Prior in Series: Class A Airspace
At anytime throughout your life, hurdles may placed in your way. Sometimes the hurdles are so big or dangerous, we take a detour. Other times with due diligence we are able to overcome them or even bust right through them. Each hurdle is different, but most can be classified into different types.
These hurdles are special use airspace. It is important to understand that these airspaces warn pilots of activities and surface areas that may be potentially dangerous.
Prohibited Area
Sometimes life places hurdles in our way that we simply cannot overcome, and so we are forced to take a detour. One that always gets my blood pressure up is the train that is sitting idle on the tracks.
Sometimes life places hurdles in our way that we simply cannot overcome, and so we are forced to take a detour. One that always gets my blood pressure up is the train that is sitting idle on the tracks.
My options are either to sit there until the hurdle is finally removed so that I can proceed, or I must find a new way to get to my destination.
A prohibited area is that train stuck on the tracks. You cannot go through a prohibited area, so you are forced to plan your flight to avoid them.
Prohibited areas are established for national security and occasionally environmental protection. An example would be the area around the White House.
If you ignore the train on the tracks and try to drive through it, you will surely meet up with some police that will be checking you for drugs. If you ignore a prohibited area and try to fly through it, you will surely meet up with some military aircraft that will be considering shooting you down.
Restricted Area
Do you hate construction projects while you are traveling? I sure do! There are times when these construction sites are impassable. For instance when a bridge is getting worked on around here, the road is often closed indefinitely. In these cases, it is time to detour.
Do you hate construction projects while you are traveling? I sure do! There are times when these construction sites are impassable. For instance when a bridge is getting worked on around here, the road is often closed indefinitely. In these cases, it is time to detour.
At other times, you can get through the construction zone, but only when the friendly flagger turns the stop sign around so it is a slow sign. These construction zones are similar to restricted areas. You cannot enter a restricted area without permission.
For access into restricted areas, ATC often acts as the flagger, and can give you permission to enter. There are times, however, when you cannot enter a restricted area.
Restricted areas normally contain operations that have the potential to be quite dangerous to aircraft such as artillery or missile firing as well as aerial gunnery. When these activities are happening, restricted areas are completely off limits.
Warning Areas
Have you been driving along and noticed signs warning you of animal crossings, slippery roads, or steep inclines? If so, you know that these areas are particularly dangerous. In fact they are so dangerous that it has been deemed necessary to add these signs to warn you.
Have you been driving along and noticed signs warning you of animal crossings, slippery roads, or steep inclines? If so, you know that these areas are particularly dangerous. In fact they are so dangerous that it has been deemed necessary to add these signs to warn you.
Warning areas are like these sections of the road that have their own signs. Warning areas are only advisory, so you won’t have to worry about being escorted by military fighters.
Warning areas are more dangerous than normal airspace. They often are host to hazardous activity, so if you have to fly through them you need to be especially cautious.
Unlike warning signs along the road that can pop up anywhere, warning areas occur over domestic or international waters and start from 3 miles beyond shore.
Military Operations Areas
Have you ever been sitting idle in rush hour traffic while cars are flying past at over 75 MPH in the lane next to you? Wouldn’t it be nice if OnStar could direct you around these congested areas, or just let you through if traffic was light?
Have you ever been sitting idle in rush hour traffic while cars are flying past at over 75 MPH in the lane next to you? Wouldn’t it be nice if OnStar could direct you around these congested areas, or just let you through if traffic was light?
Military operation areas are like congested areas during rush hour. These areas are designed for routine training or testing maneuvers. If you go flying VFR through these areas while they are active, you may just feel like you are sitting idle when a fighter jet goes screaming past.
If you are considering going through a Military Operations Area, you should seriously consider talking to ATC. While it is only a dream to have someone guide you while sitting in rush hour traffic, ATC really can guide you through or around a Military Operations Area.
Flying through a Military Operations Area without being in contact with ATC is like trying to go from the idle lane to the 75 MPH lane in rush hour traffic. It can be done, but it can be quite dangerous.
Alert Areas
While driving there are certain areas that it pays to be especially alert at. Intersections with stop lights is one example. When your light turns green, it is definitely a good idea to check that the other traffic has decided to obey their red lights and stop.
While driving there are certain areas that it pays to be especially alert at. Intersections with stop lights is one example. When your light turns green, it is definitely a good idea to check that the other traffic has decided to obey their red lights and stop.
Alert areas are the airspace equivalent to street lights. Alert areas often surround high general aviation traffic, unusual aerial activity, or frequent student training.
Alert areas aren’t really all that dangerous by themselves, but like getting the green at a stop light, it is in your best interest to be at the top of your game while flying through them.
Hopefully you enjoyed this series on the United States Airspace. If there is something you feel is incorrect or that I left out, leave a comment and let me know!