FAA Flight Instructor Airplane (FIA)Navigation and AirspaceMedium
A pilot approaching a non-towered airport notices the airspace depicted with a dashed magenta line on the sectional chart. A CFI explains that to operate within this airspace under VFR, the pilot must comply with which requirement?
- AComply with standard VFR weather minimums; no clearance or radio contact is required
- BFile and activate a VFR flight plan before entering the depicted area
- CObtain a discrete transponder code before entering the area
- DEstablish two-way radio communication with ATC prior to entry
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Comply with standard VFR weather minimums; no clearance or radio contact is required
A dashed magenta line depicts Class E surface airspace, which extends control to the surface for IFR traffic but requires no ATC clearance or radio contact for VFR operations—only compliance with the appropriate VFR weather minimums.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. A flight plan is never required for VFR flight in the U.S. except in special cases like ADIZ.
- C. No discrete transponder code is required for VFR flight in Class E airspace.
- D. Two-way radio contact is required for Class C/D, not Class E.
Class E Surface Area (Dashed Magenta)
A dashed magenta line on a sectional chart depicts Class E airspace extending to the surface, typically to support instrument approaches at non-towered airports.
- No ATC clearance or radio contact required for VFR
- Extends control to the surface for IFR arrivals/departures
- VFR pilots must meet Class E visibility and cloud clearance minimums
Memory trick: 'Dashed magenta = down to the ground, but no ground rules for VFR'