Order 7110.65P, Air Traffic Control, with changes

Pilot/Controller Glossary 2/17/05CONTERMINOUS U.S.− The 48 adjoining Statesand the District of Columbia.CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES− The 49 Stateslocated on the continent of North America and theDistrict of Columbia.CONTINUE− When used as a control instructionshould be followed by another word or wordsclarifying what is expected of the pilot. Example:“continue taxi”, “continue descent”, “continue inbound”etc.CONTROL AREA [ICAO]− A controlled airspaceextending upwards from a specified limit above theearth.CONTROL SECTOR− An airspace area of definedhorizontal and vertical dimensions for which acontroller or group of controllers has air trafficcontrol responsibility, normally within an air routetraffic control center or an approach control facility.Sectors are established based on predominant trafficflows, altitude strata, and controller workload. Pilotcommunicationsduring operations within a sectorare normally maintained on discrete frequenciesassigned to the sector.(See DISCRETE FREQUENCY.)CONTROL SLASH− A radar beacon slash representingthe actual position of the associated aircraft.Normally, the control slash is the one closest to theinterrogating radar beacon site. When ARTCC radaris operating in narrowband (digitized) mode, thecontrol slash is converted to a target symbol.CONTROLLED AIRSPACE− An airspace of defineddimensions within which air traffic controlservice is provided to IFR flights and to VFR flightsin accordance with the airspace classification.a. Controlled airspace is a generic term that coversClass A, Class B, Class C, Class D, and Class Eairspace.b. Controlled airspace is also that airspace withinwhich all aircraft operators are subject to certain pilotqualifications, operating rules, and equipment requirementsin 14 CFR Part 91 (for specific operatingrequirements, please refer to 14 CFR Part 91). ForIFR operations in any class of controlled airspace, apilot must file an IFR flight plan and receive anappropriate ATC clearance. Each Class B, Class C,and Class D airspace area designated for an airportcontains at least one primary airport around which theairspace is designated (for specific designations anddescriptions of the airspace classes, please refer to14 CFR Part 71).c. Controlled airspace in the United States isdesignated as follows:1. CLASS A− Generally, that airspace from18,000 feet MSL up to and including FL 600,including the airspace overlying the waters within 12nautical miles of the coast of the 48 contiguous Statesand Alaska. Unless otherwise authorized, all personsmust operate their aircraft under IFR.2. CLASS B− Generally, that airspace from thesurface to 10,000 feet MSL surrounding the nation’sbusiest airports in terms of airport operations orpassenger enplanements. The configuration of eachClass B airspace area is individually tailored andconsists of a surface area and two or more layers(some Class B airspaces areas resemble upside-downwedding cakes), and is designed to contain allpublished instrument procedures once an aircraftenters the airspace. An ATC clearance is required forall aircraft to operate in the area, and all aircraft thatare so cleared receive separation services within theairspace. The cloud clearance requirement for VFRoperations is “clear of clouds.”3. CLASS C− Generally, that airspace from thesurface to 4,000 feet above the airport elevation(charted in MSL) surrounding those airports thathave an operational control tower, are serviced by aradar approach control, and that have a certainnumber of IFR operations or passenger enplanements.Although the configuration of each Class Carea is individually tailored, the airspace usuallyconsists of a surface area with a 5 nautical mile (NM)radius, a circle with a 10NM radius that extends nolower than 1,200 feet up to 4,000 feet above theairport elevation and an outer area that is not charted.Each person must establish two-way radio communicationswith the ATC facility providing air trafficservices prior to entering the airspace and thereaftermaintain those communications while within theairspace. VFR aircraft are only separated from IFRaircraft within the airspace.(See OUTER AREA.)4. CLASS D− Generally, that airspace from thesurface to 2,500 feet above the airport elevation(charted in MSL) surrounding those airports thathave an operational control tower. The configurationof each Class D airspace area is individually tailoredand when instrument procedures are published, thePCG C−6