Which class requires Mode C or S transponder and a VFR flight plan to receive ATC clearance?

Which class requires Mode C or S transponder and a VFR flight plan to receive ATC clearance?

• A. Class C
• B. Class D
• C. Class B
• D. Class G

Answer: (C)

Class B is the airspace around major airports where entry requires an ATC clearance. To let ATC safely manage the dense traffic there, aircraft must be equipped with a transponder that provides altitude information—Mode C or Mode S. Filing a VFR flight plan is commonly done to help ATC coordinate and issue that clearance for VFR flights. This combination is specific to Class B, whereas other classes either don’t require ATC clearance for VFR entry (uncontrolled Class G) or have different entry requirements (Class C and Class D emphasize two-way radio communication rather than the same VFR flight plan notion).

Class B is the airspace around major airports where entry requires an ATC clearance. To let ATC safely manage the dense traffic there, aircraft must be equipped with a transponder that provides altitude information—Mode C or Mode S. Filing a VFR flight plan is commonly done to help ATC coordinate and issue that clearance for VFR flights. This combination is specific to Class B, whereas other classes either don’t require ATC clearance for VFR entry (uncontrolled Class G) or have different entry requirements (Class C and Class D emphasize two-way radio communication rather than the same VFR flight plan notion).