FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot (UAG)OperationsEasy
A student preparing for the Part 107 exam asks about Class A airspace and whether it affects typical sUAS operations. At what altitude does Class A airspace begin, and why is it generally not a factor for standard Part 107 flights?
- AIt begins at 1,200 feet AGL, and sUAS require a waiver to operate below it.
- BIt begins at 10,000 feet MSL, and sUAS above this altitude require ATC clearance.
- CIt begins at 18,000 feet MSL, and sUAS operating under standard Part 107 rules are limited to 400 feet AGL, far below this altitude.
- DIt begins at 700 feet AGL within Class E surface areas, and sUAS must remain below it.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. It begins at 18,000 feet MSL, and sUAS operating under standard Part 107 rules are limited to 400 feet AGL, far below this altitude.
Class A airspace extends from 18,000 feet MSL up to FL600. Since Part 107 restricts sUAS to a maximum altitude of 400 feet AGL (absent a waiver), Class A airspace is essentially irrelevant to normal small UAS operations.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. 1,200 feet AGL is a common UAS Facility Map grid altitude, not the Class A floor.
- B. 10,000 feet MSL is not the base of Class A; it's a speed-restriction reference for manned aircraft, not relevant here.
- D. 700 feet AGL relates to some Class E transition areas, not Class A airspace.
Class A Airspace
Airspace from 18,000 feet MSL up to FL600 (60,000 feet) used by high-altitude IFR traffic; generally irrelevant to sUAS due to the 400-foot AGL Part 107 altitude limit.
- Begins at 18,000 ft MSL
- Extends to FL600
- All operations require IFR clearance
- sUAS rarely need to consider it due to low altitude limits
Memory trick: 'A' is for Altitude — Class A is way up at 18,000+ feet, above where drones fly.