Class E extension

I am still confused on this particular issue and was hoping somebody in here
could point me in the right direction. I'm sure most of you are familiar
with the class E extension from C&D airports to help facilitate instrument
approaches. Well here's the question. If I can operate in VMC in the class
E extension for a D airport, am I required to talk with tower for that
airport and can they deny me entry to that airspace? The AIM says I have no
comms requirement so long as I maintain VMC. I can't find anything in the
FAR to back this up, nor can the FSDO, and thus far the tower is under the
impression that when they are IMC, they own the E extension as well.

A response to my e-mail as well as this newsgroup with any thoughts on this
matter would be very much appreciated.

Tks,

SB wrote:
I am still confused on this particular issue and was hoping somebody in here
could point me in the right direction. I'm sure most of you are familiar
with the class E extension from C&D airports to help facilitate instrument
approaches. Well here's the question. If I can operate in VMC in the class
E extension for a D airport, am I required to talk with tower for that
airport and can they deny me entry to that airspace? The AIM says I have no
comms requirement so long as I maintain VMC. I can't find anything in the
FAR to back this up, nor can the FSDO, and thus far the tower is under the
impression that when they are IMC, they own the E extension as well.

A class E extension is class E. There is no requirement for
communication. The restrictions for visibility, cloud clearance
and CEILING (it is what was formerly known as a control zone).

When the Control Zone is IMC they do own it.

"SB" wrote in message
news:X6rMg.7863$Mz3.7788@fed1read07...

I am still confused on this particular issue and was hoping somebody in
here could point me in the right direction. I'm sure most of you are
familiar with the class E extension from C&D airports to help facilitate
instrument approaches. Well here's the question. If I can operate in VMC
in the class E extension for a D airport, am I required to talk with tower
for that airport and can they deny me entry to that airspace? The AIM
says I have no comms requirement so long as I maintain VMC. I can't find
anything in the FAR to back this up, nor can the FSDO, and thus far the
tower is under the impression that when they are IMC, they own the E
extension as well.

A response to my e-mail as well as this newsgroup with any thoughts on
this matter would be very much appreciated.


The weather observation at the core airport applies to the entire surface
area, including any Class E extensions. If it's 1000 and 3 or better you
can enter a Class E extension under VFR without calling the tower, that's
the reason the extensions were made Class E.

Ron Natalie wrote:
A class E extension is class E. There is no requirement for
communication. The restrictions for visibility, cloud clearance
and CEILING (it is what was formerly known as a control zone).

When the Control Zone is IMC they do own it.

Define "own".

Thanks everybody for chiming in on this and Ron for e-mailing the response
as well. However, my head is still in the clouds.

By chance is there someplace where it actually says that in the FAR that the
tower "owns" the airspace? I'll assume "own" means you must contact them if
you intend to operate in the extension and they have the right per a
particular section of the FAR to deny you access. The AIM clearly states in
section 3-16 (Extension to a surface area) "Such airspace provides
controlled airspace to contain standard instrument approach procedures
without imposing a communications requirement on pilots operating under
VFR." I have not found anything in the FAR to contradict this.

Whaddya think guys? Please back up any responses with the associated FAR
section so I can hopefully put this to rest for myself and others. So far
all I have is the AIM.

Tks for your time and expertise,

Scott

"SB" wrote in message
news:X6rMg.7863$Mz3.7788@fed1read07...
I am still confused on this particular issue and was hoping somebody in
here could point me in the right direction. I'm sure most of you are
familiar with the class E extension from C&D airports to help facilitate
instrument approaches. Well here's the question. If I can operate in VMC
in the class E extension for a D airport, am I required to talk with tower
for that airport and can they deny me entry to that airspace? The AIM says
I have no comms requirement so long as I maintain VMC. I can't find
anything in the FAR to back this up, nor can the FSDO, and thus far the
tower is under the impression that when they are IMC, they own the E
extension as well.

A response to my e-mail as well as this newsgroup with any thoughts on
this matter would be very much appreciated.

Tks,

Roy Smith wrote:
Ron Natalie wrote:
A class E extension is class E. There is no requirement for
communication. The restrictions for visibility, cloud clearance
and CEILING (it is what was formerly known as a control zone).

When the Control Zone is IMC they do own it.

Define "own".

All flights are required to be under control of ATC.

SB wrote:

By chance is there someplace where it actually says that in the FAR that the
tower "owns" the airspace? I'll assume "own" means you must contact them if
you intend to operate in the extension and they have the right per a
particular section of the FAR to deny you access.

91.155 (d) no person may take off or land an aircraft, or enter the
traffic pattern of an airport, under VFR, within the lateral boundaries
of the surface areas of Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E airspace
designated for an airport --

(1) Unless ground visibility at that airport is at least 3 statute miles; or

(2) If ground visibility is not reported at that airport, unless flight
visibility during landing or takeoff, or while operating in the traffic
pattern is at least 3 statute miles.


---

The extensions are the "class E airspace designated for an airport."
That's why they exist, they are left over from the old control zones
which had such extensions and the same rules (Airport Traffic Areas:
control towered space was previously not controlled airspace, just
a communications requirement).

In article , Ron Natalie
wrote:

91.155 (d) no person may take off or land an aircraft, or enter the
traffic pattern of an airport, under VFR, within the lateral boundaries
of the surface areas of Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E airspace
designated for an airport --

The three actions prohibited by that rule a

* Take off
* Land
* Enter the traffic pattern

It doesn't say anything about, for example, transitioning at TPA+1000.

"Roy Smith" wrote in message
...

The three actions prohibited by that rule a

* Take off
* Land
* Enter the traffic pattern

It doesn't say anything about, for example, transitioning at TPA+1000.


Are you in the Class E extension at that altitude?

Thanks again guys for your responses on this and Ron for digging into the
FARs but it seems Roy has a point when he says:

"The three actions prohibited by that rule a

* Take off
* Land
* Enter the traffic pattern

It doesn't say anything about, for example, transitioning at TPA+1000"

I think if the tower is going to "own" the E airspace when their class D is
operating under IFR, the FAR should plainly state that and I don't think it
does. Anybody have an opinion on the section from the AIM which I quoted?


"Roy Smith" wrote in message
...
In article , Ron Natalie
wrote:

91.155 (d) no person may take off or land an aircraft, or enter the
traffic pattern of an airport, under VFR, within the lateral boundaries
of the surface areas of Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E airspace
designated for an airport --

The three actions prohibited by that rule a

* Take off
* Land
* Enter the traffic pattern

It doesn't say anything about, for example, transitioning at TPA+1000.