Airspace Part 2
In addition to the six classes of airspace already mentioned, other types of airspace exist which fall into a separate category. This airspace is called special use airspace. Special use airspace consists of areas wherein certain activities are being conducted that must be confined to that area or wherein limitations are imposed upon other aircraft that are not a part of those activities or both. For regulatory special use airspace, there are prohibited areas and restricted areas. Non-regulatory special use airspace consists of warning areas, military operating areas, alert areas and controlled firing areas. Prohibited areas exist for security are there reasons associated with national welfare where aircraft are not permitted to fly. This airspace starts at the surface and extends up to a specified altitude. On sectional charts, this airspace is depicted with a blue hashed shape. Inside the shape will be the letter P, followed by a series of numbers acting as the identifier of that particular area.
Restricted areas contain the existence of unusual, often invisible hazards to aircraft such as artillery firing, aerial gunnery, or guided missiles. Because of this, aircraft are not allowed to fly within the area unless that area is not in use or permission has been received from the designated controlling agency unless otherwise depicted. This airspace starts from the surface and extends up to a designated altitude. Sectional charts depict this airspace in the same manner as prohibited areas using a blue hashed shape. However, the identifier now starts with the letter R instead of P.
Warning areas contain activity that may be hazardous to non-participating aircraft. They exist to warn non-participating pilots of potential danger, but do not prevent or limit other aircraft from operating within that area. These areas exist over domestic and international waters as close as three nautical miles from the coast unless otherwise depicted. This airspace starts from the surface and extends up to a designated altitude. They are again depicted on sectional charts with blue hash lines, this time starting with the letter W.
Military operating areas or moats contain activities such as air combat tactics, air intercepts, aerobatics, formation flying, and low- altitude tactics. Sectional charts depict these areas using magenta hashed lines instead of a numbered identifier. Like other previously mentioned areas, morass are given names.
Alert areas are used to inform pilots of areas that may contain a high volume of pilot training or an unusual type of aerial activity. Non-participating aircraft should use extra caution when operating within these areas. These areas are depicted on sectional charts using magenta hash lines but used the previously mentioned numeric identifier, this time starting with the letter A.
This last category of airspace contains various auxiliary types of airspace that are each unique and don't fall into any other classification of airspace such as National Security Areas, and US Wildlife refuges, parks and forest service areas. Airport Advisory Areas are areas surrounding a non-towered airport on which a flight service station is located. The flight service station can provide advisories over the CTTAFF frequency pertaining to wind and weather information and even basic traffic.
Temporary flight restrictions or TRS are short-term blocks of airspace used to temporarily prevent or limit non-participating aircraft from entering that area. These could be used for such things as to protect people or property in the air or on the surface from specific hazards or situations, or to provide a safe environment for things such as disaster relief or shuttle launches, or to protect the president, vice president, or any other public figure. Depending on the impact of the TFR, a Notice to Airmen or Node may be issued to alert pilots that a TFR is in effect. Pilots are responsible for being aware of and complying with any TRS that are or will be in effect during their flights.
A VFR flyway is defined as a general flight path for use by pilots in planning flights into, out of, through, or near complex terminal airspace. These routes do not require an ATC clearance and are not a specific course that has flown, but merely a route that will keep the aircraft clear of the class Bravo airspace. These flyways can be found on the back of the Terminal Area Chart.
Restricted areas contain the existence of unusual, often invisible hazards to aircraft such as artillery firing, aerial gunnery, or guided missiles. Because of this, aircraft are not allowed to fly within the area unless that area is not in use or permission has been received from the designated controlling agency unless otherwise depicted. This airspace starts from the surface and extends up to a designated altitude. Sectional charts depict this airspace in the same manner as prohibited areas using a blue hashed shape. However, the identifier now starts with the letter R instead of P.
Warning areas contain activity that may be hazardous to non-participating aircraft. They exist to warn non-participating pilots of potential danger, but do not prevent or limit other aircraft from operating within that area. These areas exist over domestic and international waters as close as three nautical miles from the coast unless otherwise depicted. This airspace starts from the surface and extends up to a designated altitude. They are again depicted on sectional charts with blue hash lines, this time starting with the letter W.
Military operating areas or moats contain activities such as air combat tactics, air intercepts, aerobatics, formation flying, and low- altitude tactics. Sectional charts depict these areas using magenta hashed lines instead of a numbered identifier. Like other previously mentioned areas, morass are given names.
Alert areas are used to inform pilots of areas that may contain a high volume of pilot training or an unusual type of aerial activity. Non-participating aircraft should use extra caution when operating within these areas. These areas are depicted on sectional charts using magenta hash lines but used the previously mentioned numeric identifier, this time starting with the letter A.
This last category of airspace contains various auxiliary types of airspace that are each unique and don't fall into any other classification of airspace such as National Security Areas, and US Wildlife refuges, parks and forest service areas. Airport Advisory Areas are areas surrounding a non-towered airport on which a flight service station is located. The flight service station can provide advisories over the CTTAFF frequency pertaining to wind and weather information and even basic traffic.
Temporary flight restrictions or TRS are short-term blocks of airspace used to temporarily prevent or limit non-participating aircraft from entering that area. These could be used for such things as to protect people or property in the air or on the surface from specific hazards or situations, or to provide a safe environment for things such as disaster relief or shuttle launches, or to protect the president, vice president, or any other public figure. Depending on the impact of the TFR, a Notice to Airmen or Node may be issued to alert pilots that a TFR is in effect. Pilots are responsible for being aware of and complying with any TRS that are or will be in effect during their flights.
A VFR flyway is defined as a general flight path for use by pilots in planning flights into, out of, through, or near complex terminal airspace. These routes do not require an ATC clearance and are not a specific course that has flown, but merely a route that will keep the aircraft clear of the class Bravo airspace. These flyways can be found on the back of the Terminal Area Chart.