Safety Spotlight
Safety Hot Spot: Airspace
Like it or not, there's no avoiding airspace. Whether you're planning a quick hop to a nearby strip or an epic cross-country voyage, the regulations and common sense both require you to be well versed on any type of airspace that lies in your path.
If you could use an airspace refresher, check out this Safety Hot Spot. It offers the best resources for a review of the basics (and not-so-basics), plus plenty of practical tips for your next flight.
Getting Started
Here's a review of what you need to know—and bring—before you go.
- Airspace Safety Checkup
Kneeboard format (PDF file — 439KB) | HTML format
Great Learning Tools
Articles and other online resources from AOPA and the AOPA Air Safety Foundation, as well as NASA, to increase your knowledge about airspace.
Publications
- Safety Advisors:
- Airspace for Everyone (PDF file — 979KB)
- Operations at Nontowered Airports (PDF file — 752KB)
- Operations at Towered Airports (PDF file — 973KB)
- Lights-Out: A New Collision Avoidance Challenge (PDF file — 484KB)
- AOPA Pilot and Flight Training articles:
Other Resources
- Online Courses
- Airspace Flash Cards
- Reports from NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System
- Pilot incorrectly programs GPS, violates TFR
- Pilot violates restricted area due to incorrect assumption that area is inactive
- Loss of situational awareness during in-flight phone call results in Class C airspace incursion
- Pilot loses situational awareness while maneuvering, violates Class B airspace
- Lack of current briefing leads to violation of Presidential TFR
Take a Checkride
Think you're ready? Take a quiz and test your airspace knowledge.
Sporty's Safety Quiz
Safety Hot Spot Archive
View previous Safety Hot Spots
Updated Tuesday, November 13, 2007 9:47 AM
