FAA Sport Pilot Airplane (SPA)Airspace and NavigationHard
A pilot plans to arrive at a non-towered-appearing airport at 2200 local time. The sectional chart shows the airport surrounded by a solid blue Class D boundary with a note indicating the tower operates from 0600 to 2200 daily, and a dashed magenta line depicting an underlying Class E surface area. What should the pilot expect regarding airspace status upon arrival?
- AThe airspace remains Class D, and radio contact with the tower is still required
- BAfter the tower closes, the airspace reverts to Class E surface area and pilots use CTAF procedures
- CThe airspace automatically becomes Class B once the tower closes
- DThe airport is closed to all traffic once the tower stops operating
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. After the tower closes, the airspace reverts to Class E surface area and pilots use CTAF procedures
When a part-time control tower closes, the airspace typically reverts to the underlying Class E (or Class G) designation shown by the dashed magenta line. Pilots then use standard non-towered procedures, self-announcing on the CTAF/UNICOM frequency, since Class D two-way radio requirements no longer apply.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Class D status ends with the tower's operating hours; it does not remain active after closing.
- C. Nothing about part-time towers converts the airspace to Class B.
- D. The airport remains open; it simply operates without a tower using CTAF procedures.
Part-Time Control Tower Airspace
When an airport's control tower operates only part-time, the Class D airspace is only in effect during the tower's published hours; outside those hours, it reverts to the underlying airspace (often Class E surface area or Class G).
- Tower operating hours are noted on the sectional or Chart Supplement
- Dashed magenta line indicates underlying Class E surface area
- After hours, pilots use CTAF and self-announce procedures
- No two-way radio clearance is required outside tower hours
Memory trick: When the tower sleeps, the sky reverts to E