ATS AIRSPACE CLASSIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION

ENR 1.4 ATS AIRSPACE CLASSIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION

1 GENERAL (SERA.6001)

The SERA airspace classification system offers a menu of seven classes of airspace, A up to and including G, each specifying minimum air traffic service requirements, the services provided and obligations to pilots. Class A up to and including E are controlled airspace, advisory service is provided in class F airspace and flight information service is provided in class G airspace.

The Netherlands has adopted the system, albeit deviating from the minimum flight visibility for military jet aircraft.

The airspace classifications are described in the subsequent paragraphs. Notifications and descriptions of the individual airspaces and their classification are contained in ENR 2.1, ENR 3.1, ENR 3.2 and AD 2.17.

1.1 Purpose

The purpose of the ATS airspace classification system is to provide clear information on the amount of air traffic services the pilot may expect within specific airspace classes and the subsequent obligations to that pilot.

1.2 Speed limitation

Military aircraft cannot adhere to the 250 KT speed limitation below FL 100 as prescribed in the ATS airspace classification. Due to the shortage of space, both civil and military aircraft have to share the same airspaces. The therefore unavoidable mix of low- and high speed aircraft creates a problem with respect to the principle "detect and avoid", which has been solved by increasing the minimum flight visibility below FL 100 for military jet aircraft from 5 KM to 8 KM, except in the CTRs.

2 CLASS A - CONTROLLED AIRSPACE

2.1 The provisions of class A airspace are shown below:

	IFR	VFR 1)
Service provided	Air traffic control service	Air traffic control service
Separation provided	All aircraft	All aircraft
VMC minima 1)	Not applicable	At and above FL 100 8 KM visibility; 1500 M horizontal and 300 M (1000 FT) vertical distance from cloud. Below FL 100 5 KM visibility; 1500 M horizontal and 300 M (1000 FT) vertical distance from cloud.
Speed limitation	Not applicable	Not applicable
Radio communication capability requirement	Yes	Yes
Continuous two-way air-ground voice communication required	Yes	Yes
Flight plan required	Yes	Yes
Subject to an ATC clearance	Yes	Yes

VFR only as exemption for special operations as ruled by Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 article 4. The VMC minima in class A airspace are included for guidance to pilots and do not imply acceptance of VFR flights in class A airspace.

2.2 Class A airspace comprises:

Amsterdam CTA East 1 and 2, South 1 and 2, and West.
Airway L179.
Lelystad TMA 1.
Nieuw Milligen CTA North.
Schiphol TMA 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

3 CLASS B - CONTROLLED AIRSPACE

3.1 The provisions of class B airspace are shown below:

	IFR	VFR
Service provided	Air traffic control service	Air traffic control service
Separation provided	All aircraft	All aircraft
VMC minima	Not applicable	At and above FL 100 8 KM visibility; 1500 M horizontal and 300 M (1000 FT) vertical distance from cloud. Below FL 100 5 KM visibility; 1500 M horizontal and 300 M (1000 FT) vertical distance from cloud.
Speed limitation	Not applicable	Not applicable
Radio communication capability requirement	Yes	Yes
Continuous two-way air-ground voice communication required	Yes	Yes
Flight plan required	Yes	Yes
Subject to an ATC clearance	Yes	Yes

3.2 Class B airspace comprises:

Maastricht TMA 2.
Nieuw Milligen TMA A above FL 065 (FL 095 1)).
Nieuw Milligen TMA C1 FL 065 (FL 095 2)) - FL 195).
Nieuw Milligen TMA C2 FL 095 - FL 195).
Nieuw Milligen TMA D above FL 065.

FRI 1600 to SUN 2300 (FRI 1500 to SUN 2200) and HOL.
FRI 1600 to SUN 2300 (FRI 1500 to SUN 2200) and HOL classified E up to and including FL 095.

