E controlled airspace comprises;

Scottish TMA, Belfast TMA and part of the Teeside CTR.

CLASS F

Class F advisory airspace comprises:

Advisory Routes (ADRs) along which a civil air traffic advisory service is available to participating aircraft. ADRs in the FIR may pass through, originate from or terminate in CAS. Within CAS, ADRs acquire the status of the surrounding airspace.

CLASS G

Class G airspace comprises:

UK Airspace, including that above FL660, not included in Classes A to F. ATZs are not included in the Airspace Classification system.
An ATZ assumes the conditions associated with the Class of airspace in which it is situated. As a minimum, when flying within an ATZ, the
requirements of Rule 39 of the Rules of the Air Regulations 1996 must be complied with. Where the requirements of the Class of Airspace of which an ATZ forms a part are more stringent than Rule 39 then those must be complied with. Thus, in Class G Airspace Rule 39 will be the relevant requirement, but in Class A Airspace the more onerous requirements of Class A take precedence. Aerodromes at which ATZs may be established are those which:

(a) Are government aerodromes; or

(b) have an Air Traffic Control Unit; or

(c) have an Aerodrome Flight Information Unit; or

(d) are licensed and have a means of two-way radio
communication with aircraft.

Pilots should be aware that in order to comply with the
provisions they must adopt the following procedures:

(a) Before taking off or landing at an aerodrome within an ATZ or transiting through the associated airspace, obtain the permission of the air traffic control unit, or where there is no air traffic control unit, obtain information from the flight information service unit or air/ground radio station to enable the flight to be conducted with safety.

(b) Radio equipped aircraft must maintain a continuous watch on the appropriate radio frequency and advise the air traffic control unit, flight information unit or air/ground radio station of their position and height on entering the zone and immediately prior to leaving it. Failure to establish two-way communications with the air traffic control unit, flight information unit or air/ground radio station must not be taken as an indication that the ATZ is inactive. In that event, except where the aircraft is in a state of emergency or is being operated in accordance with radio failure procedures, pilots should remain clear of the ATZ.

Other abbreviations you may not be familiar with in there:

ICAO - International Civil Aviation Organization
IFR - Instrument flight rules, flying using instruments
VFR - Visual flight rules, flying using visual references
VOR - VHF omnidirectional range is a radio navigation aid
FIR - Flight information region
TMA - Terminal manoeuvring area
CTA - Control Area used to describe geographic location of airspace
CTR - Control zone used to describe the volume of airspace
UIR - Upper informaion region

If im wrong with any of these im sure someone will tell you the right meaning and if you find anymore that your not sure about im sure myself or someone else will be able to explain it.

Craig