FAA Private Pilot Airplane (PAR)Navigation and Flight PlanningMedium
A pilot is planning a VFR cross-country flight. The destination airport is located within a blue shaded area on the sectional chart. What does this blue shading indicate?
- AThe airport is located within a Class D airspace.
- BThe airport is located within a Class C airspace.
- CThe airport is located within a Class E airspace surface area.
- DThe airport is located within a Class B airspace.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. The airport is located within a Class E airspace surface area.
On a sectional chart, a blue shaded area indicates Class E airspace that extends to the surface. This is typically found around airports without an operating control tower but requiring controlled airspace for instrument approaches.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Class D airspace is depicted by dashed blue lines.
- B. Class C airspace is depicted by solid magenta lines.
- D. Class B airspace is depicted by solid blue lines.
Class E Airspace (Surface Area)
Controlled airspace that extends from the surface to an altitude, typically 14,500 feet MSL, found around airports that do not have a control tower but require controlled airspace for IFR operations.
- Depicted by a blue shaded area on sectional charts.
- Requires two-way radio communication for IFR operations.
- VFR minimums are 3 SM visibility, 500 feet below, 1,000 feet above, 2,000 feet horizontal from clouds.
Memory trick: Magenta is for Charlie, Blue is for Bravo, Dashed is for Delta, Shaded is for Echo.