Details about specific prohibited areas are available on the side of the corresponding sectional chart [Figure 3]
Prohibited Airspace (Sectional Chart)
Prohibited Airspace (IFR Enroute Chart)
Prohibited Airspace Information
Restricted Airspace:
Restricted Airspace (Sectional Chart)
Restricted Airspace (IFR Enroute Chart)
Restricted Airspace are areas within which the flight of Aircraft is not wholly prohibited, but subject to restrictions
Restricted Areas are subject to restriction as they contain unusual, often invisible hazards to Aircraft, such as artillery firing, aerial gunnery, or flight of guided missiles
Penetration of restricted areas without authorization from the using or controlling agency may be extremely hazardous to the Aircraft and its occupants
These areas are regulatory in nature and published in 14 CFR Part 73, established through the rule making process and published in the Federal Register
SUA areas are shown in their entirety (within the limits of the chart), even when they overlap, adjoin, or when an area is designated within another area
The areas are identified by an "R" and identifying name/number, and are positioned either within or immediately adjacent to the area[Figure 4/5]
All are supplemented with altitude, time of use and the controlling agency/contact facility, and its frequency when available
The controlling agency will be shown when the contact facility and frequency data is unavailable
Details are available on the side of the sectional chart [Figure 6]
ATC facilities apply the following procedures when Aircraft are operating on an IFR clearance (including those cleared by ATC to maintain VFR-on-top) via a route which lies within joint-use restricted Airspace:
If the restricted area is not active and has been released to the controlling agency (FAA), the ATC facility will allow the Aircraft to operate in the restricted Airspace without issuing specific clearance for it to do so
If the restricted area is active and has not been released to the controlling agency (FAA), the ATC facility will issue a clearance which will ensure the Aircraft avoids the restricted Airspace unless it is on an approved altitude reservation mission or has obtained its own permission to operate in the Airspace and so informs the controlling facility
The above apply only to joint-use restricted Airspace and not to prohibited and nonjoint-use Airspace. For the latter categories, the ATC facility will issue a clearance so the Aircraft will avoid the restricted Airspace unless it is on an approved altitude reservation mission or has obtained its own permission to operate in the Airspace and so informs the controlling facility
Permanent restricted areas are charted on Sectional Aeronautical, VFR Terminal Area, and the appropriate En Route charts
Temporary restricted areas are not charted
Restricted Airspace (Sectional Chart)
Restricted Airspace (IFR Enroute Chart)
Restricted Airspace Information
Restricted Airspace Operations:
Activities within these areas must be confined because of their nature or limitations imposed upon Aircraft operations that are not a part of those activities or both
No person may operate an Aircraft within restricted Airspace unless abiding by the restrictions imposed
Air Traffic Control (ATC) facilities apply the following procedures when Aircraft are operating on an IFR clearance (including those cleared by ATC to maintain VFR-on-top) via a route which lies within joint use restricted Airspace
If the restricted area is not active and has been released to the controlling agency (FAA), the ATC facility will allow the Aircraft to operate in the restricted Airspace without issuing specific clearance for it to do so
Approval for entry is therefore the controlling agencies to grant
Since it will not be a clearance, approval is more informal and you should expect to hear the words "cleared"
If the restricted area is active and has not been released to the controlling agency (FAA), the ATC facility will issue a clearance which will ensure the Aircraft avoids the restricted Airspace unless it is on an approved altitude reservation mission or has obtained its own permission to operate in the Airspace and so informs the controlling facility
Restricted Airspace Information
National Security Areas:
National Security Area Sectional Depiction
Class Echo Surface Area Sectional Depiction
National Security Area (Near UT10)
National Security Areas (NSAs) are established at locations where there is a requirement for increase security and safety of ground facilities
Inquiries about NSAs should be directed to Airspace and Rules
National Security Area Sectional Depiction
Class Echo Surface Area Sectional Depiction
National Security Area (Near UT10)
Military Operating Areas:
Military Operating Areas (MOAs) are blocks of Airspace that are established to separate certain military training activities from Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) traffic
These areas are non-regulatory and do not require pilot participation
Pine Hill Military Depiction
Military Operating Area Operations:
