FAA proposes major change to airspace surrounding Wilmington airport
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing a major change to the airspace surrounding Wilmington International Airport, citing growing passenger traffic, increasingly complex flight activity and concerns about potential conflicts between aircraft.
In a notice of proposed rulemaking published Tuesday in the Federal Register, the FAA proposed establishing Class C airspace around ILM and eliminating the airport’s existing Class D airspace and Terminal Radar Service Area. The agency says the change is intended to improve air traffic management and reduce the potential for midair collisions in the Wilmington area.
ILM currently operates within Class D airspace extending from the surface to 2,500 feet above mean sea level. A Terminal Radar Service Area, or TRSA, extends roughly 20 nautical miles around the airport. Participation in radar services within the TRSA is voluntary for pilots operating under visual flight rules.
The FAA said Wilmington’s airspace has become increasingly complex because of the airport’s runway configuration, nearby airports, military operations, flight training, skydiving, tourism and other aviation activity.
According to the proposal, a significant number of pilots flying under visual flight rules operate around ILM without communicating with air traffic control. The FAA said those aircraft are sometimes observed maneuvering in departure corridors, along final approach paths or above the airport’s Class D airspace, requiring controllers to redirect other aircraft to avoid possible conflicts.
Class C airspace would impose additional requirements. Pilots would generally be required to establish two-way radio communication with air traffic control before entering the airspace and maintain communication while inside it. Aircraft operating in Class C airspace would also be required to have an operational transponder and ADS-B Out equipment.
ILM passenger growth cited
The FAA said ILM qualifies for consideration for Class C airspace based on passenger traffic.
FAA standards allow an airport with an operating control tower and radar approach control to qualify based on several criteria, including having at least 250,000 enplaned passengers annually.
ILM recorded 737,065 enplaned passengers in 2024, the latest year for which validated figures were available in the proposal. That’s a 59.33% increase compared with 2021. The FAA also considered traffic volume, the complexity of the surrounding airspace and the potential for midair collisions.
The agency said the existing TRSA does not adequately address the volume and variety of aircraft now operating around ILM. Because participation is voluntary for visual flight rules pilots, the FAA said controllers do not always have enough information to separate those aircraft from commercial and other flights arriving at or departing from ILM.
What the proposed airspace would look like
Under the proposal, Class C airspace would extend from the surface through 4,100 feet above mean sea level within a 5-nautical-mile radius of ILM.
A second section would extend from 1,300 feet through 4,100 feet within a 10-nautical-mile radius.
The proposal includes an exception for airspace within a 1-nautical-mile radius of Pilots Ridge Airport south of ILM, allowing aircraft using that airport to operate outside or beneath the proposed Class C airspace.
The map included with the Federal Register notice shows the proposed inner and outer Class C boundaries around ILM, along with the cutout near Pilots Ridge Airport.
This map shows where the Class C airspace would be in effect if the proposal is approved.
(Credit: Federal Register)
The exception resulted from recommendations made by an ad hoc committee formed in 2024. The group included representatives from local airports and flight schools, airlines, general aviation, military aviation, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and ILM. The FAA accepted the committee’s recommendation for the Pilots Ridge cutout.
FAA cites changing aviation activity
The FAA noted that Wilmington’s Class D airspace was last modified through rulemaking in 1993. The agency said the existing configuration no longer meets ILM’s needs because of growth in aviation activity.
In addition to commercial flights, the area includes general aviation and military aircraft, flight schools, medical helicopters and several nearby private airports. The FAA also noted that beach traffic and flight training increase during the summer.
The FAA expects the proposed change would have minimal costs for pilots operating under visual flight rules. Those pilots would either need to meet Class C communication and equipment requirements or adjust their routes to remain outside the airspace.
The change is not final. The FAA is accepting public comments on the proposal through Oct. 5. The agency said it will consider comments before taking final action and could modify the proposal based on feedback it receives.
