Military Area and Other Areas with Flight Restrictions
SUAs: prohibited, restricted, and military operations area
Certain areas within airspace are segregated by the government for national security or national welfare concerns. These areas are either private or public property that requires constant protection or military areas that pose hazardous threat to civilian airspace users. These fields requiring such segregation or restrictions are called Special Use Airspace (SUA).
Special Use Airspace includes Prohibited, Restricted, National Security Area (NSA), Warning Areas, Military Operating Areas (MOA), Alert Areas, and Controlled Firing Area (CFAs). But we’ll focus on just three areas which are most vital in navigating aerial flights.
Prohibited Area
This is the most restrictive form of SUA within which nobody can fly across except those with permission from the using agency—which are rarely given. It is important to know where they are located since violating this regulation would result in military interception or an attack upon the violating aircraft. In the aeronautical charts, it is depicted with the letter P, followed by two or three-digit number. These areas are rather rare and usually only those who fly the POTUS are allowed to pass. All these areas are active continuously, which range from presidential homes, NASA facilities, and Disney World to naval bases and the notable Area 51.
Restricted Area
Areas within this category, while not entirely prohibited, are subject to restrictions. This means you cannot operate an aircraft within its range without getting permission from the controlling agency. Usually, the area contains hazardous operations such as areal gunnery, artillery firing, and flight of guided missiles that might endanger nonparticipating aircraft. The controlling agency will deny you permission if the airspace is “active,” meaning military operations are ongoing, and can only fly through them when it is “cold” or “inactive.” However, speaking with the controlling agency prior to entering is highly recommended in case you might read the altitude or times wrong, risking interception or revocation of your license.
Military Operations Area
These areas are established to segregate nonhazardous military flight activities from nonparticipating aircrafts. In these military training areas, flying through its parameters is not restricted nor prohibited. However only cleared aircrafts are permitted through the airspace, depending on the flight rules used due to the dynamic operations in the airspace. VFR (Visual Flight Rules) pilots may speed through the airspace even when it’s “active,” but must still exercise extreme caution. While Instrumental Flight Rules (IFR), on the other hand, may have to route around an MOA unless approved separation is provided by the ATC (Air Traffic Control). Researching preflight military area codes may be of great help to warn you of these military areas.
Things to Remember
To avoid problems during your flight, it is important to note these three basic strategies:
First, research beforehand the types of SUAs found along your route of flight and the requirements of each.
Second, be briefed properly so you would know the active and inactive zones.
Lastly, keep contact with the controlling agency whenever possible to stay clear from last minute SUA and TFR issues.
Learn more about aviation through my book Ol’ Shakey: Memories of a Flight Engineer and also discover my story navigating the world of military aviation. For more updates, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Goodreads.
References:
CFI Notebook. “Special Use Airspace.” Notebook. Accessed July 17, 2018. http://www.cfinotebook.net/notebook/national-airspace-system/special-use-airspace.
Fritts, Sarah. 2017. “Everything You Need to Know About Prohibited Areas.” Think Aviation (blog). March 15, 2017. http://thinkaviation.net/prohibited-areas/.
Williams, James. “Where Not to Go: A Review of Special Use Airspace.” FAA Safety Briefing (January/February 2015): 12–15. Accessed July 17, 2018. http://www.labace.org/assets/seg-voo-where_not_to_go.pdf.
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