NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA - CNATRA - The US Navy

3-56 UNITED STATES
(1) Class C Airspace has a basic design with minor site
specific variations.
(a) The design consists of two concentric circles both
centered on the primary airport. The inner circle has a radius of 5
NM and the outer circle has a radius of 10 NM.
(b) The airspace of the inner circle extends from the
surface of the primary airport to 4000’ AGL. The airspace area
between 5 and 10 NM ring begins at 1200’ AGL and extends to the
same altitude cap as the inner circle.
(c) The Class C Airspace outer area normally has a
radius of 20 NM from the primary airport. The outer area extends
from the lower limits of radio or radar coverage up to the ceiling of
the Approach Control's delegated airspace.
(2) EQUIPMENT REQUIRED -
(a) Operable two-way radio capable of
communicating with ATC on appropriate frequency.
(b) Operable 4096 coded radar beacon transponder
(Mode 3/A) operated within and above all Class C Airspace up to
10,000’ MSL.
(Mode C).
(c) Operable automatic pressure altitude reporting
(3) PROCEDURES -
(a) ARRIVALS AND OVERFLIGHTS - Two-way radio
communications must be established with the ATC facility having
jurisdiction over the Class C Airspace prior to entering and
thereafter as instructed by ATC.
(b) DEPARTURES - Primary or satellite with an
operating control tower, two-way radio communications must be
established and maintained with the control tower and thereafter
as instructed by ATC. For satellite airports without an operating
control tower, two-way radio communications must be established
as soon as possible after departure with the ATC facility having
jurisdiction over the Class C Airspace and thereafter as instructed
by ATC.
(c) Aircraft must comply with FAA arrival and
departure traffic patterns.
(4) ATC SERVICES -
(a) WITHIN CLASS C AIRSPACE -
1 Sequencing of all arriving aircraft to the
primary airport.
aircraft.
2 Standard IFR separation between IFR
3 Traffic advisories and conflict resolution so
that radar targets do not touch or 500’ vertical separation between
IFR and VFR aircraft.
(b) WITHIN THE OUTER AREA -
1 Same services as within the Class C Airspace
when two-way radio communication and radar contact is
established.
2 Aircraft participation in this area is strongly
encouraged but not a VFR requirement.
(c) BEYOND THE OUTER AREA -
1 Standard IFR separation
2 Basic radar service
3 Class C Service
4 Safety alert, as appropriate
5 Additional operating information
a Class C Airspace is designed as a radar
environment. Services will only be provided within radar/radio
coverage. In the event of a radar outage, separation and
sequencing of VFR aircraft will be suspended. The pilot will be
advised that the service is not available and issue wind, runway
information and the time to contact the tower.
b While participation is required within
Class C Airspace, it is voluntary within the outer area and can be
discontinued at pilot request.
c Radar service will be provided in the
outer area, unless the pilot requests to discontinue the service.
d Service provided beyond the outer area
will be on a workload permitting basis and can be terminated by
the controller if the workload dictates.
e In some locations, Class C Airspace may
overlap the Class D Airspace 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. Radar service to aircraft inbound
to these secondary airports will be discontinued when the aircraft
is instructed to contact the tower.
f Aircraft departing secondary controlled
airports will not receive Class C Airspace Services until they have
been radar identified and two-way communication has been
established with the radar facility.
g Radar service to aircraft proceeding to
satellite airport will be terminated at a sufficient distance to allow
time to change to the appropriate tower or advisory frequency.
h Some Class C Airspace facilities shut
down for portions of the night. When this occurs, the effective
hours of the Class C Airspace will be the same as the operating
hours of the serving facility.
i 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 91.105. Whenever
compliance with an assigned route, heading and/or altitude is
likely to compromise pilot responsibility respecting terrain and
obstruction clearance, vortex exposure, and weather minimums,
Approach Control should be so advised and a revised clearance or
instruction obtained.
j Pilots of arriving aircraft should contact
the Radar facility on the publicized frequency and give their