Airplan — Interactive Airspace Visualization for Pilots
Airplan is a free, interactive airspace visualization tool built for pilots, student pilots, and aviation enthusiasts. Explore controlled and uncontrolled airspace on a detailed topographic map of the United States. Click any location to retrieve the full vertical air column — from surface-level Class D and Class C shelves up to Class A airspace at FL180 and above.
Features
- Click-to-query airspace at any point on the map
- 3D air-column visualization showing floor and ceiling altitudes
- Color-coded airspace classes (B, C, D, E, and restricted areas)
- Route planning with terrain profile and airspace intersection warnings
- Topographic base map with elevation data
- Thermal soaring data overlay for glider pilots
How It Works
Airplan parses official FAA airspace definition files and renders them as interactive 3D cylinders on a Mapbox-powered topographic map. When you click a location, the app queries the airspace database and displays a vertical cross-section of every airspace layer above that point, helping you understand what clearances or communications are required before entering.
Who Is Airplan For?
Whether you are a VFR student pilot learning about airspace classifications, an instrument-rated pilot planning a cross-country route, or a drone operator checking restricted areas, Airplan gives you an intuitive, visual way to understand the national airspace system.