14 CFR § 71.9 - Overlapping airspace designations.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t14/s71.9"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "14 CFR § 71.9 - Overlapping airspace designations."
title_number: 14
title_name: "Aeronautics and Space"
section_number: "71.9"
section_name: "Overlapping airspace designations."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
subchapter_number: "E"
subchapter_name: "AIRSPACE"
part_number: "71"
part_name: "DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR TRAFFIC SERVICE ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g), 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24 FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p.389."
regulatory_source: "Amdt. 71-14, 56 FR 65654, Dec. 17, 1991, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "71"
---


# 71.9 Overlapping airspace designations.

(a) When overlapping airspace designations apply to the same airspace, the operating rules associated with the more restrictive airspace designation apply.

(b) For the purpose of this section—

(1) Class A airspace is more restrictive than Class B, Class C, Class D, Class E, or Class G airspace;

(2) Class B airspace is more restrictive than Class C, Class D, Class E, or Class G airspace;

(3) Class C airspace is more restrictive than Class D, Class E, or Class G airspace;

(4) Class D airspace is more restrictive than Class E or Class G airspace; and

(5) Class E is more restrictive than Class G airspace.