For operating within Class C airspace, which of the following is required?

For operating within Class C airspace, which of the following is required?

• A. Two way radio communications equipment, a 4096 code transponder, and an encoding altimeter.
• B. Only a GPS receiver.
• C. VOR and DME equipment.
• D. No equipment is required.

Answer: (A)

Class C airspace requires both two-way radio communication with ATC and a transponder with altitude reporting. Establishing and maintaining two-way contact before and while you’re in the airspace lets ATC coordinate your movement. The radar beacon transponder, with altitude encoding (Mode C), provides ATC with your altitude so they can manage vertical separation and traffic flow. The 4096 code aspect refers to the transponder code you’ll be assigned (a discrete squawk) so you’re identifiable on radar; you’ll enter that code into the transponder as instructed by ATC. GPS alone doesn’t satisfy the communication or altitude reporting requirements, and VOR/DME aren’t required for operating in Class C. No equipment would also fail to meet the ATC requirements.

Class C airspace requires both two-way radio communication with ATC and a transponder with altitude reporting. Establishing and maintaining two-way contact before and while you’re in the airspace lets ATC coordinate your movement. The radar beacon transponder, with altitude encoding (Mode C), provides ATC with your altitude so they can manage vertical separation and traffic flow. The 4096 code aspect refers to the transponder code you’ll be assigned (a discrete squawk) so you’re identifiable on radar; you’ll enter that code into the transponder as instructed by ATC. GPS alone doesn’t satisfy the communication or altitude reporting requirements, and VOR/DME aren’t required for operating in Class C. No equipment would also fail to meet the ATC requirements.