What is the point of Class E airspace?

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Controlled airspace is a vital part of flying any sort of aircraft. In this expert guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about Class E airspace.

Knowing the airspace(s) that you’re flying into as a pilot is one of the most important parts of becoming a pilot in the first place. Flying into controlled airspace without being knowledgeable of the requirements and restrictions is a big no-no and can be a huge headache. Maybe you’ve heard of some different airspaces, but you aren’t exactly sure what this one is. So what is Class E airspace and how do you navigate it?

Class E airspace is all the other airspace in the country that is not denoted as Class A, B, C, or D. It fills the gaps between all other classes of airspace and is often referred to as the “everywhere” airspace. Class E airspace is not necessarily controlled by an active local control tower.

If you're a pilot, or you’re interested in becoming one, you need to know about Class E Airspace. This is a designation for airspace that has specific requirements and functions. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about Class E Airspace. We'll start with an explanation of what it is, and then move on to the different dimensions and requirements. Finally, we'll talk about how Class E Airspace interacts with other common airspace designations.

SkyTough was designed with the goal of providing the most extensive, most accurate library of aviation content anywhere on the web. To ensure this, we combine our own expertise with research and input from other experts around the country. This way, you can learn all about the various airspaces with the confidence that you’re getting all the information that you really need.

Class E (or Class Echo) Airspace is classified as controlled airspace that is not designated as Class A, B, C, D, or any other airspace. While that might seem obvious since that takes every other airspace out of the picture, I mentioned that for a reason. This is because Class E airspace is basically everywhere else. In fact, you can think of the “E” in Class E airspace as standing for “everywhere”.

In simple terms, Class E airspace is just the leftover airspace that’s not covered by any of the other named classes of airspace. This makes it by far the most common airspace in the country, but it’s also often seen as the most difficult to understand for the same reasons. Class E airspace is often not regulated by a physical control tower (even though it can be), but instead by special radar services.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Class E airspace provides ample coverage of controlled airspace over the country to offer safe separation of aircraft. The floor of Class E airspace is typically at 1,200ft AGL, but can sometimes be either the surface or 700 ft AGL. If there are no lower bases depicted on the charts, then Class E airspace begins at 14,500ft AGL.

Unless noted otherwise, the ceiling of Class E airspace goes up to, but does not include, 18,000ft AGL. This altitude is the typical base of Class A airspace, which will be discussed in detail in another article on the site. Additionally, all airspace at and above 60,000ft is also Class E airspace since, again, this space is not defined by any of the other controlled airspace classes.

Class E Airspace Requirements

In order to fly in Class E airspace, you must meet the minimum requirements in terms of conditions, communication, and more. Here are the requirements of Class E airspace:

• 3 miles of visibility when flying under VFR conditions and while below 10,000 feet altitude
• 5 miles of visibility when flying over 10,000 feet
• Under 10,000 feet, cloud minimums are: 2,000 feet horizontally, 1,000 above the aircraft, and 500 feet below
• Above 10,000 feet, cloud minimums are: 1 mile horizontally, 1,000 above the aircraft, and 1,000 feet below
• Must obtain clearance from Air Traffic Control (ATC) if flying under IFR conditions or SVFR (Special VFR) conditions

With that list in mind, you might have noticed that there are no equipment requirements for flying in Class E airspace like there are for other types of airspaces. You don’t need to have certain radios or transponders for Class E. Additionally, if you’re flying under regular VFR conditions, you do not have to receive clearance from ATC to enter Class E airspace.

What is Class E Airspace Used For?

Class E airspace exists for the purpose of providing controlled airspace for IFR operations in areas where ATC services are not available. This airspace also provides separation between VFR traffic and IFR traffic operating in the area, since pilots flying under IFR conditions must receive clearance from ATC. In addition, Class E airspace provides a transition between Class D and other classes of controlled airspace.

How Class E Airspace Relates to Other Common Airspace Designations

Class E airspace is the most common type of controlled airspace in the United States. It can be found surrounding both small and large airports, as well as in areas where ATC services are not available. Class E airspace is also often adjacent to other types of controlled airspaces, such as Class B or C airspace. When flying in Class E airspace, it's important to be aware of the other airspace designations in the area so that you can avoid infringing on them.

One important thing to know about Class E airspace is that it can sometimes take the place of other airspaces in certain circumstances. One example is an airport that uses a part-time control tower that employs Class D airspace when the tower is active. During times when the part-time tower is not operational, the airspace automatically reverts to Class E (or an even lower airspace, like Class G). So it’s important to always know where you’re flying!

We’ll be publishing articles on all of the other classes of airspace as well, so just search for the class that you’re interested in and you can learn everything about it that you need.

Class E airspace may be the most common type of controlled airspace, but is also the least regulated, and perhaps one of the most confusing of the six classes of controlled airspace. With all its variations and complexities, it is no wonder that many pilots could use a little extra explanation on the logic behind Class E airspace. What are the requirements within Class E airspace? What types of Class E airspace are there? How are they designated and displayed on sectionals? At what altitude is Class E airspace found?

