The FAA has finally publicized the final ruling to alter the class B airspace over Chicago. The change is based on a variety of reasons but is being made primarily to ensure that airplanes landing at O'Hare using instrument procedures are kept within the class B airspace throughout the approach. The new airspace goes into effect October 21, 2010 with the next batch of chart publications.
Previously, some of the instrument approaches were outside of the class B airspace which went counter to the FAA's new policy. The FAA states that all portions of an instrument approach into a class B airport be fully contained within that airports class B airspace. The final changes expand the airspace to the east and west of the current class B airspace to fully include all sections of instrument approaches into O'Hare Airport (ORD).
Some other changes occur near Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) to allow for more room when airplanes are landing a circling approach to runway 34. Previously, airplanes landing an instrument approach, circle to land runway 34 had to skim the edge and base of Chicago's class B airspace, sometimes resulting in sharp turns and steep descents. Pilots unfamiliar with the airport could easily violate class B airspace and find themselves in trouble with ATC and the FAA. The new airspace adds additional space for the VFR and IFR traffic around Chicago Executive and provides for much easier navigation to land.
The additional airspace to the east and west begins at 4,000' and extends up to 10,000' which should have little effect on VFR traffic in those areas and allows for plenty of room to transit under the new extended airspace. Still, pilots should be aware of the extensions, especially the western most extension, as it fills in the space out to 25 NM that was previously not part of class B and extends a portion out to 30 NM. Pilots operating out of Dupage Airport (DPA) and Aurora Municipal Airport (ARR) will need to pay close attention to the new airspace to avoid violations.
For a graphic of the old and new class B airspace, the National Business Aviation Association has a great graphic available here (.pdf format).
Chicago's class B airspace is the first of at least a dozen class B airspaces the FAA is looking to redesign by the end of 2011.
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