Special Use Airspace

Prohibited Airspace:

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• Prohibited Airspace is simply that area within which the flight of Aircraft is prohibited
• Such areas are established for security and other national welfare reasons and should therefore be considered off-limits
• Prohibited Airspace is regulatory in nature
  • Violating prohibited Airspace without a clearance is grounds for interception and follow-on legal action
• Established through the rule-making process and published in published in the Federal Register (14 CFR Part 73 Subpart C)

• Prohibited Airspace Depiction:

  • Prohibited areas are published in the Federal Register and are depicted on aeronautical charts
  • The area is charted as a "P" followed by a designation number [Figure 1/2]
  • Prohibited Airspace is depicted on aeronautical charts, to include: VFR sectionals and IFR en-route low altitude charts
  • Details about specific prohibited areas are available on the side of the corresponding sectional chart [Figure 3]

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Restricted Airspace:

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• 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

• Restricted Airspace Depiction:

  • Restricted Airspace is depicted on aeronautical charts, to include: VFR sectionals and IFR en-route low altitude charts
  • 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

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• 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
  • Deviations from Part 91 subpart B (flight rules) are authorized if using restricted Airspace for its intended use
  • 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
    1. 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"
    2. 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

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National Security Areas:

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• National Security Areas (NSAs) are established at locations where there is a requirement for increase security and safety of ground facilities
• Depicted inside a magenta dash, similar as a class echo Airspace extension to surface, but larger [Figure 7/8]
• Special instructions can be found written on the sectional chart, in the vicinity of the NSA [Figure 9]

• National Security Area Operations:

  • Pilots are requested to voluntarily avoid flying through a depicted NSA
  • Regulated under Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 99
  • Flight inside NSAs may be temporarily prohibited by regulation under the provisions of FAR 99.7 when necessary
    • Regulatory prohibitions will be issued by System Operations Security and disseminated via NOTAM
    • Prohibitions will be issued by Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM), when required
  • Inquiries about NSAs should be directed to Airspace and Rules

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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
• Activities contained within MOAs include:
  • Air Combat Tactics
  • Air Intercepts
  • Aerobatics
  • Formation Training
  • Low Altitude Tactics (see also: Military Training Routes)
• These areas are non-regulatory and do not require pilot participation

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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
• Visual Scanning and Collision Avoidance (see and avoid) still remains a responsibility of all parties when operating in Visual Meteorological Conditions as per FAR 91.113(b)
• 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

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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]

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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

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• 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:
        1. VACAPES (Virginia/capes)
        2. San Diego (west coast)
        3. Pensacola (south east)
        4. Pearl Harbor (Hawaii)
        5. 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:
    • VFR Sectionals
    • IFR En Route Low Altitude, and
    • Terminal Area Charts (where appropriate)
  • 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

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• 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

Private Pilot - National Airspace System Airman Certification Standards:

• Applicants must satisfy the requirements of Section I, Task E by exhibiting satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with the National Airspace System (NAS) operating under VFR as a private pilot
• References: 14 CFR parts 71, 91, 93; FAA-H-8083-2; Navigation Charts; AIM

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!
• Special use airspace and its status can be accessed through the FAA's SUA website or with future advanced avionics
• 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
• Still looking for something? Continue searching:

References:

• Federal Aviation Administration - Pilot/Controller Glossary
• Aeronautical Information Manual (3-4-1) General
• Aeronautical Information Manual (3-4-2) Prohibited Areas
• Aeronautical Information Manual (3-4-3) Restricted Areas
• Aeronautical Information Manual (3-4-4) Warning Areas
• Aeronautical Information Manual (3-4-5) Military Operations Areas
• Aeronautical Information Manual (3-4-6) Alert Areas
• Aeronautical Information Manual (3-4-7) Controlled Firing Area
• Aeronautical Information Manual (3-4-8) National Security Areas
• Aeronautical Information Manual (3-4-9) Obtaining Special Use Airspace Status
• Aeronautical Information Manual (5-6-1) National Security
• AeroNav Products - Aeronautical Chart User's Guide
• AOPA - Coming To The Cockpit: Real-Time Special Use Airspace Updates
• AOPA - "Lights Out"
• Federal Aviation Administration Order (7400.8) Special Use Airspace
• Federal Aviation Administration Order (7400.9) Airspace Designations and Reporting Points
• Federal Aviation Administration Order (7610.4) Special Military Options
• Federal Aviation Regulations (Part 73 Subpart B) Restricted Areas
• Federal Aviation Regulations (Part 73 Subpart C) Prohibited Areas
• Federal Aviation Regulations (91.113) Right-of-way rules: Except water operations
• Federal Aviation Regulations (91.133) Restricted and prohibited areas
• Federal Aviation Regulations (91.303) Aerobatic flight
• Federal Aviation Regulations (99) Security Control of Air Traffic
• Federal Aviation Administration - Special Use Airspace Website
• Instrument Flying Handbook (1-2) Airspace Classification
• OPNAVINST (3770.2) Airspace Procedures and Planning Manual
• SkyVector.com