What is Class E Airspace?

Think of Class E airspace as the “everywhere airspace” or the leftover controlled airspace segments that fill in the gaps around other classes of controlled airspace. This is part of what makes it more varied and more confusing than most other classes.

Class E airspace is a type of controlled airspace that often is controlled by ATC via radar coverage rather than by a local control tower. Clearances are required to enter Class E airspace if you are flying under IFR or Special VFR rules. Pilots who are flying basic VFR do not require a clearance to be in Class E airspace. Class E airspace below 14,500 feet MSL is depicted on VFR sectionals, IFR en route low altitude, and terminal area charts.

Requirements of Class E Airspace

As with other classes of controlled airspace, Class E airspace has specific requirements which are outlined by the FAA. Areas designated as Class E airspace have:

• Basic VFR minimum visibility requirements of 3 miles when flying below 10,000 feet
• Basic VFR cloud clearance minimums of 500 feet below, 1,000 feet above, or 2,000 feet horizontally when flying below 10,000 feet
• Minimum visibility requirements of 5 miles when flying above 10,000 feet
• Cloud clearance minimums above 10,000 feet are 1,000 feet below, 1,000 feet above, and 1 mile horizontally
• No specific equipment requirements

Purpose of Class E Airspace

Class E airspace exists to provide added protection for the separation of IFR and VFR aircraft. It creates a type of airspace in which VFR pilots do not need special clearances, but IFR pilots do. This helps controllers to safely route IFR pilots through this airspace while minimizing the additional requirements placed on VFR pilots.

Class E Airspace Altitude

Altitude of Class E airspace tends to be confusing initially. Most Class E airspace starts at 1,200 feet above ground level (AGL) and can extend up to FL180 (17,999 feet) if there is not another class of airspace on top of it. In certain circumstances, Class E can also start at ground level, 700 feet AGL, or another specified altitude. All airspace above FL600 (60,000 feet) is designated as Class E.

Class E Airspace Transitional Area

Class E transitional areas are typically found around individual airports or groups of airports. Transitional areas are types of airspace used to shift between the terminal and en route environments. Transitional areas are indicated on sectionals using a magenta circle. Within the transitional area circle, Class E airspace starts at 700 feet AGL. Outside of the transitional area, Class E airspace starts at 1,200 feet AGL unless otherwise designated.

Depending on terrain and the rate of climb capabilities of aircraft that will be using the airport, the transitional area may include irregularly shaped extensions connecting to the circular transitional area to provide enough protected airspace for IFR planes to climb up to altitude.

Class E Airspace Surface Area

In certain areas, Class E airspace starts right at ground level. This provides maximum protection for arriving IFR aircraft on a cloudy day at an airport without a control tower. On charts, Class E airspace which starts at the surface is denoted by a dashed magenta line.

When looking at their charts, pilots will sometimes notice an airport surrounded by the magenta ring of a transitional Class E airspace with a dashed magenta line cutout in that circle showing a Class E surface area airspace. In this case, the surface area airspace most likely aligns with an arrival corridor which IFR pilots could be using. Extending the controlled airspace to surface level in this area helps to provide additional protection to IFR pilots without placing a communications requirement on VFR pilots.

Class E Airspace Around Victor Airways

Victor airways are a type of designated low-altitude straight-line segment airway for IFR pilots. These airways are 8 nautical miles wide, with Class E airspace extending 4 nautical miles on either side of the airway centerline. The Class E airspace surrounding a victor airway starts at 1,200 feet AGL and extends up through 17,999 feet.

Class E En Route Domestic Areas

Pilots will also come across Class E airspace in areas where IFR en route ATC services are required but not otherwise supported by the federal airway structure. These en route Class E areas are denoted on sectionals by a soft blue border around the airspace. Within the border, Class E airspace starts at 1,200 feet AGL.

Class E Airspace Shapes

While many Class E airspaces are circular, Class E can come in different shapes due to terrain, types of aircraft using the airport, and the need to protect approaches and departures from specific runways. Protected approaches and departures often appear on a chart as rectangular areas connected to the circular Class E airspace. Surface area Class E airspace is usually surrounded by a Class E transition area which gives it a somewhat similar look to the familiar upside-down tiered wedding cake shape of Class B and C airspace.

Learn More

To understand more of the rationale behind the airspace configuration surrounding different airports, watch fly8ma’s video on Class E airspace. He not only explains what Class E airspace is, but also shows examples of Class E airspace on sectionals and talks through the airspace configuration to help flesh out our understanding of the logic behind the once confusing Class E airspace.

For drone pilots who are studying types of airspace, The Complete Remote Pilot book from ASA is another excellent resource, and the ASA’s Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge offers all pilots a refresher on airspace and many other important topics.

Check out our Flight Training Material collection for hundreds of books and training material.

Want a quick refresher on the other categories of airspace? Check out these articles: