AIM 3-2-4

Definition. Generally, that airspace from the surface to 4,000 feet above the airport elevation (charted in MSL) surrounding those airports that have an operational control tower, are serviced by a radar approach control, and that have a certain number of IFR operations or passenger enplanements. Although the configuration of each Class C airspace area is individually tailored, the airspace usually consists of a 5 NM radius core surface area that extends from the surface up to 4,000 feet above the airport elevation, and a 10 NM radius shelf area that extends no lower than 1,200 feet up to 4,000 feet above the airport elevation.

Charts. Class C airspace is charted on Sectional Charts, IFR En Route Low Altitude, and Terminal Area Charts where appropriate.

Operating Rules and Pilot/Equipment Requirements: Pilot Certification. No specific certification required.

Equipment. Two‐way radio; and

Unless otherwise authorized by ATC, an operable radar beacon transponder with automatic altitude reporting capability and operable ADS-B Out equipment. NOTE-

See paragraph 4-1-20 , Transponder and ADS-B Out Operation, subparagraph f for Mode C transponder/ ADS-B requirements for operating above Class C airspace.

Arrival or Through Flight Entry Requirements. Two‐way radio communication must be established with the ATC facility providing ATC services prior to entry and thereafter maintain those communications while in Class C airspace. Pilots of arriving aircraft should contact the Class C airspace ATC facility on the publicized frequency and give their position, altitude, radar beacon code, destination, and request Class C service. Radio contact should be initiated far enough from the Class C airspace boundary to preclude entering Class C airspace before two‐way radio communications are established. NOTE-

If the controller responds to a radio call with, “(aircraft callsign) standby,” radio communications have been established and the pilot can enter the Class C airspace.

If workload or traffic conditions prevent immediate provision of Class C services, the controller will inform the pilot to remain outside the Class C airspace until conditions permit the services to be provided.

It is important to understand that if the controller responds to the initial radio call without using the aircraft identification, radio communications have not been established and the pilot may not enter the Class C airspace.

Class C airspace areas have a procedural Outer Area. Normally this area is 20 NM from the primary Class C airspace airport. Its vertical limit extends from the lower limits of radio/radar coverage up to the ceiling of the approach control's delegated airspace, excluding the Class C airspace itself, and other airspace as appropriate. (This outer area is not charted.)

Pilots approaching an airport with Class C service should be aware that if they descend below the base altitude of the 5 to 10 mile shelf during an instrument or visual approach, they may encounter non-transponder/non-ADS-B VFR aircraft.

EXAMPLE-

[Aircraft callsign] “remain outside the Class Charlie airspace and standby.”

“Aircraft calling Dulles approach control, standby.”

Departures from: A primary or satellite airport with an operating control tower. Two‐way radio communications must be established and maintained with the control tower, and thereafter as instructed by ATC while operating in Class C airspace.

A satellite airport without an operating control tower. Two‐way radio communications must be established as soon as practicable after departing with the ATC facility having jurisdiction over the Class C airspace.

Aircraft Speed. Unless otherwise authorized or required by ATC, no person may operate an aircraft at or below 2,500 feet above the surface within 4 nautical miles of the primary airport of a Class C airspace area at an indicated airspeed of more than 200 knots (230 mph).

Air Traffic Services. When two‐way radio communications and radar contact are established, all VFR aircraft are: Sequenced to the primary airport.

Provided Class C services within the Class C airspace and the outer area.

Provided basic radar services beyond the outer area on a workload permitting basis. This can be terminated by the controller if workload dictates.

Aircraft Separation. Separation is provided within the Class C airspace and the outer area after two‐way radio communications and radar contact are established. VFR aircraft are separated from IFR aircraft within the Class C airspace by any of the following: Visual separation.

500 feet vertical separation.

Target resolution.

Wake turbulence separation will be provided to all aircraft operating: Behind and less than 1,000 feet below super or heavy aircraft,

To small aircraft operating behind and less than 500 feet below B757 aircraft, and

To small aircraft following a large aircraft on final approach. NOTE-

Separation and sequencing of VFR aircraft will be suspended in the event of a radar outage as this service is dependent on radar. The pilot will be advised that the service is not available and issued wind, runway information and the time or place to contact the tower.

Pilot participation is voluntary within the outer area and can be discontinued, within the outer area, at the pilot's request. Class C services will be provided in the outer area unless the pilot requests termination of the service.

Some facilities provide Class C services only during published hours. At other times, terminal IFR radar service will be provided. It is important to note that the communications and transponder/ADS-B requirements are dependent on the class of airspace established outside of the published hours.

Secondary Airports In some locations Class C airspace may overlie the Class D surface area of a secondary airport. In order to allow that control tower to provide service to aircraft, portions of the overlapping Class C airspace may be procedurally excluded when the secondary airport tower is in operation. Aircraft operating in these procedurally excluded areas will only be provided airport traffic control services when in communication with the secondary airport tower.

Aircraft proceeding inbound to a satellite airport will be terminated at a sufficient distance to allow time to change to the appropriate tower or advisory frequency. Class C services to these aircraft will be discontinued when the aircraft is instructed to contact the tower or change to advisory frequency.

Aircraft departing secondary controlled airports will not receive Class C services until they have been radar identified and two‐way communications have been established with the Class C airspace facility.

