Special Use Airspace

Question 1

What is Prohibited Airspace? Can you enter? What is an example?

Answer 1

• Flight is prohibited unless permission is granted by the using or controlling agency, as appropriate.
• Prohibited airspace exists due to security or other reasons associated with the national welfare.

Ex: Prohibited airspace P-56A over the White House.

Question 2

What is a restricted area? Can you enter? What are some examples?

Answer 2

• Flight is not completely prohibited, but is subject to restrictions due to hazards to aircraft such as artillery firing, aerial gunnery, or guided missiles.
• No person may operate an aircraft within a restricted area contrary to the restrictions imposed, unless that person has the permission of the using or controlling agency.
• If the restricted airspace is not active and has been released to the controlling agency (FAA), ATC will allow the aircraft to operate in the restricted airspace without a specific clearance to do so.
• If the restricted airspace is active, and has not been released to the controlling agency (FAA), ATC 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 agency.

Question 3

What is a Warning Area? Where can they be located?

Answer 3

• Extends 3 NM outward from the coast of the U.S.
• Contains activity that may be hazardous to aircraft.
• The purpose of warning areas is to warn nonparticipating aircraft of the potential hazard.
• May be located on domestic or international water, or both.

Question 4

What is an MOA? Who is allowed to enter? What are some examples?

Answer 4

• Established for the purpose of separating certain military training activities from IFR traffic.
• When a MOA is in use, nonparticipating IFR aircraft may be cleared through it if IFR separation can be provided. Otherwise, ATC will reroute or restrict the traffic.
• Example activities in an MOA: air combat tactics, air intercepts, aerobatics, formation training, and low-altitude tactics.
• Pilots operating under VFR should exercise extreme caution when operating within an active MOA. Therefore, pilots should contact any FSS within 100 miles of the area to obtain accurate real-time information concerning the MOA hours of operation. Prior to entering an active MOA, pilots should contact the controlling agency for traffic advisories.

Question 5

What is an Alert Area?

Answer 5

• Depicted on charts to inform pilots of high volume of pilot training or an unusual type of aerial activity.
• Pilots transitioning the area are equally responsible for collision avoidance.

Question 6

What is a MTR? Are they for IFR or VFR? What are the airway altitudes? How are they identified?

Answer 6

• IFR MTRs (IR) are typically above 1,500’ AGL, while VFR MTRs (VR) are below 1,500’ AGL.
• Generally, MTRs are established below 10,000 ft at speeds in excess of 250 knots. However, route segments may exist at higher altitudes.

Route identification:
- MTRs with no segments above 1,500’ AGL are identified by 4 digits; e.g., IR1206, VR1207.
- MTRs that include one or more segments above 1,500’ AGL are identified by three digits; e.g., IR206, VR207.

Question 7

What is an Air Defense Identification Zone? What equipment is needed? Where are they located?

Answer 7

• An area of airspace over land or water, in which the ready identification, location, and control of all aircraft (except DoD and law enforcement aircraft) is required in the interest of national security.

Requirements to operate within an ADIZ:
- An operable Transponder with altitude encoding.
- Two-way radio communication with he appropriate aeronautical facility.
- File an IFR or Defense VFR (DVFR) Flight Plan
- Depart within 5 minutes of flight plan’s estimated departure time (exempt in Alaska info facility exists for filing, file immediately after departure or when within range of an appropriate facility).

Question 8

What is a TFR? What are some examples of where they are located? Can you fly through them?

Answer 8

Defined in Flight Data Center (FDC) NOTAMs
- TFR NOTAMs begin with the phrase: “FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS.”
- Current TFRs are found at: www.tfr.faa.gov.
Some reasons the FAA may establish a TFR:
- Protect persons or property in the air or on the surface from hazards by low flying aircraft.
- Provide a safe environment for disaster relief aircraft.
- Prevent an unsafe congestion of sightseeing aircraft
around an event of high public interest.
- Protect declared national disasters for humanitarian reasons in the State of Hawaii.
- Protect the President, Vice President, or other public figures.

Question 9

What is a Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA)? Where is an example?

Answer 9

• An airspace of defined dimensions above land areas or territorial waters, where special air traffic rules have been established for.
• Each person operating in a SATR (Special Air Traffic Rules) or SFRA must adhere to the special air traffic rules in 14 CFR Part 93, unless otherwise authorized or required by ATC.

Ex: The Washington DC Metropolitan SFRA.