Airspace Info and Requirements

What are the basic cloud requirements to fly VFR? What about above and below 10,000' MSL? Or below 1,200' AGL? What are those solid blue lines on the chart?  What about the dashed blue or solid blue with a fuzzy side?  Here is a simple list that should be easy to remember.


I tried to dumb it down and make it as simple as possible. Hope this helps you to remember your airspace on charts and cloud clearance requirements.

**Note: (3-152) = (3 miles 1000 above 500 below and 2000 horizontal) /
               (3 - Clear) = (3 miles & clear of clouds)


Class A: IFR only (No minimums)
No Color on the charts. This is any altitude 18,000' MSL or above.


Class B: Very busy airports and you need a clearance (3 & Clear)
Class B: Blue Solid Lines

Class C/D: Not as tightly controlled as B with lots of C-152's flying around (3-152)
Class C: Magenta Solid Lines
Class D: Blue Dashed Lines

Class E Below 10,000msl: same as Class C/D, mainly smaller airplanes and airports (3-152)
Class E from Surface: Magenta Dashed Lines
Class E from 700' AGL and up: Magenta Solid with fuzzy side towards 700' AGL class E
Class E from 1200' AGL and up: Blue Solid with fuzzy side towards 1200' AGL class E

Class G Day below 1200agl: small, slow aircraft so less restrictive (1 & Clear)
Class G Night below 1200agl: harder to judge distance at night (reverts to same as C/D: 3-152)
Class G: Everywhere class A,B,C,D,E are not. Below class E if class E does not go to surface


Class E/G Above 10,000msl (and above 1200agl): faster airplanes travel above 10,000msl and need more reaction time. (five sms, 1 sm horiz, 1000' above, 1000' below)


Special VFR: Same as G Day below 1200agl because you're tying to get into or out of an airport (1 & Clear)


I hope this helps you to better understand airspace, cloud requirements, and colors and altitudes of airspace.