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INVENTORY OF EXISTING CONDITIONS AIRSPACE This section contains a brief summary of the airspace surrounding Eugene Airport, the responsibilities of various air traffic control facilities, and limitations imposed on the flight paths of individual aircraft by the geography and surrounding airspace. In addition, it describes the preferred runway uses, aircraft approaches and departures, special air traffic rules, and noise mitigation strategies. Airport Traffic Control Procedures The FAA controls airspace through several layers of air traffic control facilities. Generally speaking, the Seattle Air Route Traffic Control Center handles aircraft during the en route phase of flight. The Cascade TRACON facility, co-located with the Eugene Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT), handles both arriving aircraft during their initial descent toward the airport, and departing traffic after they clear the airport traffic pattern. The ATCT is responsible for aircraft making their final approach before landing, ground operations, takeoff, and initial climb. Figure 1-7 depicts the airspace surrounding the Airport. In the immediate five mile vicinity of the Airport, there is one private field located to the northeast. East of the Airport there is one special use airspace (SUA) named the Dolphin North Military Operating Area (MOA). An MOA is airspace where military operations are conducted frequently enough that a special designation is justified to ensure non-military pilots are aware of the potential for military aircraft activity. The Airport itself lies within Class D airspace when the ATCT is operational between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. Class D airspace is designated when an ATCT facility is providing air traffic services prior to entering the airspace. The Class D airspace extends from the surface up to 2,500 feet above the airport elevation. When the ATCT is closed, the airspace converts to Class E. When Class E airspace is in effect, pilots and vehicle operators that are approved to operate in the movement area will state their intentions on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). If a pilot is requesting an IFR clearance, TRACON monitors the CTAF frequency and will give the IFR clearance instructions over the CTAF frequency. EUGENE AIRPORT MASTER PLAN 1-14