Airspace Classification, Navigation and Flight Planning Rules
New Zealand airspace is classified to define who needs a clearance and what separation is provided. The exam tests the classes, special use airspace, and the flight-planning knowledge needed for a VFR cross-country.
Airspace classes
- Class A: IFR only, positive control; ATC clearance required; VFR is not permitted.
- Class C: IFR and VFR; ATC clearance required for all flights; separation provided for IFR and traffic information to VFR.
- Class D: IFR and VFR; ATC clearance required; separation for IFR and traffic information to VFR.
- Class E: controlled airspace; IFR requires a clearance and receives separation from IFR; VFR does not require a clearance but must comply with VFR minima and is responsible for its own separation.
- Class G: uncontrolled; no clearance; see-and-avoid applies.
Special use airspace includes control zones (CTR), control areas (CTA), restricted and danger areas, mandatory broadcast zones (MBZ) and low flying zones. In an MBZ, radio calls are mandatory but the airspace is not controlled.
Flight planning
Check weather, NOTAMs, fuel, alternates, charts, airspace, transponder requirements and the need for a VFR flight plan. Use the NZ AIP and current aeronautical charts.
Worked example
A VFR pilot wants to cross Class E airspace. No ATC clearance is required for VFR in Class E, but the pilot must maintain 5 km visibility and cloud clearance, monitor the frequency and avoid IFR traffic. If the airspace were Class C or D, a clearance would be required.
Traps
- Believing Class E requires a VFR clearance.
- Treating Class G as controlled airspace.
- Assuming all controlled airspace requires a clearance.
- Confusing an MBZ with controlled airspace.