airspace
The airspace is the air- filled space above the earth's surface . Depending on the definition, it is roughly identical to the space occupied by the lower and middle layers of the earth's atmosphere . The Kármán line with an altitude of 100 km is generally regarded as the upper limit . The air space thus roughly corresponds to the homosphere , in which the composition of the air is almost constant. Parts of the airspace are available for aviation .
The air space over the entire land and sea area of a state belongs to the sovereign state territory; every state has air sovereignty , i. H. the basic right to independently regulate the use of one's airspace.
The EU Commission has been running the Single European Sky project since the late 1990s with the aim of restructuring European airspace in order to optimize traffic flows and to dissolve its fragmentation by national borders and interests.
Legal provisions
Air sovereignty
The air space over the entire land and sea area of a state belongs to the sovereign territory . The extent of the national airspace therefore usually corresponds to the border. Parts of the airspace can also be assigned to other countries for use.
The upper limit of the airspace is not clearly defined by law. The usual boundaries (such as the Kármán line ) are not relevant under international law for the delimitation of the air space subject to air sovereignty from the sovereign space .
Private airspace
The air space above a property is fundamentally part of the owner's area of disposal. Theoretically, the power of rule of the owner of a private property extends infinitely upwards and downwards to the center of the earth. However, it is restricted by law (in Germany § 905 BGB and the Aviation Act ), so that no private owner can prohibit overflights over his property. However, aircraft must comply with the prescribed minimum flight altitudes .
On the other hand, when a balloon or kite is tied up, usually over 100 m (provided that the security zones around airfields are not penetrated at a lower height), an aviation law permit must be obtained from the authorities and agreement with air traffic control must be obtained.
Special areas
For reasons of military or police nature, air space, by an official designation of air restricted areas ( prohibited area ) Restricted areas ( restricted area ) or danger areas ( danger area ) be limited or specific reasons for civil and military aircraft completely blocked, as technical plant such as nuclear power plants or major events , e.g. B. in football stadiums to protect.
Airspace structure
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has defined an airspace structure with different airspace classes from A ( Alfa ) to G (Golf). The distinction is roughly made by the type of control of these airspaces (controlled / uncontrolled airspace) and includes extensive guidelines for flying through these areas, such as maximum speed, minimum visibility ( flight and ground visibility ), earth visibility and minimum cloud distances. Air spaces are arranged both horizontally (next to each other) and vertically (one above the other). Airspace control is carried out by air traffic control units (ATC). These can, but do not have to be, supported by radar .
Airspace classes
- A (Alfa)
- Controlled airspace. Only instrument flight -Transport (IFR, English instrument flight rules ) allowed. Air traffic control clearance required. Air traffic is staggered .
- Currently not available in Germany , Austria and Switzerland .
- B (Bravo)
- Controlled airspace. IFR and VFR -Transport (VFR, Eng. Visual flight rules ) allowed. Air traffic control clearance required. VFR and IFR flights are staggered with each other and against each other.
- Currently not available in Germany , Austria and Switzerland .
- C (Charlie)
- Controlled airspace. IFR and VFR traffic allowed. Air traffic control clearance required. IFR traffic is staggered to other IFR traffic and VFR traffic. VFR traffic receives traffic information through other VFR traffic.
- In Germany this is usually the entire airspace from FL 100 (in the vicinity of the Alps from FL 130) to FL 660. In the vicinity of commercial airports also below FL 100, but above the respective airport control zone. CVFR is mandatory for VFR flights . Minimum for VFR flights: Distance from clouds 1000 ft vertically, 1.5 km horizontally, flight visibility 5 km (over FL100 8 km).
- In Austria usually the entire airspace from FL 195 (CTA) and within certain Special Rules Areas (e.g. SRA Vienna).
- D (delta)
- Controlled airspace. IFR and VFR traffic allowed. Air traffic control clearance required. IFR traffic is staggered to other IFR traffic and receives traffic information via VFR traffic. VFR traffic is not staggered and only receives traffic information about other air traffic.
