View source for Special use airspace

[[File:R-2508 special use airspace.png|thumb|Map of special use airspace R2508 in the [[Mojave Desert]], a Restricted Airspace.]]

'''Special use airspace''' ('''SUA''') is a type of special [[airspace]]s in the [[United States]] designated for operations of a nature such that limitations may be imposed on aircraft not participating in those operations.  Often these operations are of a military nature.  The designation of SUAs identifies for other users the areas where such activity occurs, provides for segregation of that activity from other users, and allows charting to keep airspace users informed of potential hazards. 

Most SUAs are depicted on [[aeronautical chart]]s and listed on [[FAA]] websites. Overlying [[Air traffic controller]]s can also provide SUA information.

== Types ==
{{-}}The ''[[Aeronautical Information Manual]]'' includes the following SUAs:<ref name="AIM-ch3-sec4" />
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Purpose !! Permission to entry !! Example !! Chart depiction !! Notes
|-
| [[Prohibited airspace|Prohibited Area]] || Established for security or other reasons associated with the national welfare || No aircraft may enter{{refn|Unless authorization has been granted by the agency, organization or military command that established the requirements for the prohibited area.<ref>{{cite web |title=PART 73—SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE |url=https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-E/part-73 |website=[[Code of Federal Regulations]] |access-date=15 January 2024 |page=73.83}}</ref> Such rarely authorized aircraft include the [[United States President]]'s helicopter.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shogan |first1=Colleen |title=Camp David |url=https://www.whitehousehistory.org/camp-david |publisher=[[White House Historical Association|The White House History Association]] |access-date=15 January 2024 |language=en |date=March 8, 2021}}</ref>|group=Note}} || P-40 surrounding [[Camp David]] || Name starts with "P-" and delineated with [[File:Blue SUA Border.svg|25px]] || The area may expand or shrink based on activities on the surface
|-
| [[Restricted airspace|Restricted Area]] || Denote the existence of unusual, often invisible, hazards to aircraft such as artillery firing, aerial gunnery, or guided missiles || Require clearance from the controlling agency || R-4808N surrounding [[Area 51]] || Name starts with "R-" and delineated with [[File:Blue SUA Border.svg|25px]] || 
|-
| Warning Area || Extend from 3 [[nautical miles]] outward from the coast of the U.S., that contains activity that may be hazardous to nonparticipating aircraft. || Require clearance from the controlling agency when active ||  || Name starts with "W-" and delineated with [[File:Blue SUA Border.svg|25px]] || May be located over domestic or [[international water]]s or both
|-
| [[Military Operations Area]] (MOA) || Separate certain military training activities from {{abbr|IFR|instrument flight rules}} traffic || [[Visual flight rules|VFR]] traffics may enter with caution; [[IFR]] traffic may be re-routed || Duke MOA<ref>{{cite web |title=Duke MOA Low |url=https://www.175wg.ang.af.mil/Duke-MOA-Low/ |website=www.175wg.ang.af.mil |access-date=14 January 2024|publisher=[[175th Wing]]}}</ref> || Name ends with "MOA" and delineated with [[File:Magenta SUA Border.svg|25px]] || Military aircraft authorized to travel faster than 250 knots below 10,000 feet altitude
|-
| Alert Area || Inform nonparticipating pilots of areas that may contain a high volume of pilot training or an unusual type of aerial activity || Not required || A-211, flight training near [[Miami International Airport]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Namowitz |first1=Dan |title=Training Tip: Unusual aerial activity |url=https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2017/june/30/training-tip |publisher=[[Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association]] |access-date=14 January 2024 |language=en |date=30 June 2017}}</ref> || Name starts with "A-" and delineated with [[File:Magenta SUA Border.svg|25px]] || All activities strictly adhere to [[14 CFR|Federal Aviation Regulation]]s with no waivers
|-
| Controlled Firing Areas (CFA) || Contain activities that may be hazardous to nonparticipating aircraft, but ceased  immediately when spotter aircraft, radar, or ground lookout positions indicate an aircraft might be approaching the area || Not required || Non-aircraft ordnance disposal, blasting, and static testing of large rockets.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fritts |first1=Sarah |title=Everything You Need to Know About Controlled Firing Areas |url=https://www.thinkaviation.net/controlled-firing-areas/ |website=ThinkAviation |access-date=14 January 2024 |date=2 March 2017}}</ref> || Not depicted on charts || 
|-
| [[National Security Area]] (NSA) || Need for increased security and safety of ground facilities || Requested to avoid overflying || [[Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant]] || Thick dashed magenta lines || Flying may be temporarily prohibited
|}

