Class D to class E, or G

[MLesch]

I recentlly took my cfi oral and was asked if a class d airport went to
class E, or class G when the twr. closed, is there any way to find this out without using only the sectional chart. (besides the little box that says see AF/D for info on Class D/EorG airspace times)

 

[labbats]

Remember that a sectional is a 3-D representation on a 2-D surface. If the surrounding area is class G, then the airport reverts to G when the tower closes, or E if noted with a dashed line down to the surface. No ring = Class G.

 

[MLesch]

So aiports that change form class D to E will always have class E app. areas (or some other suronding class E surface area)?

 

[njcapt]

What the hell is Class D, E and F airspace?

njcapt - exclusively flying IFR for 15 years.

 

[buckdanny]

Yeah, njcapt is right; get your CFII and stop worrying too much about that crap. IFR rules. VFR is for puzzies anyway.

No seriously, I think the AF/D is the only way to know. Even if the class D has shaded magenta around it, it still can revert to a class G and class E with be 700 feet AGL. Even class C airports can change to class G after the tower is closed! I believe that Monterey (MRY) is like that. The class of airspace really depends on traffic volume to and from that airport.

Buck

 

[great cornholio]

What the hell is Class D, E and F airspace?

njcapt - exclusively flying IFR for 15 years.

Cliff notes.
D = airspace around airport with tower, but no radar. "2-way radio to enter"
E = "controlled" airspace not associated with control tower. IE ARTCC and TRACON only ATC you talk to in E. Dont have to talk to anyone to enter
F = some crazy Canadian stuff
G = Anything thats not A B C D or E...gotta love the feds..

 

[labbats]

So aiports that change form class D to E will always have class E app. areas (or some other suronding class E surface area)?

If denoted outside of Class D, and encircling it, then yes.

 

[CitationLover]

the afd is the only place to find this information. some of them make no sense....like AVL's class c turning to g at night when the twr is closed.

a dpe would always ask our students this question.

 

[midlifeflyer]

What the hell is Class D, E and F airspace?

njcapt - exclusively flying IFR for 15 years.

They are airspace categories that let you know whether there may be VFR traffic in your way when you bust out of the clouds.

 

[MLesch]

The DE wouldn't let me go to the AF/D apperentlly he thinks theres a way to find out with only the sectional chart, I am going to take my pratical over this friday and I wanted to find all the answeres to the questions I missed, but I can't seem to find the answer to this one anywhere ...

 

[pilotman2105]

The DE wouldn't let me go to the AF/D apperentlly he thinks theres a way to find out with only the sectional chart, I am going to take my pratical over this friday and I wanted to find all the answeres to the questions I missed, but I can't seem to find the answer to this one anywhere ...

There is a chart (at least on the current Twin Cities Secional there is) which displays the times that part time towers are open. However, it does not mention airspace at all.

The only place that I see part-time Class D airspace mentioned on the chart is near the airport information where it says "See Notam/Directory for Class D eff hrs."

I'd be interested in finding out the final answer to this as well... in the mean time, I think your DE is kinda nuts...

 

[Stifler's Mom]

What the hell is Class D, E and F airspace?

njcapt - exclusively flying IFR for 15 years.

Amen to that.

I had a Capt. tell me he went to check out a 172, and he was asked about "A TOMATO FLAMES". He said he didn't know what the hell the guy was asking him.

 

[A Squared]

... in the mean time, I think your DE is kinda nuts...

I don't think this is an unreasonable question, nor a far-fetched one.

You're tooling along VFR, you're 20 miles from your destination, you see some clouds ahead. you dial up the ASOS, your destination is reporting 800 bkn, vis > 10 miles. The tower closes at 1700 local, it's 1730.

Can you zip in and land? (class G) or do you need to contact ATC and get a special VFR clearance? (Class E).

OK, a couple of you are saying "I wouldn't be going there VFR" which is a good answer for *you*, but we're talking about an initial CFI applicant who presumably will be instructing non-instrument rated VFR pilots who very well may be faced with a situation like this. The question shouldn't be a checkride buster, but it's not an unreasonable one for a CFI applicant.

 

[pilotman2105]

...The question shouldn't be a checkride buster, but it's not an unreasonable one for a CFI applicant.

Let me qualify what I said earlier.

I agree that it isn't an unreasonable question for a CFI applicant. However, MLesch elluded to the fact that he was retaking his initial CFI test. I wasn't sure if that was part of the overall reason he didn't get it the first time. But looking back, it seems that MLesch only has to retake the practical, thus perhaps I jumped to some conclusions in my thinking.

With that said though, I think that being able to say "I'm not sure if that information is explicitly on the sectional, but I know for a fact it is in the A/FD," would suffice.

Nonetheless, I'm still interested in the answer. I've been looking over my sectional for the past hour trying to find it!!!

 

[standaman]

As a flight instructor if you are giving the answer on a checkride then consult AFD. Can not be disputed.

 

[jergar999]

I thought Class D always reverted to Class E when the tower closed, provided there are published approaches and approved weather. If you don't have either of those, it becomes Class G. Again, this is from a pilot who hasn't flown VFR in about 5 years, so take it with a grain of salt.