FAA Sport Pilot Airplane (SPA)Airspace and NavigationMedium
A pilot examining a sectional chart notices a non-towered airport with a published instrument approach procedure, surrounded by a dashed magenta line. What does this dashed magenta circle indicate?
- AA Military Operations Area boundary overlying the airport
- BClass E airspace extending down to the surface to support instrument approaches when no tower is in operation
- CClass D airspace that is only active during published tower hours
- DA Restricted Area requiring prior permission to enter
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Class E airspace extending down to the surface to support instrument approaches when no tower is in operation
A dashed magenta line around an airport denotes Class E airspace that extends to the surface, providing controlled airspace for aircraft using instrument approaches at airports without an operating control tower. Class D (solid blue line) applies only where there's an operating control tower.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. MOAs are shown with magenta hashed lines but are unrelated to instrument approach protection.
- C. Class D airspace is shown with a solid blue line, not dashed magenta.
- D. Restricted Areas are shown with blue hatched lines and require authorization, not related to this symbol.
Class E Surface Area
Controlled airspace extending to the surface around certain non-towered airports to protect IFR traffic during instrument approaches.
- Depicted with a dashed magenta line on sectional charts
- Exists at airports with instrument approach procedures but no operating tower
- No ATC clearance required for VFR entry, unlike Class D
- Reverts to Class G when the Class E designation doesn't apply
Memory trick: 'ABCDEFG' minus F — remember the dashed magenta 'E' hugs the ground at some airports