MOAs (and warning areas for that matter) are critical to train military pilots while maintaining the military readiness
These areas are not always active and their status, as well as type of activity may change frequently which produce hazards such as speeds in excess of 250 knots below 10,000'
Examples of activities conducted in MOAs include, but are not limited to: Air combat tactics, Air intercepts, aerobatics, formation training, and low-altitude tactics
For these reasons, it is important to understand how these blocks of Airspace affect your flight
Visual Flight Rules (VFR) traffic:
Pilots operating under VFR should exercise extreme caution while flying within a MOA when military activity is being conducted
The pilot should contact the controlling agency when operating within 100 NM of the MOA to be crossed as the status (active/inactive) may change frequently
While flight through an active MOA is not prohibited to civilian traffic, it is a very bad idea due to dynamic operations in this Airspace
Despite the safety hazard, it will cause military activity to "knock-it-off," resulting in wasted time and gas which ends up costing tax payers
Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) traffic:
Whenever an MOA is being used, non-participating IFR traffic may be cleared through an MOA if IFR separation can be provided by Air Traffic Control (ATC)
Otherwise, ATC will reroute or restrict non-participating IFR traffic
No regulation exists prohibiting civilian, VFR traffic, from transiting an active MOA
Understand however, that doing so will almost definitely stop training, costing thousands of dollars which translates into tax dollars
Pine Hill Military Operating Area
Airspace Depiction:
Permanent MOAs are depicted on sectionals, VFR Terminal Areas, and Low Altitude Charts in magenta
All operating areas have a name and sometimes a number when MOAs are split into segments [Figure 10]
MOAs are shown in their entirety (within the limits of the chart), even when they overlap, adjoin, or when an area is designated within another area [Figure 11]
The areas are identified by type and identifying name/number, and are positioned either within or immediately adjacent to the area
A tabulation of MOAs (listed alphabetically) appear on the chart in magenta [Figure 12]
All are supplemented with altitude, time of use and the controlling agency/contact facility, and its frequency when available
The controlling agency will be shown when the contact facility and frequency data is unavailable
Pine Hill Military Operating Area
Military Operating Areas are scattered throughout the country and are most densely concentrated around military bases
It is not required to gain permission to enter a Military Operating Area but it is crucial you request advisories for yours and others safety
Military pilots are exempt from 14 CFR 91.303(c) and (d) which prohibits aerobatics within Class Delta or Echo surface areas and federal Airways, when operating in an active MOA
Controlled Firing Areas:
Controlled Firing Areas (CFAs) contain activities which, if not conducted in a controlled environment, could be hazardous to non-participating Aircraft
Examples include military artillery operations
Controlled Firing Area:
CFAs are not depicted on a map as they do not cause a non-participating Aircraft to change its flight path
When a spotter Aircraft, radar or ground personnel determine an Aircraft might be approaching the area, the activities are discontinued
Non-regulatory in nature
Alert Area
Alert Area:
Alert areas are depicted on aeronautical charts to inform nonparticipating pilots of areas that may contain high volumes pilot training, parachute jumping, glider towing, or an unusual type of aerial activity [Figure 13]
Alert areas, however, are not always established in areas that meet the above criteria
Alert areas are non-regulatory in nature
Congestion:
Pilots are urged to exercise extreme caution if operating inside of an alert area
It is preferable to avoid the area in its entirety to unnecessarily add to the congestion
All activity within an alert area must be conducted in accordance with CFRs, without waiver, and pilots of participating Aircraft as well as pilots transiting the area must be equally responsible for collision avoidance
The area is charted as an "A" followed by a number
Additional information is available on the edge of the sectional chart the Airspace pertains to [Figure 14]
Alert Area Explanation
Warning Areas:
Warnings areas are sections of Airspace that contain activities that may be hazardous to non-participating Aircraft [Figure 15/16/17] is classified as a Warning Area
The purpose of such warning areas is to warn nonparticipating pilots of the potential danger
Warning areas may be located over domestic or international waters or both
Warning Area Depicted
Air Traffic Services:
Air traffic control and de-confliction rests within military controlling agencies
Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility (FACSFAC):
A command that provides scheduling and control of all Air, surface, and subsurface activities within offshore operations areas, and all other assigned Airspace where FACSFAC has jurisdiction
