Airspace Classification and Operating Requirements

20% of the Part 107 test · blueprint FAA-S-ACS-10B (April 2021)

Short answer

Area II is 15–25% of the Part 107 test. You must classify Class A, B, C, D, E and G airspace from a sectional chart and know that sUAS need ATC authorization (LAANC or DroneZone) for Class B, C, D and surface-area Class E, while Class G is uncontrolled; recognise special-use airspace (prohibited, restricted, warning, MOA, alert, controlled firing), temporary flight restrictions, and NOTAMs.

Why it matters on this exam

Several questions show a sectional chart excerpt from the testing supplement and ask whether you can fly there and at what altitude.

Key concepts (ACS Tasks II.A–II.B)

Class A: 18,000 ft MSL and above — never for sUAS.
Class B: solid blue lines around the busiest airports; authorization required.
Class C: solid magenta; authorization required.
Class D: dashed blue; authorization required; ceiling in brackets [ ] in hundreds of feet MSL.
Class E: surface-area Class E is a dashed magenta line (authorization required); Class E starting at 700 ft AGL is the shaded magenta vignette — sUAS at ≤400 ft are below it and in Class G.
Class G: uncontrolled; no authorization, but all Part 107 rules still apply.
LAANC gives near-real-time authorization in controlled airspace at published UAS Facility Map ceilings; DroneZone for other cases.
Special-use: prohibited (P-xx, never), restricted (R-xx, need permission when active), warning (W), MOAs (permitted but exercise caution), alert areas, controlled firing areas (not charted).
TFRs (stadiums, wildfires, VIP movement) and NOTAMs must be checked before every flight.

Common mistakes

Treating the magenta vignette (Class E at 700 ft) as surface airspace that needs authorization.
Ignoring that Class D and C airspace extend to the surface: 50 ft AGL inside the boundary still needs authorization.

Worked example

A chart shows a dashed magenta circle around a small airport and, inside it, a dashed blue segment. At 300 ft AGL inside the dashed magenta you are in surface Class E — authorization required; the blue dashed segment is Class D — authorization required.

Original practice questions

Airspace Classification and Operating RequirementsDifficulty 2/5

On a sectional chart, a dashed blue line around an airport indicates which airspace, and what must a remote PIC obtain to fly inside it?

AClass C; nothing, if below 400 ft
BClass D; ATC authorization (e.g., LAANC)
CClass E at 700 ft; nothing
DClass G; nothing

Show answer and rationale

Correct: B. A dashed blue line is Class D airspace, which extends to the surface. §107.41 requires ATC authorization for operations in Class B, C, D and surface-area Class E, typically obtained through LAANC.

A — Class C is a solid magenta line, and authorization is required there too.
C — Class E at 700 ft AGL is the shaded magenta vignette.
D — Class G is uncontrolled and not depicted by a dashed blue line.

Airspace Classification and Operating RequirementsDifficulty 3/5

A planned flight at 300 ft AGL is inside the shaded magenta vignette but outside any dashed magenta or blue lines. Which is correct?

AOnly a NOTAM is required
BAuthorization is required because the area is Class E
CThe flight is in Class G below the 700-ft Class E floor; no authorization is needed
DThe flight is prohibited

Show answer and rationale

Correct: C. The magenta vignette marks Class E beginning at 700 ft AGL. Below that floor the airspace is Class G, so a 300-ft flight needs no ATC authorization (all other Part 107 rules still apply).

B — Class E here begins at 700 ft AGL, above the flight.
D — Nothing prohibits Class G operations.
A — NOTAMs are checked, not filed, for routine Part 107 flights.

Airspace Classification and Operating RequirementsDifficulty 2/5

Which special-use airspace may an sUAS never enter?

AAlert area
BMilitary operations area (MOA)
CWarning area
DProhibited area

Show answer and rationale

Correct: D. Prohibited areas (P-numbers) are established for national security and flight is not permitted. Restricted areas require permission from the controlling agency when active; MOAs and alert areas are not closed but demand caution.

B — MOAs are not prohibited; exercise caution.
C — Warning areas over international waters are not prohibited.
A — Alert areas carry high training activity but are not closed.

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Primary references

Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-10B, April 2021) — Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) · government · retrieved 2026-09-21, verified 2026-09-21

Last reviewed: 2026-09-21Next review by: 2026-11-20Draft — pending editorial reviewHow we verify facts