Class C Airspace Operations

Class C Depiction

The Anchorage Class C airspace is regulatory airspace requiring mandatory adherence to the following:

PILOT RESPONSIBILITIES

(1) Pilot Certification - No special requirements.

(2) Equipment - Two-way radio communications capability and Mode C transponder. Operations above Class C airspace require operating Mode C transponder.

(3) Operations - All pilots shall establish and maintain two-way radio communications with the ATC facility having jurisdiction over that area prior to entering the regulatory portion of Class C airspace.

NOTE: Because of this mandatory communications provision, FAR 91.75 is also applicable. It requires that, except in an emergency, all pilots shall comply with ATC instructions.

Question: Do I need "permission" to enter Class C airspace?
Answer: No. Pilots are only required to establish and maintain communications with Anchorage Approach Control prior to entering regulatory Class C airspace.

Question: Must my aircraft be Mode C transponder equipped?
Answer: Yes. A Mode C transponder is required for all flight in or above Class C airspace up to 10,000' MSL.

Question: Which ATC facility do I contact?
Answer: Anchorage Approach Control.

ATC SERVICES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

(1) Sequencing Arrivals. This service is provided to Anchorage International and Elmendorf AFB (as applicable).

(2) Separation Between IFR Aircraft - Standard IFR separation.

(3) Separation Between IFR and VFR Aircraft - Traffic advisories, conflict resolution* and wake turbulence separation.

*Conflict Resolution: The resolution of potential conflictions between aircraft that are radar identified and in communication with ATC by ensuring that radar targets do not touch. Pertinent traffic advisories shall be issued when this procedure is applied. Conflict Resolution procedures will be used when visual separation cannot be applied and aircraft will not be separated by appropriate vertical separation minima. (500 foot vertical separation or 1,000 foot vertical separation when operating below heavy aircraft and B757s).

(4) Separation Between VFR Aircraft - ATC will furnish traffic information and safety advisories as needed.

Question: How does conflict resolution work?
Answer: ATC issues traffic advisories to IFR and VFR radar targets projected to merge.

(a) If VFR traffic reports IFR traffic in sight, or vice versa, that aircraft will be instructed to maintain visual separation.

(b) If neither pilot has visual contact, ATC will take control actions to ensure radar targets do not merge by issuing vectors to either aircraft, or by issuing altitude assignments to ensure vertical separation of 500 feet or 1,000 feet when below heavy jets and B757s.

Question: Does Approach Control apply separation between VFR aircraft?
Answer: No, ATC only issues traffic information and, if needed, safety advisories. This also applies between VFR arrivals being sequenced to Anchorage International and Elmendorf Air Force Base.

Question: Does ATC require VFR arrivals and departures to and from Anchorage International to maintain an assigned altitude?
Answer: ATC does not usually assign VFR aircraft an altitude. Altitudes are assigned in the application of conflict resolution. Some coded VFR arrival/departure routes contain altitude restrictions. The altitude restrictions of FAR 93 apply at all times.

OPERATIONS within 5NM of Anchorage International Airport: Airports that are within a 5NM radius of Anchorage International Airport (Anchorage International, Sand Lake, and in some instances Campbell Lake) are procedurally handled as one airport. Additionally, pilots departing this area who are climbing to an altitude below 1,400 feet will receive continuing radar services unless the pilot wishes the service terminated. Pilots not desiring this continuing service must advise Approach Control that they want the service terminated. A small triangular portion of this area covers land west of Point Mackenzie along the north shore of Knik Arm from the surface to 4100' MSL.

OPERATIONS between 5NM and 10 NM of Anchorage International Airport: This area encompasses the Pt. Mackenzie area from 1400' to 1900' MSL. This airspace abuts the regulatory airspace of FAR 93. Do not misconstrue the altitudes in this area to be an adjustment to FAR 93. The provisions of FAR 93.59 - 93.69 ARE STILL IN EFFECT. You are required to comply with these provisions (even if operating in Class C airspace) unless you receive authorization to do otherwise from Anchorage Approach Control.

Question: An aircraft departing Lake Hood is flying to Beluga following the north shoreline of the Knik Arm. Is the pilot required to contact Anchorage Approach Control?
Answer: Yes, if the pilot will be climbing to 1400' MSL or above. However, if the pilot operates at an altitude below 1400' MSL and remains north of the power lines until clear of the 5NM radius of Anchorage International Airport, the requirement to contact Approach Control does not apply.

Note: The 5NM radius of Anchorage International Airport extends north of the Point Mackenzie Substation approximately 3/4 of a mile. The Class C Airspace in this area includes airspace from the surface to 4,100' MSL.

Question: An aircraft departing Merrill Field is flying to Big Lake and crossing Knik Arm at 2000' MSL or above. Is the pilot required to contact Anchorage Approach Control?
Answer: No, this aircraft will be above Class C airspace in the 1400'-1900' MSL area.

Note: An operating Mode C transponder is required above Class C airspace.