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(a) If the Director determines that an air traffic control service is required in a portion of airspace within a flight information region, the Director must—
(1) designate that portion of airspace as a control area or a control zone in accordance with this Subpart; and
(2) classify that portion of airspace as Class A, B, C, D, or E airspace in accordance with Subpart C.
(b) If another ICAO Contracting State provides an air traffic control service for any portion of airspace within the Auckland Oceanic Flight Information Region, the Director must—
(1) designate that portion of airspace as a control area or a control zone in accordance with this Subpart after consulting with the other State; and
(2) classify that portion of airspace as Class A, B, C, D, or E airspace in accordance with Subpart C.
(c) The Director may designate portions of airspace within a control area or control zone as a specific sector to facilitate air traffic management.
(d) A control area or control zone becomes uncontrolled class G airspace during those times when an air traffic control service is not being provided within that control area or control zone.
(e) For each portion of airspace designated as a control area or control zone the Director must —
(1) specify the air traffic control unit that has responsibility for providing the air traffic control service within that control area or control zone; and
(2) identify the control area or control zone by—
(i) the ICAO nationality letters of the State providing the air traffic control service followed by the letter “A” followed by a number; and
(ii) the name of the air traffic control unit providing the air traffic control service within that control area or control zone, except that, if appropriate, the control area or control zone may be identified with the name of the aerodrome, town, city, or geographical feature over which the control area or control zone is established.
(a) The Director may specify a control area designated under this Part as—
(1) a terminal control area if the Director determines that an approach control service is required at the confluence of ATS routes in the vicinity of one or more major aerodromes; or
(2) an upper control area if the Director determines that an area control service is required; or
(3) an oceanic control area if the Director determines that an area control service is required over the high seas.
(b) The upper limit of a control area must not exceed flight level 660.
(c) The lower limit of a control area must—
(1) be at least 500 feet below the flight paths of IFR flights that the Director determines to require an air traffic control service; and
(2) be established at—
(i) the highest practical altitude; and
(ii) not less than 700 feet above the surface of the earth; and
(3) when the lower limit of a control area is above 3000 feet AMSL, coincide with a VFR cruising altitude or flight level prescribed in Part 91.
(d) If a portion of airspace below a control area is designated as another control area, the upper limit of the lower control area must extend to the lower limit of the control area directly above it.
(a) The Director may designate as a control zone that portion of airspace around an aerodrome if—
(1) the Director determines that an aerodrome control service or an aerodrome and approach control service is required; and
(2) the traffic density and pattern requires controlled airspace.
(b) A control zone must be as small as practicably consistent with the need to protect the flight paths of IFR flights arriving at and departing from the aerodrome.
(c) The lateral limits of a control zone must—
(1) encompass at least those portions of the airspace that are not within a control area containing the paths of IFR flights arriving at and departing from the aerodrome under IMC; and
(2) extend to at least 5 NM from the centre of the aerodrome in the directions from which instrument approaches may be made; and
(3) take into account the category of IFR aircraft using the aerodrome and the areas of airspace that need to be protected for those IFR flights.
(d) Prominent geographical features must be used, where practical, to define the lateral limits of a control zone.
(e) A control zone with an upper limit above 3000 feet AMSL must coincide with a VFR cruising altitude or flight level prescribed in Part 91.
(a) The Director may designate a portion of controlled airspace as a VFR transit lane for either or both of the following purposes:
(1) separating transiting VFR traffic from arriving and departing IFR flights:
(2) permitting transiting VFR traffic to operate within the VFR transit lane without requiring an ATC clearance.
(b) A VFR transit lane must be clear of airspace that encompasses IFR arrival and departure procedures within that controlled airspace.
(c) The Director must—
(1) ensure that buffer zones are provided between the nominal flight paths of arriving and departing IFR flights and each VFR transit lane; and
(2) identify each VFR transit lane by the ICAO nationality letters of the State providing the air traffic control service followed by the letter “T” followed by a number.
(d) A VFR transit lane is class G airspace and may only be active during the day.
(a) The Director may designate a portion of controlled airspace as a general aviation area for the purpose of allowing VFR flights access to a portion of previously controlled airspace without the requirement for an ATC clearance.
(b) For each general aviation area, the Director must—
(1) specify, at the time that the Director designates the airspace, the air traffic control unit having responsibility for providing the air traffic control service over the area; and
(2) identify the area by the ICAO nationality letters of the State providing the air traffic control service followed by the letter G followed by a number; and
(3) specify that the area is active—
(i) permanently during the day; or
(ii) by approval of the ATC unit responsible for the airspace; or
(iii) by prior notification from an airspace user to the ATC unit responsible for the airspace.
(c) A general aviation area—
(1) may only be active during the day; and
(2) is class G airspace while the area is active.
If the Director considers it necessary in the interests of aviation safety, air traffic management, or international agreements, the Director may designate any controlled airspace or portion of controlled airspace as either or both of the following:
(1) RNP airspace, on consideration of air traffic density and ATS route structure, and aircraft navigation system accuracy:
(2) RVSM airspace, on consideration of air traffic density and ATS route structure, and aircraft altimetry system accuracy.
