The day you took your oral exam for your private pilot certificate, you knew all seven types of special use airspace (SUA), or at least where to look them up. Well, time has passed, and you probably don't anymore.
In plain English, special use airspace is a three-dimensional section of the sky that the FAA has carved out where one or more of the following is true.
Let's review the seven SUAs you can encounter in your travels. Definitions are in plain English. AIM - Chapter 3, Section 4 is where to look for the FAA's precise wording.
Prohibited Areas
No-fly zone. You and your Vans RV-10 will not get permission to fly through without a literal Act of Congress.
An airborne representative from the United States Air Force could inform you in person that you’re in violation. I'd suggest informing yourself beforehand and avoiding these areas altogether.
Restricted Areas
Mostly a no-fly zone. Restricted areas are one level below prohibited areas in restriction, but you must not enter without authorization from the using or controlling agency. The last part of that sentence is important. I'll write it again in bold: You must not enter without authorization from the using or controlling agency.
Your sectional indicates when restricted areas are active and to whom you must speak to get permission to enter. For example, on the chart for the restricted area R-5107A, you’ll find that ABQ ARTCC has the authority to decide whether or not you may penetrate the airspace.
The frequency for ABQ Center is listed, but for a few of the restricted airspaces, it instead says “NO A/G," meaning there’s no agency or air-to-ground communication regarding that airspace. Otherwise, it refers you to contact Flight Services. Call ahead for a NO A/G restricted area (and as a best practice for all the rest).
Warning Areas
A good way to remember this one is "warning equals water." A warning area is airspace that begins three nautical miles off the shores of a US coast and extends farther out over the water from there for a defined distance.
While there are some differences, warning areas are similar to restricted areas, but over water. The purpose is to warn pilots of potential danger (perhaps military jets practicing with live ammunition). Note that a warning area may be over domestic or international waters (or both).
Military Operations Areas
For a VFR flight, check the sectional, call flight services, and keep your head on a swivel. For IFR, read on.
MOAs are the SUA with which many pilots think they’re most familiar, but perhaps not. MOAs exist to separate military training activities from IFR traffic. That’s all.
Whenever an MOA is used, nonparticipating IFR traffic may be cleared through an MOA if IFR separation can be provided by ATC. Otherwise, ATC will reroute or restrict nonparticipating IFR traffic.
The part you probably already knew is that VFR traffic can enter an active MOA without asking permission. However, that doesn't make it a great idea.
Imagine a B-1B practicing bombing runs. It might ingest you with its engine before the crew sees you.
Only permanent MOAs appear on VFR sectionals. However, NOTAMs advertise temporary MOAs.
Alert Areas
A few shots of espresso. As the name suggests, alert areas exist to keep you alert. They are depicted on VFR sectionals to indicate areas that may contain a high volume of pilot training, typically military.
Basically, these areas might get congested, and military student pilots are likely to practice some pretty extreme maneuvers. Keep your eyes open and your wits about you. There is no need to get permission to enter.
Controlled Firing Areas
Don’t worry about it. As dangerous as this SUA sounds, it doesn’t require a thing from you. The charts don't depict controlled firing areas.
If a military branch or private space company, for instance, is conducting operations in a controlled firing area, that entity is responsible for seeing you and ceasing operations until you clear the area.
National Security Areas
Please avoid these areas. However, it’s a request, not an order.
This is the FAA kindly asking if you could steer clear, but only if you don’t mind. That said, this type of SUA can suddenly grow fangs and bite you if you don’t keep up with the NOTAMs. Temporarily, NSAs can become full-blown prohibited areas, putting you at risk of committing a serious violation.
As always, emergencies outrank any FARs, including the borders of SUA. But if you make a forced landing at Groom Lake, NV, be prepared for a long and detailed debrief from the FAA, the USAF, and possibly even ET.