Services support the coexistence of military, government, and non-government agencies consistent with national priorities
FACSFAC has 5 locations:
VACAPES (Virginia/capes)
San Diego (west coast)
Pensacola (south east)
Pearl Harbor (Hawaii)
Jacksonville (east)
Non-regulatory in nature
Warning Area Dimensions:
Lateral Limits:
Warning areas extend from 3 Nautical Miles (NM) and outward from the coast of the United States
The Airspace areas are individually tailored
Vertical Limits:
Vertical dimensions are not depicted on charts
For floors and ceilings you must reference the Special Use Airspace table on the edge of the aeronautical charts
Warning Area Airspace Depiction:
Warning Areas are depicted on the following charts:
Warning areas are shown in their entirety (within the limits of the chart), even when they overlap, adjoin, or when an area is designated within another area
Areas are identified by type and identifying number, and are positioned either within or immediately adjacent to the area
Warning areas are charted with a "W" followed by a two or three digit number
Letters may be used to delineate subdivisions
A tabulation of Alert Areas (listed numerically) appear on the chart in blue
All are supplemented with altitude, time of use and the controlling agency/contact facility, and its frequency when available
The controlling agency will be shown when the contact facility and frequency data is unavailable
Each warning area is unique and may have notes printed on the chart explaining the type of activity that may take place in that location
Warning Area Depicted
Warning Area Depicted
Warning Area Depicted
Warning Area Depicted
Operating Rules and Pilot/Equipment Requirements:
Restrictions:
The U.S. Government does not have sole jurisdiction over the Airspace and is shared with the U.S. Navy
Warning areas may be considered for joint use if the area can be released to the FAA during periods when it is not required for its designated purpose, and provided the warning area is located in Airspace wherein the FAA exercises ATC authority under ICAO agreements
When designating a warning area for joint use, a letter of agreement shall be executed between the controlling and using agencies to define the conditions and procedures under which the controlling agency may authorize nonparticipating Aircraft to transit, or operate within the area
Obtaining Special Use Airspace Status:
Pilots can request the status of SUA by contacting the using or controlling agency
The frequency for the controlling agency is tabulated in the margins of the applicable IFR and VFR charts
An airspace NOTAM will be issued for SUA when the SUA airspace (permanent and/or temporary) requires a NOTAM for activation
Pilots should check ARTCC NOTAMs for airspace activation
Special Use Airspace Information Service (SUAIS) (Alaska Only):
The SUAIS is a 24-hour service operated by the military that provides civilian pilots, flying VFR, with information regarding military flight operations in certain MOAs and restricted Airspace within central Alaska
The service provides "near real time" information on military flight activity in the interior Alaska MOA and Restricted Area complex
SUAIS also provides information on artillery firing, known helicopter operations, and unmanned aerial vehicle operations
Pilots flying VFR are encouraged to use SUAIS
See the Alaska Chart Supplement for hours of operation, phone numbers, and radio frequencies
Special use Airspace scheduling data for preflight planning is available via the FAA SUA website
Pilots may also call or access Flight Service via phone/internet for airspace schedule information
Special Use Airspace Knowledge Quiz:
Conclusion:
Remember, no person may operate an Aircraft within a prohibited area unless authorization has been granted by the using agency, which is the U.S. Government or Military
This means that not even ATC can grant you access to enter!
This differs from restricted Airspace where operations are not wholly prohibited, but are subject to restrictions
Special Use Airspace are not depicted the same:
Prohibited, Restricted and Warning Areas are presented in blue and listed numerically for U.S. and other countries
Restricted, Danger and Advisory Areas outside the U.S. are tabulated separately in blue
A tabulation of Alert Areas (listed numerically) and Military Operations Areas (MOA) (listed alphabetically) appear on the chart in magenta
Restricted areas are published in the Federal Register and constitute 14 CFR Part 73
Warning areas are similar to Military Operating Areas and may be used for the same reasons
Do not become complacent in or around an Alert Area
Pilots of participating Aircraft as well as pilots transiting the area are equally responsible for maintaining a visual scan and collision avoidance at all times
Always remember to check Temporary Flight Restrictions prior to flight as they can be used to modify the standoff distance from certain special use Airspace
When not active, the Airspace is released back to the FAA Air traffic control system for utilization