4 CLASS C - CONTROLLED AIRSPACE

4.1 The provisions of class C airspace are shown below:

	IFR	VFR
Service provided	Air traffic control service	Air traffic control service; VFR traffic information; traffic avoidance advice O/R.
Separation provided	IFR from IFR; IFR from VFR.	VFR from IFR
VMC minima	Not applicable	At and above FL 100 8 KM visibility; 1500 M horizontal and 300 M (1000 FT) vertical distance from cloud. Below FL 100 5 KM visibility; 1500 M horizontal and 300 M (1000 FT) vertical distance from cloud.
Speed limitation	Not applicable	250 KIAS 1) below FL 100
Radio communication capability requirement	Yes	Yes
Continuous two-way air-ground voice communication required	Yes	Yes
Flight plan required	Yes	Yes
Subject to an ATC clearance	Yes	Yes 2)

The speed limitation is not applicable to military jet fighters with a minimum air speed of 250 KIAS, provided that the flight visibility is more than 8 KM (CTRs exempted).
En route GAT VFR flights will not be permitted in Amsterdam UTA.

4.2 Class C airspace comprises:

Amsterdam UTA.
Eindhoven TMA 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Brussels CTA East Four A, Liège TMA One and Two.
CTRs: Eelde, Maastricht, Rotterdam, and Schiphol.

5 CLASS D - CONTROLLED AIRSPACE

5.1 The provisions of class D airspace are shown below:

	IFR	VFR
Service provided	Air traffic control service; VFR traffic information; traffic avoidance advice O/R.	Air traffic control service; traffic information; traffic avoidance advice O/R.
Separation provided	IFR from IFR	Not provided
VMC minima	Not applicable	At and above FL 100 8 KM visibility; 1500 M horizontal and 300 M (1000 FT) vertical distance from cloud. Below FL 100 5 KM visibility; 1500 M horizontal and 300 M (1000 FT) vertical distance from cloud.2)
Speed limitation	250 KIAS 1) below FL 100	250 KIAS 1) below FL 100
Radio communication capability requirement	Yes	Yes
Continuous two-way air-ground voice communication required	Yes	Yes
Flight plan required	Yes	Yes
Subject to an ATC clearance	Yes	Yes

The speed limitation is not applicable to military jet fighters with a minimum air speed of 250 KIAS, provided that the flight visibility is more than 8 KM (CTRs exempted).
For MIL aircraft considered to be OAT flying in a Nieuw Milligen TMA below 3000 FT (915 M) AMSL or in a MIL CTR, the following deviation applies: distance from clouds 150 M (500 FT) vertically.

5.2 Class D airspace comprises:

Lelystad TMA 2, 3, 4, and 5; Maastricht TMA 1; Schiphol TMA 7 and 8.
Lelystad CTR 1 and 2.
Nieuw Milligen TMA B FL 055 - FL065.
Nieuw Milligen TMA C2 FL 055 - FL 095.
Nieuw Milligen TMA E FL 055 - FL 095.
Military CTRs: Deelen, De Kooy, De Peel, Eindhoven, Gilze Rijen, Leeuwarden, Volkel, Woensdrecht.
CTRs extending over the Netherlands territory: Niederrhein (see ENR 2.1 and consult AIP Germany).
Military CTRs extending over the Netherlands territory: Kleine-Brogel (see ENR 2.1 and consult AIP Belgium).

6 CLASS E - CONTROLLED AIRSPACE

6.1 The provisions of class E airspace are shown below:

	IFR	VFR
Service provided	Air traffic control service; VFR traffic information (as far as practical).	Traffic information (as far as practical).
Separation provided	IFR from IFR	Not provided
VMC minima	Not applicable	At and above FL 100 8 KM visibility; 1500 M horizontal and 300 M (1000 FT) vertical distance from cloud. Below FL 100 5 KM visibility; 1500 M horizontal and 300 M (1000 FT) vertical distance from cloud.
Speed limitation	250 KIAS 1) below FL 100	250 KIAS 1) below FL 100
Radio communication capability requirement	Yes	No 2)
Continuous two-way air-ground voice communication required	Yes	No 2)
Flight plan required	Yes	No
Subject to an ATC clearance	Yes	No

The speed limitation is not applicable to military jet fighters with a minimum air speed of 250 KIAS, provided that the flight visibility is more than 8 KM (CTRs exempted).
Pilots shall maintain continuous air-ground voice communication watch and establish two-way communication, as necessary, on the appropriate communication channel in RMZ.

