Class B airspace

Class B airspace surrounds the nation's busiest airports — places like Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago O'Hare and New York. Its shape is often described as an upside-down wedding cake: a small surface cylinder over the primary airport with progressively wider shelves stacked above, typically reaching up to 10,000 ft MSL.

The headline rule: you need an explicit ATC clearance to enter, even VFR. Hearing "remain clear of Class B" means you have *not* been cleared in; the magic words are "cleared into the Class Bravo." Requirements include:

• Two-way radio communication with ATC.
• A Mode C transponder and ADS-B Out (also required within the 30-nm "Mode C veil" around the primary airport).
• For the primary airport, at least a private pilot certificate — or a student/sport/recreational pilot with the specific training and endorsement required by the regulations (some of the busiest Class B airports are off-limits to student solo entirely).

VFR weather minimums in Class B are 3 statute miles visibility and clear of clouds — notably, you stay clear of clouds rather than maintaining the usual 500/1,000/2,000-ft distances, because ATC is separating everyone.

Class B is depicted on sectionals and terminal area charts with solid blue lines and altitude figures for each shelf.

*Reference and training only. Consult current charts and the FAA AIM.*