Picacho Peak Stagefield Mission Footprints
Picacho Peak Stagefield’s overall operational footprint includes the following
components:
Picacho Peak Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspace
Helipad Imaginary Surfaces
Helipad Accident Potential Zones
Picacho Peak Stagefield Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspace
To help air traffic controllers and pilots deal with varying traffic conditions in the sky,
United States airspace has been separated into six different classes (A, B, C, D, E, and G).
Each class has different requirements for entry into the airspace, pilot qualifications,
radio and transponder equipment, and Visual Flight Rules (VFR) weather minimums.
Controlled airspace is a generic term that covers the different classes of airspace and
defined dimensions within which air traffic control (ATC) service is provided in
accordance with each class. The various classes of controlled airspace are defined below
and illustrated in Figure 3‐18.
Class A airspace is generally the airspace from 18,000 feet mean sea level (MSL)
up to and including flight level (FL) 600 (60,000 feet MSL). Class A airspace
includes the airspace above waters within 12 nautical miles (NM) off the coast of
the 48 contiguous states and Alaska. Unless otherwise authorized, all operations
in Class A airspace are conducted under instrument flight rules (IFR).
Class B airspace is generally the airspace from the surface of the earth to
10,000 feet MSL surrounding the nation’s busiest airports, relative to the
number of airport operations or passenger enplanements. The configuration of
each Class B airspace area is individually tailored, consists of a surface area and
two or more layers (some Class B airspace areas resemble upside‐down wedding
cakes), and is designed to accommodate all published instrument procedures
that could be used once an aircraft enters the area. Air traffic control clearance
is required for all aircraft to operate in the area, and all aircraft that are so
cleared receive separation services within the airspace.
Class C airspace is generally airspace from the surface of the earth to 4,000 feet
above airport elevation (charted in MSL) surrounding airports that have an
operational control tower, are serviced by a radar approach control, and have a
certain number of IFR operations or passenger enplanements. Although the
configuration of Class C airspace is tailored for individual airports, it usually
consists of a surface area with a five NM radius and an upper circle that has a
10 NM radius and extends from 1,200 feet to 4,000 feet above the airport’s
Background Report
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