6.2 Class E airspace comprises:

Eelde TMA and Rotterdam TMA 1, 2, and 3.
Nieuw Milligen TMA A at or below FL 065 (FL 095 1)).
Nieuw Milligen TMA B 1500 FT AMSL - FL 055.
Nieuw Milligen TMA C1 1500 FT AMSL - FL 065 (FL 095 1)).
Nieuw Milligen TMA C2 1500 FT AMSL - FL 055.
Nieuw Milligen TMA D at or below FL 065.
Nieuw Milligen TMA E 1500 FT AMSL - FL 055.
Nieuw Milligen TMA G1 and G2.

FRI 1600 to SUN 2300 (FRI 1500 to SUN 2200) and HOL.

7 CLASS F

7.1 The provisions of class F airspace are shown below:

	IFR	VFR
Service provided	Air traffic advisory service; Flight information service if requested.	Flight information service if requested.
Separation provided	IFR from IFR (as far as practical)	Not provided
VMC minima	Not applicable	At and above FL 100 8 KM visibility; 1500 M horizontal and 300 M (1000 FT) vertical distance from cloud. Below FL 100 and above 3000 FT (900 M) AMSL 5 KM visibility; 1500 M horizontal and 300 M (1000 FT) vertical distance from cloud. At and below 3000 FT (900 M) AMSL 5 KM visibility; clear of cloud and with surface in sight.
Speed limitation	250 KIAS 1) below FL 100	250 KIAS 1) below FL 100
Radio communication capability requirement	Yes 3)	No 2)
Continuous two-way air-ground voice communication required	No 3)	No 2)
Flight plan required	Yes	No
Subject to an ATC clearance	No	No

The speed limitation is not applicable to military jet fighters with a minimum air speed of 250 KIAS, provided that the flight visibility is more than 8 KM (CTRs exempted).
Pilots shall maintain continuous air-ground voice communication watch and establish two-way communication, as necessary, on the appropriate communication channel in RMZ.
Air-ground voice communications are mandatory for flights participating in the advisory service. Pilots shall maintain continuous air-ground voice communication watch and establish two-way communication, as necessary, on the appropriate communication channel in RMZ.

7.2 Class F airspace comprises:

8 CLASS G

8.1 The provisions of class G airspace are shown below:

	IFR	VFR
Service provided	Flight information service if requested.	Flight information service if requested.
Separation provided	Not provided	Not provided
VMC minima	Not applicable	At and above FL 100 8 KM visibility; 1500 M horizontal and 300 M (1000 FT) vertical distance from cloud. Below FL 100 and above 3000 FT (900 M) AMSL 5 KM visibility; 1500 M horizontal and 300 M (1000 FT) vertical distance from cloud. At and below 3000 FT (900 M) AMSL 5 KM visibility 1); clear of cloud and with surface in sight.
Speed limitation	250 KIAS 2) below FL 100	250 KIAS 2) below FL 100
Radio communication capability requirement	Yes 3)	No 3)
Continuous two-way air-ground voice communication required	No 3)	No 3)
Flight plan required	Yes	No
Subject to an ATC clearance	No	No

Flight visibility reduced to not less than:
1. 1500 M for flights operating:
  - at speeds of 140 KIAS or less to give adequate opportunity to observe other traffic or any obstacles in time to avoid collision; or
  - in circumstances in which the probability of encounters with other traffic would normally be low.
2. 800 M for military helicopters, police aircraft and helicopter flights on behalf of trauma teams, at speeds that will give adequate opportunity to observe other traffic or any obstacle in time to avoid collision.
The speed limitation is not applicable to military jet fighters with a minimum air speed of 250 KIAS, provided that the flight visibility is more than 8 KM (CTRs exempted).
Pilots shall maintain continuous air-ground voice communication watch and establish two-way communication, as necessary, on the appropriate communication channel in RMZ.

8.2 Class G airspace comprises:

everything that is not in other airspaces.