Terminal radar service area explained

In United States aviation, a terminal radar service area (TRSA) is a delimited airspace where radar and air traffic control services are made available to pilots flying under instrument flight rules or (optionally) visual flight rules, to maintain aircraft separation.

TRSAs most often surround busy U.S. airports. In recent years, many of them have been replaced by Class C or Class B airspace.

Terminal Radar Service Area was established as part of a program to create terminal radar stations at selected airports. Because they were not subject to the rulemaking process of 14 CFR Part 91, they do not fit into any existing U.S. classifications of airspace, and have been classified as non-part 71 airspaces. While operating in these airspaces, pilots who choose to participate receive radar services, but participation is not required for VFR operations.

TRSAs encompass a primary airport with a class "D" designation, with the TRSA above other controlled airspace (Typically Class E Airspace) with a typical floor of 700 feet or 1,200 feet AGL (Above Ground Level).

TRSAs are shown on most VFR (Visual Flight Rules) sectional charts as solid grey with black text.

List of Terminal Radar Service Areas (TRSAs) in the United States

AirportApproach ControlCityState
Maxwell Air Force BaseMontgomery ApproachMontgomeryAlabama
Fort Smith Regional AirportRazorback ApproachFort SmithArkansas
Fairbanks International AirportFairbanks ApproachFairbanksAlaska
Palm Springs International AirportSoCal ApproachPalm SpringsCalifornia
Augusta Regional AirportAugusta ApproachAugustaGeorgia
Middle Georgia Regional AirportAtlanta ApproachMaconGeorgia
Robins Air Force BaseAtlanta ApproachWarner RobinsGeorgia
Chicago Rockford International AirportRockford ApproachRockfordIllinois
Lake Charles Regional AirportLake Charles ApproachLake CharlesLouisiana
Monroe Regional AirportMonroe ApproachMonroeLouisiana
Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International AirportGreat Lakes ApproachKalamazooMichigan
Muskegon County AirportGreat Lakes ApproachMuskegonMichigan
MBS International AirportGreat Lakes ApproachSaginawMichigan
Gulfport–Biloxi International AirportGulfport ApproachGulfportMississippi
Great Falls International AirportGreat Falls ApproachGreat FallsMontana
Greater Binghamton AirportBinghamton ApproachBinghamtonNew York
Elmira/Corning Regional AirportElmira ApproachElmiraNew York
Wilmington International AirportWilmington ApproachWilmingtonNorth Carolina
Hector International AirportFargo ApproachFargoNorth Dakota
Youngstown–Warren Regional AirportYoungstown ApproachYoungstownOhio
Altus Air Force BaseAltus ApproachAltusOklahoma
Erie International AirportErie ApproachEriePennsylvania
Capital City Airport (same TRSA as Harrisburg Int'l)Harrisburg ApproachHarrisburgPennsylvania
Harrisburg International AirportHarrisburg ApproachHarrisburgPennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International AirportWilkes-Barre ApproachWilkes-Barre/ScrantonPennsylvania
Tri-Cities Regional AirportTri-City ApproachBristolTennessee
Jack Brooks Regional AirportHouston ApproachBeaumontTexas
East Texas Regional AirportLongview ApproachLongviewTexas
Tri-State AirportHuntington ApproachHuntingtonWest Virginia
Andersen Air Force BaseGuam ApproachTamuningGuam

See also

References