Which statement about Class E airspace is accurate?

• A. It always starts at the surface.
• B. It is uncontrolled airspace.
• C. It is always within 5 miles of an airport.
• D. It is controlled airspace not A, B, C, or D and generally extends upward to the base of the next higher class.

Answer: (D)

Class E is controlled airspace that isn’t Class A, B, C, or D, and it generally extends upward from its base to the base of the next higher class. This means the vertical starting point can vary—from the surface in some areas to designated altitudes like 700 or 1,200 feet above the ground in others—and the airspace continues up to the bottom of the next class up (which is typically Class A at 18,000 feet MSL). That makes it the broad, still-controlled layer that supports IFR operations and transitions to higher classes.

The other statements don’t fit because Class E does not always start at the surface (its base can be higher than the ground), it is indeed controlled airspace (not uncontrolled), and there isn’t a fixed 5-mile radius requirement around airports defining Class E.