Legal Interpretations
reeves 2000
Summary
The Question
At what altitudes may aerobatic flight be conducted within the controlled airspace over Columbus Airport (BAK) in Indiana?
Background
A requester asked at what altitudes aerobatic flight could be conducted over Columbus Airport, which is surrounded by Class D airspace and by Class E airspace designated for the airport from the surface to 14,500 feet MSL.
The FAA’s Interpretation
None without a waiver. 14 CFR 91.303(c) bars aerobatic flight within the lateral boundaries of the surface areas of Class B, C, D, or E airspace designated for an airport, and a surface area begins at the surface and extends upward. Aerobatics are therefore not permitted in the Class D or Class E airspace at Columbus, though under 14 CFR 91.903 a waiver may be obtained in certain circumstances if secured beforehand.
- Requester
- reeves
- Issued
- January 19, 2000
- Subject
- General Operating & Flight Rules
Regulations Cited
Page 1
January 19, 2000
Mr. William F. Reeves
Re: Aerobatic flight over Columbus Airport
Dear Mr. Reeves:
This is in response to your letter of August 30, 1999, requesting a legal opinion on "the altitudes at which aerobatic flight can be conducted over the Columbus, IN (BAK) airport." The opinion that follows is limited strictly to aerobatic operations that can be legally performed within controlled airspace surrounding BAK.
Columbus Airport is surrounded by Class-D and Class-E airspace. The Class-D airspace extends from the surface up to 3,200 feet above the surface, mean sea level (MSL). The Class-E airspace designated for BAK extends from the surface to 14,500 feet MSL. Section 91.303 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations applies to the aerobatic flight that you propose. In pertinent part, that regulation provides:
No person may operate an aircraft in aerobatic flight *** *** (c) Within the lateral boundaries of the surface areas of Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E airspace designated for an airport;
For the purposes of this section, aerobatic flight means an intentional maneuver involving an abrupt change in an aircraft's attitude, an abnormal attitude, or abnormal acceleration, not necessary for normal flight.
14 C.F.R. § 91.303 (a).
The text of section 91.303 is clear that aerobatic operations are not permitted within the surface area of controlled airspace regardless of its alpha designator. A "surface area" is defined as "[t]he airspace contained by the lateral boundary of the Class B, C, D, or E airspace designated for an airport, that begins at the surface and extends upward." Air Traffic Control Handbook, Order 7110.65L, PCG S-6; Aeronautical Information Manual, PCG S-6. Therefore, by this definition, aerobatic flight is not permitted within the Class D or Class E airspace at Columbus Airport. However, pursuant to section 91.903, under certain circumstances a waiver to operate within the controlled airspace may be obtained if it is secured prior to conducting the acrobatic operation.
Page 2
We hope that this interpretation answers your questions regarding aerobatic flight in the Class D and E airspace surrounding Columbus Airport.
Sincerely,
Donald P. Byrne
Assistant Chief Counsel
Regulations Division, AGC-200
Regulations Referenced
Snapshot retrieved August 6, 2026.