Class G Airspace for Drones: What Still Applies

Class G is uncontrolled airspace. The AIM defines it simply as airspace not designated as Class A, B, C, D or E. Because 14 CFR §107.41 only requires ATC authorization in Class B, C, D and Class E surface areas, a Part 107 flight in Class G needs no authorization. Most rural drone flying happens here.

Where is Class G?

Class G has no symbol of its own. You find it by elimination: no solid blue, solid magenta, dashed blue or dashed magenta line encloses your launch point, so the airspace from the surface up to the first Class E floor is Class G.

That floor is shown by shading:

At 400 feet or below, a drone in any of these areas is in Class G. The Class E post explains the vignettes in more detail.

What rules still apply in Class G?

Everything in Part 107 except the authorization step. The ones most often forgotten:

• Altitude and visibility. §107.51 limits you to 400 feet AGL, or within 400 feet of a structure, with 3 statute miles of visibility and 500 feet below and 2,000 feet horizontally from clouds. The cloud clearance post shows how a low ceiling lowers your limit.
• Airports without towers. Many small airports sit in Class G. §107.43 prohibits interfering with any airport's traffic patterns, towered or not.
• Restricted and prohibited areas. §107.45 requires permission from the using or controlling agency to fly in them, whatever class surrounds them.
• TFRs and NOTAMs. Temporary flight restrictions apply in Class G like anywhere else.

What the exam asks about Class G

The element is UA.II.A.K1, sub-element e. A typical question puts a marked point in a vignette and asks whether authorization is required. The answer depends on the floor and on whether a surface area encloses the point, so read both. The restricted airspace post covers the special-use areas that can sit inside Class G, and the airspace classes overview puts it all together.

Small non-towered airports often sit in Class G; the airport post covers what still applies there.