Plain English Meaning

The protected, tightly controlled airspace wrapped around the country's busiest airports. You cannot enter it without permission from air traffic control, and your aircraft needs the right equipment to be there.

Full Definition

Controlled airspace surrounding the nation's busiest airports, generally from the surface up to 10,000 feet MSL, shaped like an upside-down wedding cake with multiple layered shelves tailored to each airport. An ATC clearance is required to enter, operate within, or transit Class B airspace, and all aircraft inside receive separation services from controllers. Pilots must hold at least a private pilot certificate (or a student pilot certificate with specific endorsements) and the aircraft must have an operable two-way radio, an operable transponder with Mode C, and .