9-4-1 Application

 Apply the procedures in this section to aircraft operating in proximity to special use or ATC assigned airspace (ATCAA) unless the airspace is designated an Alert Area/Controlled Firing Area or one of the following conditions exist:

NOTE -
These procedures are not applicable to Alert Areas or Controlled Firing Areas.

REFERENCE -
P/CG Term - Special Use Airspace.

 a. The pilot informs you that permission has been obtained from the using agency to operate in the airspace.
 b. The using agency informs you they have given permission for the aircraft to operate in the airspace.

NOTE -
Using agency permission may be relayed to the pilot.

 c. The Restricted/Warning Area, MOA, or ATCAA has been released to the controlling agency.
 d. The aircraft is on an approved ALTRV, unless the airspace area in question is an ATCAA.

NOTE -
Mission project officers are responsible for obtaining approval for ALTRV operations within Prohibited/Restricted/Warning Areas and MOAs.

REFERENCE -
FAAO 7110.65, Avoidance, paragraph 9-4-4.

 e. Operations in special use airspace located in offshore/oceanic airspace will be conducted in accordance with the procedures in Chapter 8.

9-4-2 Separation Minima

 Separate nonparticipating aircraft from active special use airspace and ATCAA by the following minima:
 a. Prohibited/Restricted/Warning Area, MOA, or ATCAA - Assign an altitude consistent with paragraph 4-5-1, paragraph
4-5-2, and paragraph 4-5-3, which is at least 500 feet (above FL 290 - 1,000 feet) above/below the upper/lower limit, unless subparagraph b below applies.
 b. Some Prohibited/Restricted Areas are established for security reasons or to contain hazardous activities not involving aircraft operations. Nonparticipating aircraft may be assigned any appropriate altitude above or below these Prohibited/Restricted Areas, provided the areas have been identified by facility management.

REFERENCE -
FAAO 7210.3, Prohibited/Restricted Areas, paragraph 2-1-16.

 c. Prohibited Area - Clear aircraft on airways or routes whose widths or protected airspace do not overlap the peripheral boundary.
 d. Restricted/Warning Area/MOA/ATCAA - Clear aircraft in accordance with subparagraph c above, unless clearance of nonparticipating aircraft in/through the area is provided for in a letter of agreement.
 e. Prohibited/Restricted/Warning Area, MOA, or ATCAA -  3 miles (En route Stage A/DARC, FL 600 and above -  6 miles), unless clearances of nonparticipating aircraft in/through/adjacent the area is provided for in a letter of agreement/facility directive.
 f. Exception. Some Prohibited/Restricted Areas are established for security reasons or to contain hazardous activities not involving aircraft operations. The above minima for these Prohibited/Restricted Areas is not required if the areas have been identified by facility management. When separation minima is not required, vector aircraft to avoid the airspace.

REFERENCE -
FAAO 7210.3, Prohibited/Restricted Areas, paragraph 2-1-16.

9-4-3 VFR on Top

 If the aircraft's route, track, or altitude may cause it to enter an active Prohibited/Restricted/Warning Area, MOA, or ATCAA:
 a. Inform the pilot to conduct flight "VFR on top" at least 500 feet (FL 290 and above - 1,000 feet) above the upper limit or below the lower limit of the airspace (subject to paragraph 7-3-1); or

PHRASEOLOGY -
 MAINTAIN VFR ON TOP AT LEAST 500 FEET (FL 290 and above - 1,000 FEET) ABOVE/BELOW (upper/lower limit of airspace) ACROSS (name or number of airspace) BETWEEN (fix) AND (fix);
and if the airspace is an ATCAA,
 (name of ATCAA) IS ATC ASSIGNED AIRSPACE.

 b. Clear the aircraft via a routing which provides approved separation from the airspace.
 c. Exception: Some Prohibited/Restricted Areas are established for security reasons or to contain hazardous activities not involving aircraft operations. The addition of 500 (or 1,000) feet to the upper/lower limit of these Prohibited/Restricted Areas is not required if the areas have been identified by facility management.

REFERENCE -
FAAO 7210.3, Prohibited/Restricted Areas, paragraph 2-1-16.

9-4-4 Avoidance

 When the provisions of paragraph 9-4-1 a, b, c, or d do not apply and a nonparticipating aircraft's route or track will cause it to enter special use airspace or ATCAA take the following actions:

NOTE -
Nonparticipating aircraft refers to those aircraft for which you have separation responsibility and which have not been authorized by the using agency to operate in/through the special use airspace or ATCAA in question.

 a. For Prohibited/Restricted/Warning Areas - Clear nonparticipating aircraft via routing which will provide approved separation from the airspace, unless clearance of nonparticipating aircraft in/through the area is provided for in a memorandum/letter of agreement.

NOTE -
The FAA has no jurisdictional authority over the use of prohibited or nonjoint use restricted/warning airspace; therefore, clearance cannot be issued for flight therein.

 b. For MOAs and ATCAAs -
  1. Clear nonparticipating aircraft in/through a MOA/ATCAA provided prior coordination has been accomplished as covered in a letter of agreement between the controlling and using (scheduling) agencies and approved separation will be applied between MOA/ATCAA operations and nonparticipating aircraft.

REFERENCE -
FAAO 7610.4, Chapter 9, Section 2.

  2. If unable to clear nonparticipating aircraft in/through a MOA/ATCAA in accordance with subparagraph b1 above, clear aircraft via routing which will provide approved separation from the MOA/ATCAA airspace.