AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL IN INDIA

J U L Y 0 1 , 2 0 0 8
AIR SPACE CLASSIFICATION
Airspace class
The worlds navigable airspace is divided into three-dimensional segments, each of which is
assigned to a specific class. Most nations adhere to the classification specified by the
International Civil Aviation Organiation !ICAO" and described below. Individ#al nations also
designate $pecial %se Airspace, which places f#rther r#les on air navigation for reasons of
national sec#rity or safety.
CO&T'&T$
( ICAO definitions
) %se of airspace classes
* Airspace classes and +,-
. $pecial-#se Airspac
ICAO definitions
On March (), (//0, ICAO adopted the c#rrent airspace classification scheme. The classes are
f#ndamentally defined in terms of flight r#les and interactions between aircraft and Air Traffic
Control !ATC". $ome 1ey concepts are2
$eparation2 Maintaining a specific minim#m distance between an aircraft and another aircraft
or terrain to avoid collisions, normally by re3#iring aircraft to fly at set levels or level bands,
on set ro#tes or in certain directions, or by controlling an aircraft4s speed.
Clearance2 5ermission given by ATC for an aircraft to proceed #nder certain conditions
contained within the clearance.
Traffic Information2 Information given by ATC on the position and, if 1nown, intentions of other
aircraft li1ely to pose a haard to flight.
The classifications adopted by ICAO are2
Class A2 All operations m#st be cond#cted #nder Instr#ment ,light -#les !I,-" or $pecial vis#al
flight r#les !$+,-" and are s#b6ect to ATC clearance. All flights are separated from each other
by ATC.
Class 72 Operations may be cond#cted #nder I,-, $+,-, or +is#al flight r#les !+,-". All aircraft
are s#b6ect to ATC clearance. All flights are separated from each other by ATC.
Class C2 Operations may be cond#cted #nder I,-, $+,-, or +,-. All flights are s#b6ect to ATC
clearance. Aircraft operating #nder I,- and $+,- are separated from each other and from
flights operating #nder +,-. ,lights operating #nder +,- are given traffic information in
respect of other +,- flights.
Class 82 Operations may be cond#cted #nder I,-, $+,-, or +,-. All flights are s#b6ect to ATC
clearance. Aircraft operating #nder I,- and $+,- are separated from each other, and are given
traffic information in respect of +,- flights. ,lights operating #nder +,- are given traffic
information in respect of all other flights.
Class '2 Operations may be cond#cted #nder I,-, $+,-, or +,-. Aircraft operating #nder I,-
and $+,- are separated from each other, and are s#b6ect to ATC clearance. ,lights #nder +,-
are not s#b6ect to ATC clearance. As far as is practical, traffic information is given to all flights
in respect of +,- flights.
Class ,2 Operations may be cond#cted #nder I,- or +,-. ATC separation will be provided, so far
as practical, to aircraft operating #nder I,-. Traffic Information may be given as far as is
practical in respect of other flights.
Class 92 Operations may be cond#cted #nder I,- or +,-. ATC separation is not provided. Traffic
Information may be given as far as is practical in respect of other flights.
Classes A-' are referred to as controlled airspace. Classes , and 9 are #ncontrolled airspace.
As of )00., ICAO is considering a proposal to red#ce the n#mber of airspace classifications to
three, which ro#ghly correspond to the c#rrent classes C, ' and 9.
Airspace classes and +,-
A#thorities #se the ICAO definitions to derive additional r#les for +,- clo#d clearance,
visibility, and e3#ipment re3#irements.
,or e:ample, consider Class ' airspace. An aircraft operating #nder +,- may not be in
comm#nication with ATC, so it is imperative that its pilot be able to see and avoid other
aircraft !and vice versa". That incl#des I,- flights emerging from a clo#d, so the +,- flight
m#st 1eep a designated distance from the edges of clo#ds above, below, and laterally, and
m#st maintain at least a designated visibility, to give the two aircraft time to observe and
avoid each other. The low-level speed limit of );0 1nots does not apply above (0,000 feet
!*,000 m", so the visibility re3#irements are higher.
On the other hand, in Class 7 airspace, separation is provided by ATC to all flights. &ow the +,-
flight only needs to see where it is going, so visibility re3#irements are red#ced and there is no
designated minim#m distance from clo#ds.
$imilar considerations determine whether a +,- flight m#st #se a two-way radio and<or a
transponder.
Special-use Airspace
'ach national a#thority designates areas of special #se airspace !$%A", primarily for reasons of
national sec#rity. This is not a separate classification from the ATC-based classes= each piece of
$%A is contained in one or more ones of letter-classed airspace.
$%As range in restrictiveness, from areas where flight is always prohibited e:cept to a#thoried
aircraft, to areas that are not charted b#t are #sed by military for potentially haardo#s
operations !in this case, the on#s is on the military personnel to avoid conflict". -efer to the
e:ternal lin1s for more specific details.