Certified Flight Instructor - Flight Instructor Airplane Practice Exam

Class E airspace within the contiguous United States typically extends upward from what altitudes?

1. 700 feet AGL or 1,200 feet AGL to 3,000 feet MSL.

2. 1,200 feet AGL to, but not including, the base of the overlying controlled airspace.

3. 14,500 feet MSL to the upper limits of airspace.

4. 3,000 feet MSL to 18,000 feet MSL.

The correct answer is: 1,200 feet AGL to, but not including, the base of the overlying controlled airspace.

Class E airspace is designed to provide controlled airspace for aircraft operations while allowing flexibility for VFR traffic (Visual Flight Rules). Within the contiguous United States, Class E airspace typically extends from 1,200 feet AGL (Above Ground Level) up to the base of the overlying controlled airspace, which is commonly at 18,000 feet MSL (Mean Sea Level) for most areas. The significance of this is that it creates a transition zone where VFR flights can operate without the stringent requirements of Class A or other classes of controlled airspace above 18,000 feet MSL, while still ensuring that air traffic is managed effectively. By beginning at 1,200 feet AGL, it accommodates various types of operations, including those of small general aviation aircraft that may take off from non-towered airports. While other altitude ranges are mentioned in the options, they either describe airspace configurations that do not accurately represent the typical structure of Class E airspace or apply to different classes of airspace altogether. Understanding this configuration is critical for pilots to navigate and operate safely within and around controlled airspace.