✈️LF/MF Airways
LF/MF airways are controlled low-level airways that – just like Victor airways – extend upwards from 2,200 feet up to, but not including, 18,000 feet. However, they are defined using MF or LF ground-based navigation aids rather than VHF or UHF aids. The most relevant of such aids is the Non-Directional Beacon (NDB), although, with the growth in popularity of GPS-based navigation, it is slowly becoming obsolete.
✈️Dimensions
In principle, LF/MF airways serve the same purpose as Victor airways, however, because LF/MF airways rely on an NDB their dimensions are slightly different than that of a Victor airway. The basic width of an LF/MF airway is 4.34 NM on each side of the centreline, meaning that any aircraft operating at an altitude between 2,200 feet up to but not including 18,000 feet within 4.34 NM of either side of the airway’s centreline will be operating within Class E controlled airspace. If however, an airway is sufficiently long, the basic width is widened between the points where lines, diverging 5° on each side of the centreline from the designated facility, intersect the basic width boundary and where they meet, similar lines projected from the adjacent facility.
