A practice area is a general block of airspace used by flight schools and instructors to perform training maneuvers like stalls, steep turns, ground reference maneuvers, and slow flight. These areas are essential for helping student pilots gain experience in a safe, controlled environment away from the busy airspace immediately surrounding the airport.
It’s important to note that Centennial Airport does not officially designate or manage practice areas. Instead, the locations of these areas are determined by local flight schools operating at or near Centennial Airport. These schools choose specific areas based on factors like proximity, airspace classification, terrain, and typical traffic flows. While these locations are widely recognized by instructors and students, they are not published by the airport or FAA.
Typically, Centennial-based schools use several commonly accepted practice areas southeast and southwest of the airport, often in less congested airspace. The map below shows the practices areas around Centennial Airport. However, since these areas are not officially charted or assigned, pilots must rely on proper radio communication, visual scanning, and situational awareness to operate safely.
These training operations are authorized under federal law so long as aircraft operate in accordance with 14 CFR Part 91 (General Operating and Flight Rules) and are conducted as part of approved pilot training activities under 14 CFR Part 61 (Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors).
Understanding how and where training flights operate helps everyone—from students and instructors to local residents and transient pilots—maintain safety and situational awareness in the skies around Centennial Airport.
