Your Freedom To Fly

Pilots must remember to be thorough and responsible from preflight planning to tie-down for the day.

MTRs  *

VFR pilots must take particular notice of where they are flying when simply flying for the fun of it. It is possible that your unplanned route of flight will take you across Military Training Routes (MTRs) or into Special Use Airspace (SUA) like Military Operations Areas (MOAs) and Restricted Areas. Thus before you takeoff, it is strongly suggested that you look closely at your sectional to see if there are MTRs or any SUA along or near any likely route of flight you might choose to take. Remember that if you are uninformed about where Special Use Airspace is located and which airspace is active, you are putting yourself and others in potentially serious danger.

MTRs, MOAs and Restricted Areas are identified on sectionals. MTRs are shown as gray lines with an overlaid designation like VR or IR, followed by three digits like VR 103 (military training VFR below 10,000’ MSL and speed in excess of 250 knots), or IR 121 (military training IFR below 10,000’ MSL and speed in excess of 250 knots). Look closely at your charts to verify where low altitude VR and IR routes are located in relation to your desired flight route. While the MTRs generally indicate the route military aircraft may be flying, it does not mean they are flying “inside” the gray line itself.

MOAs

MOAs are outlined with a solid magenta line and equally spaced hash marks along the inside edge of the solid line. The Aeronautical Information Manual states, “MOAs consist of airspace of defined vertical and lateral limits established for the purpose of separating certain military training activities from IFR traffic. Whenever a MOA is being used, nonparticipating IFR traffic may be cleared through a MOA if IFR separation can be provided by ATC. Otherwise, ATC will reroute or restrict nonparticipating IFR traffic.”

You can transit a MOA when VFR, however, it is urged that you go around if at all possible, or go under that airspace if the base of that block of airspace allows safe transit below it. It is further advised that if you plan to transit a MOA VFR, you should advise ATC when 100 miles out and check to see if the MOA is HOT (active) or COLD (inactive) and if you can safely transit that airspace.

General aviation pilots should understand that military pilots training in SUA such as MOAs and along MTRs, are in a max-task mode. In other words, they are training as if the situation at hand is the real thing.

During the mission, military training pilots not only have several hundred buttons, dials and switches to handle in the cockpit, but also have multiple radio frequencies to monitor. That is happening while “attacking” another aircraft or ground targets, or preventing their own aircraft from being “attacked” from the air or ground, and while accomplishing very specific mission objectives. While all this is taking place, they are closely monitoring their rapidly changing fuel and aircraft status, constantly changing altitude and speed, as well as area meteorological conditions.

Restricted Areas

Restricted Areas are shown on sectionals outlined by a thick blue line with hash marks on the inside of the area surrounded by the blue line. You will also see a designation like R-4301 inside the designated Restricted Area.

It is important to be aware of the difference between MOAs and Restricted Areas. MOAs often contain aircraft flying in a variety of formations and groupings, maneuvering at high speed both vertically and horizontally, and intercepting or “attacking” other aircraft. They most often fire electronic simulated weapons, and have cameras that send scores and photos to the aircraft and to controllers on the ground.

Restricted Areas contain aircraft moving at various speeds and firing live weapons or dropping live ordinance on ground based targets. In addition, live firing from the ground can take place as artillery is fired up into the air at targets perhaps miles down range. Thus before flying into Restricted Area airspace, you must verify (for your own safety) that the space is “cold.”

The FAA’s Office of the Chief Counsel for Regulations represented by Rebecca B. McPherson states (as of 23 Nov 10) that, “a clearance is not required to operate VFR through a restricted area when the controlling or using agency, as applicable, has made a determination that the restricted area is ‘cold’.” Thus if the restricted area is inactive, you can fly through it safely. But if it is “hot,” you must go around that airspace.

When ATC as the controlling or using agency, advises a pilot that the Restricted Area is “cold,” that VFR pilot may legally enter and transit that select airspace.” McPherson further states, “however, the ATC communication is not an air traffic control clearance, permission, or authorization to operate VFR in that airspace.”

Before You Fly

When you take the time to thoroughly plan before you fly and fully review your route of flight with all the proper charts, you will see where or if you might enter military training airspace. If you do cross MTRs, MOAs, or any military airspace, do like the fighter pilots often do and turn on all your exterior lights to help make your aircraft more visible to the fast movers and other aircraft, and keep your head up and on a swivel, looking for other traffic.

Jeff Flynn,** Aviation Representative with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Office of Aeronautics, said “Information about Special Use Airspace is located in the Information tab of the sectional chart. There you can see the scheduled times the space will be hot or active.” He continued, “But a call to Flight Service is always a good idea, however, you have to ask for the information about SUA. It is not just assumed or given in a general briefing.”

Flynn added, “Also, take time to review and understand the different types of SUA. Make sure you know how they are depicted on the charts and sectionals you use. Before you plan to fly near or through any military airspace, please review FAR 73 & 91, and the AIM.”

Planning ahead and being fully aware of what is along your route of flight will help you to continue to be safe while you enjoy your freedom to fly.

*This article only references SUA in Minnesota. Please check the FARs and AIM for additional SUA information.

**Jeff Flynn has over 7,000 hours of flight experience as a private, corporate, and air carrier pilot.


This entry was posted in Aug/Sept 2011, Columns, Flight Safety, MN Aeronautics Bulletin and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

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