Special Use Airspace

Question 1

MCPRAW

M

Answer 1

MOAs (Military Operations Area)

MOAs mark areas where military pilots conduct training maneuvers (without live weapons) that could reduce their ability to see and avoid, increasing the risk of a mid-air collision.

Question 2

C

Answer 2

CFAs (Controlled Firing Areas)

CFAs contain activities that, if not conducted in a controlled environment, could be hazardous to nonparticipating aircraft. The difference between CFAs and other special use airspace is that activities must be suspended when a spotter aircraft, radar, or ground lookout position indicates an aircraft might be approaching the area. There is no need to chart CFAs since they do not cause a nonparticipating aircraft to change its flight path.

Question 3

P

Answer 3

Prohibited Area

Prohibited areas are established to protect sensitive locations on the ground, not to protect pilots from aerial hazards.

Question 4

R

Answer 4

Restricted Area

An area in which military pilots practice using live weapons will be designated as a restricted area. Restricted areas denote the existence of unusual, often invisible, hazards to aircraft such as artillery firing, aerial gunnery, or guided missiles.

Question 5

A

Answer 5

Alert Area

Question 6

W

Answer 6

Warning Area

From a legal perspective, warning areas are similar to military operations areas: VFR traffic does not need a clearance to enter. From a safety perspective, warning areas contain similar hazards to restricted areas, so flying through an active one is dangerous and should be avoided. Warning areas contain similar hazards to restricted areas, including live weapons testing. Entering a warning area while it is in use is extremely hazardous.

***Why not just make these areas restricted areas, then? If you look at a sectional, you’ll notice that warning areas are always over water. Countries only have jurisdiction over the airspace within 12 nautical miles of their coast. Past that is international airspace. Because of this, the US government does not have the legal authority to ban aircraft from entering warning areas. Nevertheless, it’s still a very bad idea to fly through an active one.