- In Germany as a control zone (D-CTR) itself or above the control zones of commercial airports as a replacement for C without CVFR compulsory in visual flight. Minimum for VFR flights: Distance from clouds 1000 ft vertically, 1.5 km horizontally, flight visibility 5 km. In control zones (D-CTR) in Germany, a ground view of 5 km applies (until December 5, 2014, no cloud minimum distance was required in D-CTR, but now the same minimum distances apply there as in D-non-CTR)
- In Austria usually the entire airspace between FL 125 and FL 195 (CTA), as well as within control zones and certain special rules areas.
- E (echo)
- Controlled airspace. IFR and VFR traffic allowed. Air traffic control clearance only required for IFR. IFR traffic is staggered to other IFR traffic. Traffic information about VFR traffic is given to all air traffic as far as possible.
- In Germany basically from 2500 ft above ground, lowered by control zones to 1700 ft and / or 1000 ft above ground, maximum speed 250 kt below FL 100. Minima for VFR flights: distance from clouds 1000 ft vertically, 1.5 km horizontally, flight visibility 5 km to FL 100, flight visibility 8 km above FL 100.
- In Austria from the lower limit of the monitored airspace up to FL 125 (CTA) and within certain Terminal Control Areas.
- F (Foxtrot)
- Uncontrolled airspace. IFR and VFR traffic allowed. Traffic information about other air traffic is given as far as possible.
- Distance from clouds 1000 ft vertically, 1.5 km horizontally, aerial visibility 5 km.
- Currently not available in Germany , Austria and Switzerland . The previously existing air space F in Germany was replaced on December 11, 2014 by air space E or Radio Mandatory Zones (RMZ).
- G (golf)
- Uncontrolled airspace. IFR and VFR traffic allowed. There is no graduation. Traffic information about other air traffic is given as far as possible. In Germany IFR traffic only in connection with a RMZ.
- The upper limit of the airspace is always defined above the ground, staggered from 1000 ft over 1700 ft and 2500 ft above ground in increasing distance to a control zone or a radio mandatory zone (RMZ). In Switzerland, airspace G generally extends from the ground to 2000 ft AGL, unless otherwise restricted (for example by a control zone).
- Minimum for VFR flights:
- A1) Altitude <3,000 ft AMSL or <1,000 ft AGL , maximum speed < 140 kt IAS :
- Flight visibility 1.5 km, for rotary wing aircraft , airships and balloons 800 m, do not touch clouds (no minimum distance required), earth visibility required.
- A2) Altitude <3,000 ft AMSL or <1,000 ft AGL, maximum speed > 140 kt IAS:
- Flight visibility 5 km, do not touch clouds (no minimum distance required), earth visibility required.
- B) Altitude > 3000 ft AMSL or > 1000 ft AGL:
- Flight visibility 5 km, distance from clouds 1000 ft vertically, 1.5 km horizontally.
Regardless of the airspace class, the minimum safety heights must be observed in Germany .
Classic distinction
Lower airspace
In Germany and Austria, the lower airspace is defined as the airspace below flight level 245 (FL 245). The typical ICAO boundary between lower and upper airspace is at flight level 285.
Upper airspace
The upper airspace is defined in Germany and Austria as the airspace above FL 245 and classified as class C harlie airspace (up to FL 660, above not classified). In this controlled airspace, airways mark the important flight routes and are subdivided according to altitude. They are assigned to the aircraft by air traffic control and usually correspond to the flight plan submitted by the pilot in charge .
Flight altitudes and airspaces in the USA
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The airspace structure in the USA is different than in Germany. Although the general vertical structure is similar to the situation in Germany with class G near the ground and above class E. However, from 18,000 ft MSL class A and from FL 600 again class E. In addition, there are class D zones in the vicinity of airports, C and B.
Class A is between 18,000 ft MSL and FL 600 and can only be used for IFR traffic.
Class B exists around the 30 or so largest commercial airports. It typically extends from the ground to 10,000 ft MSL and consists of numerous layers, the diameter of which increases with height. The top layer is typically 30 miles in diameter.
- an entry permit is mandatory and a flight through can be refused unless required for this flight (e.g. landing at an airport in the class B area). In contrast to this, in airspace C and D you only have to be in radio contact with ATC , an explicit entry permit is not necessary.
- not for sport pilots and student pilots (only with special permit), ie at least PPL required
- SVFR is prohibited in some, but not all, Class B airspaces
- ATC also indicates altitude and course for VFR traffic. Minimum visibility for VFR is 3 miles and the pilot must keep clear of clouds. ATC guarantees separation for all aircraft (IFR and VFR).
