On Your Own in Class G

According to 14 CFR 91.173, an IFR flight plan and clearance are only required for flight in controlled airspace, yet most of us have to at least occasionally depart airports within Class G airspace, essentially the only uncontrolled airspace we use. Class G usually ends at 700 or 1200 feet AGL, though there are remote places where its all the way up to 14,500 feet. Other than this, there is little guidance in the regulations…

Editorial Staff

Thursday, July 31, 2014 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Pilots departing IFR from Class G (uncontrolled) airspace are primarily responsible for obstacle clearance, as regulations provide minimal guidance in this environment.
Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODPs) are critical for obstacle avoidance, designed based on minimum aircraft performance, and are strongly recommended for all pilots, even if only legally required for commercial operators.
Thorough pre-flight planning, including surveying obstructions and understanding ODPs and non-standard takeoff minima, is essential, as ATC only assumes obstacle clearance responsibility when a pilot is on a published route or receiving radar vectors.

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According to 14 CFR 91.173, an IFR flight plan and clearance are only required for flight in controlled airspace, yet most of us have to at least occasionally depart airports within Class G airspace, essentially the only uncontrolled airspace we use. Class G usually ends at 700 or 1200 feet AGL, though there are remote places where it’s all the way up to 14,500 feet. Other than this, there is little guidance in the regulations or elsewhere regarding our responsibilities and protections in Class G airspace, so we have to piece it together ourselves.