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ICAO Airspace Classification

Most countries are member of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and as such have signed the "Chicago Convention 1944" (111 pages, 2 Mb). Aviation rules and regulations in member countries are based on the recommendations made by the ICAO.

ICAO Annex 11: Air Traffic Services, Chapter 2, Section 2.6 describes the classifications of airspaces classes A - G and the services the pilot may expect from air traffic control. The table below shows this in a more comprehensible form.

Airspace Separation & Services

All currently defined ICAO Airspace classes A through G are listed in the table below:

ICAO Airspace Classification

Class	Flight Rules	Separation	Service Provided	Speed Limit	Communication Required	ATC Clearance
A	IFR only	All Aircraft	Air Traffic Control	Not applicable	Two way	Yes
B	IFR	All Aircraft	Air Traffic Control	Not applicable	Two way	Yes
	VFR	All Aircraft	Air Traffic Control	Not applicable	Two way	Yes
C	IFR	IFR from IFR, IFR from VFR	Air Traffic Control	Not applicable	Two way	Yes
	VFR	VFR from IFR	ATC and Traffic Information	250 kts below 10000ft	Two way	Yes
D	IFR	IFR from IFR	Air Traffic Control, Traffic Info about VFR flights	250 kts below 10000ft	Two way	Yes
	VFR	nil	IFR/VFR and VFR/VFR Traffic Information	250 kts below 10000ft	Two way	Yes
E	IFR	IFR from IFR	Air Traffic Control, Traffic Info as far as practicable about VFR flights	250 kts below 10000ft	Two way	Yes
	VFR	nil	Traffic Information as far as practicable	250 kts below 10000ft	No	No
F	IFR	IFR from IFR as far as practicable	Air Traffic Advisory, Flight Information Service	250 kts below 10000ft	Two way	No
	VFR	nil	Flight Information Service	250 kts below 10000ft	No	No
G	IFR	Nil	Flight Information Service	250 kts below 10000ft	Two way	No
	VFR	nil	Flight Information Service	250 kts below 10000ft	No	No

Based on: ICAO Annex 11: Air Traffic Services, Chapter 2, Section 2.6 and Appendix 4. Read the full details in the originalAnnex 11here.

Remember that each country can and does apply changes to the standard ICAO airspace classification, so be sure to read the most current relevant AIP.

Written by EAI.