Airspace Security

Airspace Security

Sharing airspace with jets, helicopters, balloons, and birds

Let Planehook help you with your NewSpace enterprise security planning.

Your fare-paying spaceflight participants are looking forward to their life-changing flight. The big sky--little spacecraft assumption of mission operations just doesn't exist anymore.How do you ensure that their launch is "on time, on target"? Ensuring that the sky above is clear for both launch and recovery is one of the key elements to airspace security. This form of security is perhaps the most enterprise-unique aspect of the developing space tourism industry.

Sure, airspace security is important for the launch of unmanned flights and company-paid astronaut-pilots. But they can probably afford to wait for the launch and recovery windows to come around again. However, can you afford to take that same approach with your company's "spaceflight participant"?

Photo courtesy of NASA

Airspace...What is Airspace?

Frequently Asked Questions Concerning Airspace

What airspace are you talking about?

Class G Airspace: Airspace that has not be designated as Class A, B, C, D, or E airspace. This airspace is uncontrolled and begins at the surface and ends at either 700 or 1,200 feet above ground level (AGL), depending upon local airspace use. Immediately above Class G airspace is...

Class E Airspace: Controlled airspace that is not designated as Class A, B, C, or D. This airspace may begin at the surface in certain circumstances, but generally begins where Class G airspace ends and continues up to 18,000 feet above Mean Sea Level (MSL).

Class A Airspace: Generally, this airspace begins at 18.000 feet MSL and continues up to Flight Level 600 (a fancy way of saying 60,000 feet).

Hey, what about that other airspace?

Airspace Classes B, C, and D deal with airports that have control towers. The simpliest airspace operations using an air traffic control tower occur in Class D airspace. Class C airspace is larger and somewhat more complex. Class B airspace surrounds airfields with heavy commercial air traffic operations. This airspace analysis is intentionally simplified.

For more information concerning airspace, go to Chapter 3 of the Aeronautical Information Manual

http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim/

Is there a regulation for protecting the airspace around spaceflight operations areas?

Yes. The following regulation concerning the safe seperation between aircraft and spacecraft operations applies:

14 CFR Part 91.143 Flight limitation in the proximity of spaceflight operations.

When a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) is issued in accordance with this section, no person may operate any aircraft of U.S. registry, or pilot any aircraft under the authority of an airman certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administraton, within areas designated in a NOTAM for spaceflight operation except when authorized by ATC. [ATC stands for Air Traffic Control]

http://www.airweb.faa.gov/REGULATORY_AND_GUIDANCE_LIBRARY/RGFAR.NSF/0/FCCFD8747298FF1E86256F250054F9D7?OpenDocument

Does this solve my airspace problems?

Not really. Most pilots, like all of us here at Planehook, check the NOTAMS before each flight and know to abide by the regulations. However, the regulations are written to enforce actions against those who violate them...after the fact. But when it comes ensuring your mission is not delayed because of local air traffic, we feel that it's better to be proactive, not reactive.

More questions?

We'll be happy to answer them. Contact us here at Planehook: david.hook@spaceflightsecurity.com or 210-653-8442.

Planehook Aviation Services, LLC

Securing aviation one airfield at a time.