A tiny North Carolina heliport gets its own controlled airspace

The Federal Aviation Administration proposes to establish controlled airspace around a heliport in Sunbury, North Carolina. This means helicopters using the heliport will have dedicated air traffic control services for instrument flight rules.

Controlled airspace makes it safer for aircraft to fly in bad weather, as pilots can rely on instruments and air traffic control rather than visual cues. This small change means the Sunbury Fire Department Heliport can now support more reliable emergency and transport flights, even when visibility is poor. It is a tiny but concrete upgrade to local infrastructure.