Class C is an area around larger commercial airports. It typically consists of a core 5 miles in diameter and 4,000 feet in height and a ring around this core, 10 miles in diameter, ranging from 1,200 feet to 4,000 feet AGL. In class C (and B), VFR flights are also assigned an individual transponder code, i.e. H. In addition to the equipment for class D, a transponder is required. Minimum visibility and cloud distances correspond to those of airspace class E. ATC separates both IFR-IFR and IFR-VFR traffic in class C.
Class D is an area around small commercial airports, typically 5 miles in diameter and 2500 feet high. In class D (as in C, B and A) radio contact to ATC is mandatory, i.e. H. the aircraft must also be equipped with at least one portable radio for VFR. Minimum visibility and cloud distances correspond to those of airspace class E.
Class E is controlled airspace like in Germany, contact with ATC is voluntary. Class E VFR traffic must have a minimum visibility of 3 miles and 1000 ft above, 500 ft below and 2000 ft horizontal distance to clouds, above 10,000 ft MSL the distances increase to 5 miles and 1000 ft-1000 ft-1 mi.
The boundary between class G and class E varies greatly and can only be determined by studying the corresponding maps. Typical heights for the beginning of class E are e.g. B.
- Soil for the immediate vicinity of airfields with official instrument approaches
- 700 ft AGL for IFR approach lanes
- 1200 ft AGL for airways and in metropolitan areas
- individually and strongly varying from a few 1000 ft up to 12,000 ft MSL in some places in the western states
- generally 14,500 ft MSL, unless a lower altitude is specified by other regulations
Class F does not exist in the USA. Instead, airfields with official instrument approaches have an airspace E that extends to the ground.
As in Germany, class G is uncontrolled airspace for VFR, but also for independent (i.e. not supported by air traffic control ) IFR flights . Minimum visibility for VFR during the day is one mile (~ 1.6 km) below 10,000 ft MSL and clouds must not be touched. At night and above 10,000 ft MSL, the same conditions apply as in class E with a few special rules.
Air surveillance
Airspace surveillance is carried out by both military and civil institutions. On the civil side, air traffic in German airspace is monitored by DFS and EUROCONTROL , in the Benelux countries by Belgocontrol and LVNL and the Area Control Center Maastricht EUROCONTROL, in Austria by Austro Control GmbH and in Switzerland and parts of southern Germany by Skyguide .
See also
Web links
- Airspace structure in Germany (PDF; 1 MB)
- aopa.org - Airspace structure in the USA (English; PDF; 3.3 MB)
Individual evidence
- ^ Sanz Fernández de Córdoba: Presentation of the Karman separation line, used as the boundary separating Aeronautics and Astronautics. In: fai.org. FAI , 2004, archived from the original on July 26, 2011 ; accessed on January 29, 2012 .
- ↑ See for Germany: § 905 BGB; Austria: § 297 ABGB; Switzerland: Art. 667 Civil Code
- ↑ Paragraph 1 LuftVG states: "The use of the airspace by aircraft is free [...]". As a result, the property owner has an "obligation to tolerate licensed aircraft without compensation" (cf. Marco Wilhelm: Legal basis of innovative underground transport infrastructure using the example of UCPT systems. Bochum 2001, p. 166 ( limited preview in Google book search))
- ↑ Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 923/2012 of the Commission of September 26, 2012 , accessed on January 25, 2016
- ↑ AIC VFR 03 27 NOV 14 - Establishment of "Radio Mandatory Zones (RMZ)". (No longer available online.) German air traffic control , archived from the original on December 16, 2014 ; Retrieved December 12, 2014 .
- ↑ Safe visual flight ( Memento from September 14, 2018 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF), tips and information on safe flying in Germany, DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung,
- ↑ FAA (Ed.): Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) . Official Guide to Basic Flight Information and ATC Procedures. February 11, 2011, Chapter 3, Section 1. General ( Available online [accessed January 29, 2012]). Available online ( Memento from February 7, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ FAA (Ed.): Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) . Official Guide to Basic Flight Information and ATC Procedures. February 11, 2011, Chapter 3, Section 2. Controlled Airspace ( Available online [accessed January 29, 2012]). Available online ( Memento of March 11, 2012 in the Internet Archive )