AIM 

4/20/23 

(a) 

A primary or satellite airport with an operating control tower. Two-way radio communications must 

be established and maintained with the control tower, and thereafter as instructed by ATC while operating in 

Class C airspace. 

(b) 

A satellite airport without an operating control tower. Two-way radio communications must be 

established as soon as practicable after departing with the ATC facility having jurisdiction over the Class C 

airspace. 

5.  Aircraft Speed. 

Unless otherwise authorized or required by ATC, no person may operate an aircraft at 

or below 2,500 feet above the surface within 4 nautical miles of the primary airport of a Class C airspace area 

at an indicated airspeed of more than 200 knots (230 mph). 

d.  Air Traffic Services. 

When two-way radio communications and radar contact are established, all VFR 

aircraft are: 

1. 

Sequenced to the primary airport. 

2. 

Provided Class C services within the Class C airspace and the outer area. 

3. 

Provided basic radar services beyond the outer area on a workload permitting basis. This can be 

terminated by the controller if workload dictates. 

e.  Aircraft Separation. 

Separation is provided within the Class C airspace and the outer area after two-way 

radio communications and radar contact are established. VFR aircraft are separated from IFR aircraft within the 

Class C airspace by any of the following: 

1. 

Visual separation. 

2. 

500 feet vertical separation. 

3. 

Target resolution. 

4. 

Wake turbulence separation will be provided to all aircraft operating: 

(a) 

Behind and less than 1,000 feet below super or heavy aircraft, 

(b) 

To small aircraft operating behind and less than 500 feet below B757 aircraft, and 

(c) 

To small aircraft following a large aircraft on final approach. 

NOTE

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1. 

Separation and sequencing of VFR aircraft will be suspended in the event of a radar outage as this service is dependent 

on radar. The pilot will be advised that the service is not available and issued wind, runway information and the time or place 

to contact the tower. 

2. 

Pilot participation is voluntary within the outer area and can be discontinued, within the outer area, at the pilot’s request. 

Class C services will be provided in the outer area unless the pilot requests termination of the service. 

3. 

Some facilities provide Class C services only during published hours. At other times, terminal IFR radar service will be 

provided. It is important to note that the communications and transponder/ADS

−

B requirements are dependent on the class 

of airspace established outside of the published hours. 

f.  Secondary Airports 

1. 

In some locations Class C airspace may overlie the Class D surface area of a secondary airport. In order 

to allow that control tower to provide service to aircraft, portions of the overlapping Class C airspace may be 

procedurally excluded when the secondary airport tower is in operation. Aircraft operating in these procedurally 

excluded areas will only be provided airport traffic control services when in communication with the secondary 

airport tower. 

2. 

Aircraft proceeding inbound to a satellite airport will be terminated at a sufficient distance to allow time 

to change to the appropriate tower or advisory frequency. Class C services to these aircraft will be discontinued 

when the aircraft is instructed to contact the tower or change to advisory frequency. 

3

−

2

−

6 

Controlled Airspace