Chicago O'hare (ORD)
Class B Airspace Expansion
21 Oct 2010

8 April 2011 - Updated Special Use Airspace (SUA) Files

Click here for the latest Special Use Airspace (SUA) files including the ORD class B expansion as of 21 Oct 2010. These files are for use in glider/soaring moving map and competition software such as Glider Navigator, StePla, WinPilot, SeeYou, ClearNav, etc.


19 March 2011 - Sky Soaring Files

As presented at the 19 March 2011 Sky Soaring Spring Safety Meeting, here are two files for member use.

  • Full Presentation of the ORD Class B expansion (17mb)
  • Diagram of the key ground reference points for Sky Soaring pilots. Suitable for lamination and in-flight use.

21 Oct 2010 - Implementation!!

The new ORD Class B airspace is now officially in effect as of today. Sad news for the Chicagoland aviation community. The good news is that the same aviation community was able to reduce the original scope of the expansion down to a significantly smaller enlargement.


14 Sep 2010 - IT IS OFFICIAL!!

The FAA has released this document which sets the deadline for the Class B change that we all feared would happen, will officially go into effect on Oct 21, 2010.


                                                            (Click on each image below to enlarge)

              Old ORD Class B Airspace (Blue Lines)                           New ORD Class B Expansion (Red Lines)
                              Prior to 21 Oct 2010                                                   Implemented 21 Oct 2010


3 Nov 2009 - ORD Class B Airspace Expansion Update (Geoff Weck)

The Ad Hoc Airspace User's Group (this includes the soaring community) made many suggestions to the FAA after the initial proposal on how to make the new airspace work better for all constituents. The FAA made a few concessions to the Airspace User's Group by redrawing some of the boundaries. We are waiting for the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to be issued by the FAA to see where we stand and if the changes will be included in the final redraw. The NPRM is expected to be issued before the end of the year. There will be a comment period open after the NPRM is issued. More updates will be provided at that time via this web site and via http://groups.google.com/group/rec.aviation.soaring/topics.


1 March 2009 - ORD Class B Airspace Expansion Update

The local Chicago soaring community needs your help. The FAA is well on their way to the expansion of the ORD Class B Airspace that will have a direct impact on soaring here in the Chicagoland area.

The most problematic expansion is along the western edge out to the 30NM ring with a floor of 4,000 feet msl (~3,000 feet AGL). The north edge of this expansion is only 4 miles away from Sky Soaring. The western edge is only 10 miles away from Windy City Soaring Association. With a 4,000 foot floor to this airspace, soaring will be all but impossible within this important north-south corridor.

Please take the time to fill out the FAA comment form and return it to the FAA at the address, or FAX number, shown on the form. Express your opposition to the expansion. Help the FAA understand the size of the affected soaring community. Help the CLGC and your club with your words. Feel free to use the sample comment form by simply adding your personal information and sending it into the FAA.

The comment deadline is Monday, March 30, 2009. Thank you in advance for your help.

John H DeRosa
President, ChicagoLand Glider Council
john@derosaweb.com

Click to Download FAA Comment Form (With instructions)
Click to Download FAA Comment Form (Sample that you can use)


Documentation on the ORD Class B Expansion

FAA Chicago Class B Airspace Changes (October 21, 2010)
Soaring Society of America Letter to the FAA (March 29, 2009)
ChicagoLand Glider Council Letter to the FAA (March 25, 2009)
FAA Proposal Visual (Jan 3, 2009)
FAA Meeting Notice (Dec 12, 2008)
AOPA Letter to the FAA (Oct 9, 2008)
AOPA Letter to the FAA (Oct 1, 2008)
Original FAA Class B Expansion Proposal (Jan, 2008)


                                                            (Click on each image below to enlarge)

              Old ORD Class B Airspace (Blue Lines)                         Originally Proposed ORD Class B Expansion Plan (Red Lines)
                              Prior to 21 Oct 2010                                                   As of January 2008 - NOT IMPLEMENTED

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