== Other airspace areas==

A few airspaces that are considered neither special use airspaces nor the typical controlled / uncontrolled airspaces include:<ref name="AIM3-5">{{cite web |title=Chapter 3. Airspace. Section 5. Other Airspace Areas |url=https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap3_section_5.html |publisher=[[Federal Aviation Administration]] |access-date=14 January 2024}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

; [[Military training route|Military Training Routes]] (MTR)
: For military aircraft's training on “low level” combat tactics. The routes are further divided into {{abbr|IFR|instrument flight rules}} Military Training Routes (IR) and {{abbr|VFR|visual flight rules}} Military Training Routes (VR).<ref name="AIM3-5" />{{rp|3-5-2}}

; [[Temporary Flight Restrictions]] (TFR)
: To protect persons and property in the air or on the surface from an existing or imminent hazard associated with an incident on the surface when the presence of low flying aircraft would magnify, alter, spread, or compound that hazard. These include public figure visits, disaster relieves, sports events, and space-launch missions.<ref name="AIM3-5" />{{rp|3-5-3.b}}

; [[Parachute Jump Aircraft Operations]]<ref name="AIM3-5" />{{rp|3-5-4}}

; [[Published VFR Routes]]
: Help pilots transition around, under and through complex airspaces. These routes include “{{abbr|VFR|visual flight rules}} Flyway”, “{{abbr|VFR|visual flight rules}} Corridor”, and “Class B Airspace {{abbr|VFR|visual flight rules}} Transition Route”.<ref name="AIM3-5" />{{rp|3-5-5}}
:* VFR Flyway: a general flight path in planning flights inside or near complex terminal airspace to avoid Class B airspace. ATC clearances are not required.
:* VFR corridor: defined corridor through class B airspace. ATC communications or clearances are not required.
:* Class B Airspace VFR Transition Routes: a specific flight course for transiting a specific class B airspace. These routes include specific ATC‐assigned altitudes, and pilots must obtain an ATC clearance before entering Class B airspace on the route.<ref name="AIM3-5" />{{rp|3-5-7}} they are marked with ⇳ on VFR charts.

; [[Terminal Radar Service Area]] (TRSA)
: Not controlled airspace from a regulatory standpoint, but air traffic control radar services are available nonetheless.<ref name="AIM3-5" />{{rp|3-5-6}}

; [[Special Flight Rules Area]] (SFRA)
: Certain designated airspaces with special air traffic rules for aircraft operating, as regulated by 14 CFR Part 93.<ref name="AIM3-5" />{{rp|3-5-7}}

; [[Weather Reconnaissance Area]] (WRA)
: Established to support [[weather reconnaissance]]/research flights. ATC services are not provided within these areas. Only participating weather reconnaissance/research aircraft from the [[53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron]] and [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] [[Aircraft Operations Center]] are permitted to operate within a Weather Reconnaissance Area.<ref name="AIM3-5" />{{rp|3-5-8}}

; [[Air Defense Identification Zone]] (ADIZ)
: An area of airspace over land or water, in which the ready identification, location, and control of all aircraft (except Department of Defense and law enforcement aircraft) is required in the interest of national security.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chapter 5. Air Traffic Procedures. Section 6. National Security and Interception Procedures |url=https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap5_section_6.html |publisher=[[Federal Aviation Administration]] |access-date=14 January 2024}}</ref>{{rp|5-6-3.a}}

