Section 1. General

  1. PURPOSE

Class C airspace areas are designed to improve aviation safety by reducing the risk of midair collisions in the terminal area and enhance the management of air traffic operations therein. Aircraft operating in these airspace areas are subject to certain operating rules and equipment requirements.

  1. NONRULEMAKING ALTERNATIVES

Before initiating a Class C airspace proposal, determine if there are nonrulemaking alternatives that could resolve the operational issue(s). If nonrulemaking alternatives resolve the issue(s), no Class C rulemaking action is required.

  1. RESPONSIBILITIES
  1. The Rules and Regulations Group (AJV-P2) is responsible for oversight of the Class C airspace designation/modification/revocation process and issuance of all Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and final rules. The Rules and Regulations Group will provide assistance, as needed, to the Service Centers in developing Class C airspace proposals.
  2. The Service Center is responsible for coordination to determine Class C airspace candidacy or the need for modifications or revocation of an existing area. As part of this responsibility, the Service Center must request a staff study be accomplished by the appropriate office and perform an analysis of the staff study. All Class C airspace establishment, modification, or revocation plans must be coordinated with the Rules and Regulations Group prior to any public announcement
  1. SERVICE CENTER EVALUATION
  1. Service Centers must biennially evaluate existing Class C airspace areas to determine if the area meets candidacy requirements, satisfies the intended purpose of reducing the potential for midair collision, and enhances the management of air traffic operations in the terminal area. Some suggested evaluation considerations include, but are not limited to:
  1. The Class C standards in this chapter;
  2. Airspace modeling results (PDARS, TARGETS, etc.);
  3. Traffic Alert Collision Avoidance System - Resolution Advisories;
  4. User feedback/controller input;
  5. Safety reports (ATSAP, ASRS, etc.);
  6. Significant changes in airport operations and/or terminal area traffic flows; and/or
  7. Airport runway configuration changes.
  1. The Service Center must document the biennial evaluation to the file, with an information copy of the evaluation sent to the Rules and Regulations Group. If the evaluation indicates that airspace modifications or revocation should be made, Service Centers must follow the applicable procedures in this order.