FAR 71.71 — Class E Airspace
FAR 71.71 defines Class E airspace, including the 14,500 ft MSL layer, 700/1,200 ft transition areas, Federal airways, and offshore airspace.
In Plain English
FAR 71.71 defines what makes up Class E airspace — the most common type of controlled airspace in the U.S. Class E is everywhere controlled airspace exists that isn't Class A, B, C, or D. It matters because it sets where IFR services and VFR weather minimums for controlled airspace apply.
Class E consists of:
- The airspace from 14,500 feet MSL up to (but not including) 18,000 feet MSL, and above FL600, including out to 12 NM offshore — but excluding airspace below 1,500 feet AGL and part of the Alaska peninsula.
- Surface-based Class E designated for an airport (shown by a dashed magenta line on sectionals).
- Transition areas that begin at 700 feet AGL (around airports with instrument approaches) or 1,200 feet AGL (for transitioning to/from the en route structure), extending up to 14,500 MSL.
- Federal airways (Victor airways), which are Class E from 1,200 AGL up to 18,000 MSL.
- En route domestic and offshore airspace areas as listed in FAA Order JO 7400.11K.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 71.71§ 71.71 Class E airspace.
Class E Airspace consists of:
(a) The airspace of the United States, including that airspace overlying the waters within 12 nautical miles of the coast of the 48 contiguous states and Alaska, extending upward from 14,500 feet MSL up to, but not including 18,000 feet MSL, and the airspace above FL600, excluding—
(1) The Alaska peninsula west of longitude 160°00′00″ W.; and
(2) The airspace below 1,500 feet above the surface of the earth.
(b) The airspace areas designated for an airport in subpart E of FAA Order JO 7400.11K (incorporated by reference, see § 71.1) within which all aircraft operators are subject to the operating rules specified in part 91 of this chapter.
(c) The airspace areas listed as domestic airspace areas in subpart E of FAA Order JO 7400.11K (incorporated by reference, see § 71.1) which extend upward from 700 feet or more above the surface of the earth when designated in conjunction with an airport for which an approved instrument approach procedure has been prescribed, or from 1,200 feet or more above the surface of the earth for the purpose of transitioning to or from the terminal or en route environment. When such areas are designated in conjunction with airways or routes, the extent of such designation has the lateral extent identical to that of a Federal airway and extends upward from 1,200 feet or higher. Unless otherwise specified, the airspace areas in the paragraph extend upward from 1,200 feet or higher above the surface to, but not including, 14,500 feet MSL.
(d) The Federal airways described in subpart E of FAA Order JO 7400.11K (incorporated by reference, see § 71.1).
(e) The airspace areas listed as en route domestic airspace areas in subpart E of FAA Order JO 7400.11K (incorporated by reference, see § 71.1). Unless otherwise specified, each airspace area has a lateral extent identical to that of a Federal airway and extends upward from 1,200 feet above the surface of the earth to the overlying or adjacent controlled airspace.
(f) The airspace areas listed as offshore airspace areas in subpart E of FAA Order JO 7400.11K (incorporated by reference, see § 71.1) that are designated in international airspace within areas of domestic radio navigational signal or ATC radar coverage, and within which domestic ATC procedures are applied. Unless otherwise specified, each airspace area extends upward from a specified altitude up to, but not including, 18,000 feet MSL.
Effective Date Note:
By Docket FAA-2025-1763, Amdt. 71-57, 90 FR 41890, Aug. 28, 2025, § 71.71 was amended by removing “FAA Order JO 7400.11J” wherever it appears in paragraphs (b) through (f), and adding in its place “FAA Order JO 7400.11K”, effective Sept. 15, 2025, through Sept. 15, 2026.
[Docket 29334, 73 FR 54495, Sept. 22, 2008, as amended by Amdt. 71-40, 73 FR 60940, Oct. 15, 2008; Amdt. 71-41, 74 FR 46490, Sept. 10, 2009; Amdt. 71-42, 75 FR 55269, Sept. 10, 2010; Amdt. 71-43, 76 FR 53329, Aug. 26, 2011; Amdt. 71-44, 77 FR 50908, Aug. 23, 2012; Amdt. 71-45, 78 FR 52848, Aug. 27, 2013; Amdt. 71-46, 79 FR 51888, Sept. 2, 2014; Amdt. 71-47, 80 FR 51937, Aug. 27, 2015; Amdt. 71-48, 81 FR 55372, Aug. 19, 2016; Amdt. 71-49, 82 FR 40069, Aug. 24, 2017; Amdt. 71-50, 83 FR 43757, Aug. 28, 2018; Amdt. 71-51, 84 FR 45652, Aug. 30, 2019; Amdt. 71-52, 85 FR 50780, Aug. 18, 2020; Amdt. 71-53, 86 FR 46963, Aug. 23, 2021; Docket FAA-2022-1022, Amdt. 71-54, 87 FR 54878, Sept. 8, 2022; Docket FAA-2023-1785, Amdt. 71-55, 88 FR 58072, Aug. 25, 2023; Docket FAA-2024-2061, Amdt. 71-56, 89 FR 68339, Aug. 26, 2024; Docket FAA-2025-1763, Amdt. 71-57, 90 FR 41890, Aug. 28, 2025]
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What is Class E airspace and where does it generally exist?
Per FAR 71.71, Class E is controlled airspace that isn't A, B, C, or D. It includes the layer from 14,500 ft MSL up to 18,000 ft MSL, airspace above FL600, Federal airways, transition areas, and surface areas designated around certain airports.
Q2At what altitudes does Class E typically begin in transition areas, and why?
Under FAR 71.71(c), Class E begins at 700 ft AGL around airports with approved instrument approaches and at 1,200 ft AGL for transitioning to or from the terminal or en route environment, providing controlled airspace for IFR operations.
Q3What are the vertical limits of a Federal (Victor) airway?
FAR 71.71(c) and (d) establish that Federal airways are Class E airspace extending from 1,200 ft AGL up to, but not including, 18,000 ft MSL, with the lateral extent defined in FAA Order JO 7400.11K.
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Related Sections in Part 71