Topic 3 of 5

Airspace

Classes B, C, D, E and G, ATC authorization, special use airspace and TFRs.

Last reviewed October 12, 2026

A white quadcopter on the ground in a grass field, with an airport control tower in the distance.

Airspace questions ask where you may fly and what permission you need first. From October 26, 2026, the Part 107 test includes new image-based questions drawn from current FAA charts, so it helps to connect each rule to what you see on a sectional chart.

Controlled airspace: Classes B, C, D and E

Class B surrounds the busiest airports, generally from the surface to 10,000 feet MSL, in layers that can look like an upside-down wedding cake (FAA Remote Pilot Study Guide, p. 5).
Class C generally runs from the surface to 4,000 feet above the airport elevation, usually with a surface area of 5 nautical miles radius and an outer circle of 10 nautical miles radius from 1,200 to 4,000 feet above the airport (FAA Remote Pilot Study Guide, p. 6).
Class D generally runs from the surface to 2,500 feet above the elevation of an airport with an operating control tower (FAA Remote Pilot Study Guide, p. 6).
Class E is controlled airspace that isn't Class A, B, C or D. In most areas its base is 1,200 feet AGL; in many others it starts at the surface or 700 feet AGL (FAA Remote Pilot Study Guide, p. 6).

You need prior authorization from Air Traffic Control to fly in Class B, C or D airspace, or within the surface area of Class E airspace designated for an airport (14 CFR 107.41).

Uncontrolled airspace: Class G

Class G runs from the surface up to the base of the Class E airspace above it. You don't need ATC authorization to fly there (FAA Remote Pilot Study Guide, p. 6), but every other Part 107 rule still applies.

Special use airspace

Prohibited areas (charted "P" plus a number) ban flight. Restricted areas ("R") contain unusual, often invisible hazards such as artillery firing (FAA Remote Pilot Study Guide, p. 7), and you need permission from the using or controlling agency to fly in either (14 CFR 107.45). You'll also see warning areas ("W"), military operations areas (MOAs, which are named rather than numbered) and alert areas ("A") (FAA Remote Pilot Study Guide, p. 8-9).

Temporary flight restrictions and airports

Temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) are issued by NOTAM, for example to protect disaster relief aircraft or the President (FAA Remote Pilot Study Guide, p. 10-11). Part 107 requires you to follow them (14 CFR 107.47), and checking airspace and flight restrictions is part of every preflight (14 CFR 107.49). Near airports, you may not interfere with traffic patterns (14 CFR 107.43).