A terminal control area (TMA, or TCA in the U.S. and Canada)[1][2][3], also known as a terminal manoeuvring area (TMA) in Europe[4], is an aviation term to describe a designated area of controlled airspace surrounding a major airport where there is a high volume of traffic. TMA airspace will normally be designed in a circular configuration centred on the geographic coordinates of the airport, and differs from a control area in that it will include several levels of increasingly larger areas, creating an "upside down wedding-cake" shape.
In Canada, the inner circle of the TCA is generally a 12 NM radius from the airport geographic center based at 1200 feet AGL, with an intermediate circle at 35 NM based at 2200 feet AGL, and an outer limit at 45 NM radius based at 9500 feet AGL. In Canada, the TCA is normally designated as class B, C or D.[5]
In the U.S., the airspace of a TCA is typically designated as class B. In the U.K., the airspace of a TMA is usually designated as class A, D or E.