Not true. Only class B requires a clearance. No clearance is required to operate inside class C or D airspace. Two-way contact is all you need there. Seems to me, taking out my phone and calling a class D tower and telling them I'll be flying 4 miles southwest of the field at or below 200' for the next hour should satisfy the two-way communication requirement quite well.
Really? Did they throw the FARS away while I slept?
Sec. 91.129 — Operations in Class D airspace.
(a)
General. Unless otherwise authorized or required by the ATC facility having jurisdiction over the Class D airspace area, each person operating an aircraft in Class D airspace must comply with the applicable provisions of this section. In addition, each person must comply with §§91.126 and 91.127. For the purpose of this section, the primary airport is the airport for which the Class D airspace area is designated. A satellite airport is any other airport within the Class D airspace area.
(b)
Deviations. An operator may deviate from any provision of this section under the provisions of an ATC authorization issued by the ATC facility having jurisdiction over the airspace concerned. ATC may authorize a deviation on a continuing basis or for an individual flight, as appropriate.
(c)
Communications. Each person operating an aircraft in Class D airspace must meet the following
two-way radio communications requirements:
(1)
Arrival or through flight. Each person must establish two-way radio communications with the ATC facility (including foreign ATC in the case of foreign airspace designated in the United States) providing air traffic services prior to entering that airspace and thereafter maintain those communications while within that airspace....
Sec. 91.130 — Operations in Class C airspace.
(a)
General. Unless otherwise authorized by ATC, each aircraft operation in Class C airspace must be conducted in compliance with this section and §91.129. For the purpose of this section, the primary airport is the airport for which the Class C airspace area is designated. A satellite airport is any other airport within the Class C airspace area.
(b)
Traffic patterns. No person may take off or land an aircraft at a satellite airport within a Class C airspace area except in compliance with FAA arrival and departure traffic patterns.
(c)
Communications. Each person operating an aircraft in Class C airspace must meet the following two-way radio communications requirements:
(1)
Arrival or through flight. Each person must establish
two-way radio communications with the ATC facility (including foreign ATC in the case of foreign airspace designated in the United States) providing air traffic services prior to entering that airspace and thereafter maintain those communications while within that airspace.