What minimum aircraft equipment is required for operation within Class C airspace?

The correct answer highlights the essential equipment necessary for operating within Class C airspace: two-way communications and a Mode C transponder. Class C airspace is typically around airports with a significant amount of passenger and cargo traffic, necessitating enhanced communication and surveillance capabilities.

Having two-way communications is crucial because it allows pilots to communicate with air traffic control (ATC), ensuring safe separation from other aircraft within that active airspace. The requirement for a Mode C transponder further enhances safety by providing ATC with information on the aircraft’s altitude, which is vital for maintaining vertical separation between aircraft and facilitating efficient traffic management.

This combination of equipment ensures that aircraft can both receive instructions from ATC and relay important data about their position and altitude, which is essential in the busy environment of Class C airspace. The other choices lack one or both of these crucial elements, making them insufficient for compliance with the regulations governing Class C operations.