Airspace Defined Print

 

All pilots are strongly advised to own an up to date Sectional Chart showing the extent and limits of controlled airspace in Ireland. VFR sectional charts are available from the Ordenence Survey of Ireland shop in both 1:250,000 and 1:500,000 scale. The 1:250,000 charts are more detailed and come in four charts covering all of Ireland. The 1:500,000 chart covers all of Ireland on a single chart, and is sufficiently detailed for IHPA pilots to safely plan cross country flights.

Click here for a graphical representation of the various airspaces.

  • Class A    (Above everything else) extends from 18,000 feet (5,500m) Above Mean Sea Level (AMSL) to 60,000 feet, and is not represented on sectional charts.
  • Class B    (Busy airport) extends from ground level to 10,000 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) and surrounds large busy airports. Class B airspace looks like an upside-down wedding cake and is represented on sectional charts as a thick blue line that describes a number of concentric vertical cylinders of different radius and vertical extent. There is no Class B airspace in Ireland.
  • Class C    (City airport) surrounds less busy city airports (Dublin, Shannon, Cork & Belfast.) Class C airspace is similar to class B, but lower; generally a cylinder around the airport that is 5 miles in diameter extending from the surface to 1,200 feet AGL, and expanding to a cylinder 10 miles in diameter from that point to 4,000 feet AGL. Class C airspace is represented on sectional charts as a thick magenta (purple) line. We may fly in Class C airspace with specific authorisation from Air Traffic Control (ATC) as long as we operate under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and remain 500 feet below, and 2000 feet horozontal distance from clouds and as long as there is at least three miles visibility. Some of our flying sites (Killiney and Kinsale) are inside class C airspace. [NB: Class C cylinders not correct here! SFC-5000' and 5000'-... verify from latest VFR maps.]
  • Class D    (Dashed line) is shown on airspace sectional charts as a blue dashed circle around a small airport or aerodrome. The circle describes a vertical cylinder with a radius of 5 miles (8km) extending from the ground up to 2,500 feet Above Ground Level (AGL)
  • Class E    (Everything else) is controlled airspace starting at 14,500 feet AMSL and extending up to the next overlying airspace (A, B, C or D) with the following exceptions:
  • Class E floor is 1500' AGL if surface is above 14,500' AMSL - Not relevant in Ireland.
  • Class E floor is 1200' AGL (or more) if inside shaded blue line.
  • Class E floor is 700' AGL if inside shaded magenta (purple) line.
  • Broken blue lines differentiate Class E floors when floor is above 700' AGL.
  • We may fly in Class E airspace.
  • Class F   Currently not defined.
  • Class G   (Near the Ground) is uncontrolled airspace extending from the ground up to the next overlying airspace (usually E.) We may fly in Class G airspace with the least requirements - see Cloud Clearance, below.
  • Victor Airways are represented on sectional charts as long straight blue lines, these are designated flight paths for commercial air traffic crossing the country or approaching large airports. Victor Airways are generally eight miles wide.
  • Prohibited Areas are areas of national security or national welfare (give examples - if any) and may not be entered under any cirumstances.
  • Restricted Areas are military training areas and may only be entered when they are not in active use. These areas usually spend more time being inactive than active. If the area is not in active use then you are permitted to fly over them under VFR. You must check with the nearest ATC to find out whether or not a Restricted Area is in active use or not. There are a number of Restricted Areas in Ireland.
  • AMSL - Above Mean Sea Level.
  • Flight Level (FL) on aeronautical charts is an expression of Altitude in hundreds of feet. Thus FL25 is 2,500 feet, FL75 is 7,500 feet and FL350 is 35,000 feet. Controlled airspace around the larger airports of Dublin,Shannon and Cork are defined by at least three concentric circles: the outer, largest circle is usually defined as Class C FL245/3500FT, which tells you that within this circle controlled airspace extends from 24,500 feet down to 3,500 feet AMSL. The next, smaller circle is usually defined as Class C FL245/2500FT extends from the same upper altitude of 24,500 feet and comes down closer to the ground to 2,500 feet. The centre circle is usually defined as Class C FL245/SFC and extends all the way to the surface (SFC.)

 

Cloud Clearance below 10,000 feet

Cloud cearance below 10,000 feet

Hang Gliders and Paragliders must maintain visual reference with the ground at all times. It is illegal (and dangerous!) to fly inside cloud, as is getting to cloud base. This graphic shows the minimum distances you need to maintain from cloud to comply with Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
 
 
 
 

Summary

Airspace we can NOT enter
  • Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement (FAR 103.15)
  • Over any open air assembly of persons (FAR 103.15)

Airspace we can enter only with prior authorization from the controlling authority

  • Class A, B, C, D controlled airspace (FAR 103.17)
  • Lateral boundaries of Class E airspace designated for an airport (FAR 103.17)
  • Prohibited or Restricted Areas (FAR 103.19)
  • Areas designated in a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) (FAR 103.20)

Airspace we CAN enter without prior authorization from any controlling authority

  • Airspace not defined above (Class G and most of Class E)

Airspace Shapes
 
Sectional Chart