; Altitude Reservation (ALTRV)
: This airspace ensures non-participating {{abbr|IFR|instrument flight rules}} aircraft remain separated from special activity. Non-participating {{abbr|VFR|visual flight rules}} aircraft are permitted to fly through the area with caution.<ref name="AIM3-5" />{{rp|3-5-9.a}}

; Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspaces (ATCAA)
: Airspaces assigned by air traffic controllers for the purpose of providing air traffic segregation between the specified activities being conducted within the assigned airspace and other {{abbr|IFR|instrument flight rules}} air traffic.<ref name="AIM3-5" />{{rp|3-5-9.b}}

[[File:Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge on sectional aeronautical charts.png|thumb|Noise-sensitive area near [[Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge]].]]
; Noise-sensitive areas
: An area is “noise-sensitive” if noise interferes with normal activities associated with the area’s use, such as [[National Parks]], [[National Wildlife Refuge]]s, [[Waterfowl Production Area]]s, and [[National Wilderness Preservation System|Wilderness Area]]s. FAA requests aircraft entering noise-sensitive areas to avoid overflying at low altitudes, specifically noise-producing aircraft ([[fixed-wing]], [[rotary-wing]], and [[hot air balloon]]s) to fly at an altitude of at least {{cvt|2,000|ft}} above ground if weather permits.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kaulia |first1=Sabra W. |title=AC 91-36D: Visual Flight Rules (VFR) Flights Near Noise-Sensitive Areas |url=https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_91-36D.pdf |publisher=[[Federal Aviation Administration]] |access-date=18 February 2024 |date=September 17, 2004}}{{source-attribution}}</ref>

== Charts ==
[[File:Prohibited Area P-40 Camp David.png|thumb|Prohibited Area P-40 near Camp David on an aeronautical chart.]]
All permanent SUA areas, except for controlled firing areas, are depicted on aeronautical charts, including [[sectional aeronautical chart]]s, [[terminal area chart|VFR terminal area charts]], and applicable [[en-route chart]]s, accompanied with these areas' respective the hours of operation, altitudes, and the controlling agency. Controlled firing areas, temporary military operations areas, and temporary restricted areas are not shown on the charts.<ref name="AIM-ch3-sec4">{{cite web |title=Chapter 3. Airspace. Section 4. Special Use Airspace |url=https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap3_section_4.html |website=[[Aeronautical Information Manual]] |publisher=[[Federal Aviation Administration]] |access-date=14 January 2024}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>{{rp|3-4-1}}

== Notices ==

In addition to charts, pilots can verify the status of permanent SUAs by contacting the using or controlling agency. These contact information are included in chart margins. For temporary or permanent SUAs requiring a [[NOTAM]] for activation, an airspace NOTAM will be issued, and pilots can the SUA status via [[air route traffic control center]]s. [[Alaska]]'s military operation runs Special Use Airspace Information Service to inform civilian {{abbr|VFR|visual flight rules}} traffic about certain military operation areas and restricted airspaces within central Alaska.<ref name="AIM-ch3-sec4" />{{rp|3-4-9}}

== Outside the U.S. == 
SUAs are more commonly recognized by [[International Civil Aviation Organization]] as '''Flexible Use of Airspace''' (FUA),<ref name=ICAO />{{rp|Appendix A. Part II. Article 1.}} an airspace management concept where airspaces should never be designated as purely civil or military, but rather as a continuum in which all user demands are accommodated to the greatest possible extent.<ref name=ICAO>{{cite web |title=Cir 330. AN/189. Civil/Military Cooperation in Air Traffic Management |url=https://www.icao.int/APAC/Meetings/2012_CMC/CIR330_en.pdf |publisher=[[International Civil Aviation Organization]] |access-date=14 January 2024 |location=[[Montréal]]}}</ref>{{rp|3.2.1}}

== Notes ==
<references group="Note" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links == 
* [https://sua.faa.gov/sua/siteFrame.app Special Use Airspace & Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspace], contains currently active SUAs

{{Commercial air travel}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Special Use Airspace}}
[[Category:Special use airspaces| ]]
[[Category:Military aviation]]