This program is not to be interpreted as relieving pilots of their responsibilities to see and avoid other traffic operating in basic VFR weather conditions, to adjust their operations and flight path as necessary to preclude serious wake encounters, to maintain appropriate terrain and obstruction clearance or to remain in weather conditions equal to or better than the minimums required by 14 CFR section 91.155. Approach control should be advised and a revised clearance or instruction obtained when compliance with an assigned route, heading and/or altitude is likely to compromise pilot responsibility with respect to terrain and obstruction clearance, vortex exposure, and weather minimums.

Class C Airspace Areas by State. These states currently have designated Class C airspace areas that are depicted on sectional charts. Pilots should consult current sectional charts and NOTAMs for the latest information on services available. Pilots should be aware that some Class C airspace underlies or is adjacent to Class B airspace. (See TBL 3-2-1 .) TBL 3-2-4 Class C Airspace Areas by State Airport

ALABAMA

Birmingham

Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International

Huntsville

International-Carl T Jones Fld

Mobile

Regional

ALASKA

Anchorage

Ted Stevens International

ARIZONA

Davis-Monthan

AFB

Tucson

International

ARKANSAS

Fayetteville (Springdale)

Northwest Arkansas Regional

Little Rock

Adams Field

CALIFORNIA

Beale

AFB

Burbank

Bob Hope

Fresno

Yosemite International

Monterey

Peninsula

Oakland

Metropolitan Oakland

International

Ontario

International

Riverside

March AFB

Sacramento

International

San Jose

Norman Y. Mineta International

Santa Ana

John Wayne/Orange County

Santa Barbara

Municipal

COLORADO

Colorado Springs

Municipal

CONNECTICUT

Windsor Locks

Bradley International

FLORIDA

Daytona Beach

International

Fort Lauderdale

Hollywood International

Fort Myers

SW Florida Regional

Jacksonville

International

Orlando

Sanford International

Airport

Palm Beach

President Donald J. Trump International

Pensacola

NAS

Pensacola

International

Sarasota

Bradenton International

Tallahassee

Regional

Whiting

NAS

GEORGIA

Savannah

Hilton Head International

HAWAII

Kahului

Kahului

IDAHO

Boise

Air Terminal

ILLINOIS

Champaign

Urbana U of Illinois-Willard

Chicago

Midway International

Moline

Quad City International

Peoria

Greater Peoria Regional

Springfield

Abraham Lincoln Capital

INDIANA

Evansville

Regional

Fort Wayne

International

Indianapolis

International

South Bend

Regional

IOWA

Cedar Rapids

The Eastern Iowa

Des Moines

International

KANSAS

Wichita

Mid-Continent

KENTUCKY

Lexington

Blue Grass

Louisville

International-Standiford Field

LOUISIANA

Baton Rouge

Metropolitan, Ryan Field

Lafayette

Regional

Airport

Shreveport

Barksdale AFB

Shreveport

Regional

MAINE

Bangor

International

Portland

International Jetport

MICHIGAN

Flint

Bishop International

Grand Rapids

Gerald R. Ford International

Lansing

Capital City

MISSISSIPPI

Columbus

AFB

Jackson

Jackson-Evers International

MISSOURI

Springfield

Springfield-Branson National

MONTANA

Billings

Logan International

NEBRASKA

Lincoln

Lincoln

Omaha

Eppley Airfield

Offutt

AFB

NEVADA

Reno

Reno/Tahoe International

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Manchester

Manchester

NEW JERSEY

Atlantic City

International

NEW MEXICO

Albuquerque

International Sunport

NEW YORK

Albany

International

Buffalo

Niagara International

Islip

Long Island MacArthur

Rochester

Greater Rochester International

Syracuse

Hancock International

NORTH CAROLINA

Asheville

Regional

Fayetteville

Regional/Grannis Field

Greensboro

Piedmont Triad International

Pope

AFB

Raleigh

Raleigh-Durham International

OHIO

Akron

Akron-Canton Regional

Columbus

Port Columbus International

Dayton

James M. Cox International

Toledo

Express

OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma City

Will Rogers World

Tinker

AFB

Tulsa

International

OREGON

Airport

Portland

International

PENNSYLVANIA

Allentown

Lehigh Valley International

PUERTO RICO

San Juan

Luis Munoz Marin International

RHODE ISLAND

Providence

Theodore Francis Green State

SOUTH CAROLINA

Charleston

AFB/International

Columbia

Metropolitan

Greer

Greenville-Spartanburg International

Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach International

Shaw

AFB

TENNESSEE

Chattanooga

Lovell Field

Knoxville

McGhee Tyson

Nashville

International

TEXAS

Abilene

Regional

Amarillo

Rick Husband International

Austin

Austin-Bergstrom International

Corpus Christi

International

Dyess

AFB

El Paso

International

Harlingen

Valley International

Laughlin

AFB

Lubbock

Preston Smith International

Midland

International

San Antonio

International

VERMONT

Burlington

International

VIRGIN ISLANDS

St. Thomas

Charlotte Amalie Cyril E. King

VIRGINIA

Richmond

International

Norfolk

International

Roanoke

Regional/Woodrum Field

WASHINGTON

Point Roberts

Vancouver International

Spokane

Fairchild AFB

Spokane

International

Whidbey Island

NAS, Ault Field

WEST VIRGINIA

Charleston

Yeager

WISCONSIN

Green Bay

Austin Straubel International

Madison

Dane County Regional-Traux Field

Milwaukee

General Mitchell International