4/20/23 

AIM 

Section 4.  Special Use Airspace 

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1.  General 

a. 

Special use airspace (SUA) consists of that airspace wherein activities must be confined because of their 

nature, or wherein limitations are imposed upon aircraft operations that are not a part of those activities, or both. 

SUA areas are depicted on aeronautical charts, except for controlled firing areas (CFA), temporary military 

operations areas (MOA), and temporary restricted areas. 

b. 

Prohibited and restricted areas are regulatory special use airspace and are established in 14 CFR Part 73 

through the rulemaking process. 

c. 

Warning areas, MOAs, alert areas, CFAs, and national security areas (NSA) are nonregulatory special use 

airspace. 

d. 

Special use airspace descriptions (except CFAs) are contained in FAA Order JO 7400.10, Special Use 

Airspace. 

e. 

Permanent SUA (except CFAs) is charted on Sectional Aeronautical, VFR Terminal Area, and applicable 

En Route charts, and include the hours of operation, altitudes, and the controlling agency. 

NOTE

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For temporary restricted areas and temporary MOAs, pilots should review the Domestic Notices found on the Federal 

NOTAM System (FNS) NOTAM Search website under External Links or the Air Traffic Plans and Publications website, the 

FAA SUA website, and/or contact the appropriate overlying ATC facility to determine the effect of non

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depicted SUA areas 

along their routes of flight. 

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2.  Prohibited Areas 

Prohibited areas contain airspace of defined dimensions identified by an area on the surface of the earth within 

which the flight of aircraft is prohibited. Such areas are established for security or other reasons associated with 

the national welfare. These areas are published in the Federal Register and are depicted on aeronautical charts. 

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3.  Restricted Areas 

a. 

Restricted areas contain airspace identified by an area on the surface of the earth within which the flight 

of aircraft, while not wholly prohibited, is subject to restrictions. Activities within these areas must be confined 

because of their nature or limitations imposed upon aircraft operations that are not a part of those activities or 

both. Restricted areas denote the existence of unusual, often invisible, hazards to aircraft such as artillery firing, 

aerial gunnery, or guided missiles. Penetration of restricted areas without authorization from the using or 

controlling agency may be extremely hazardous to the aircraft and its occupants. Restricted areas are published 

in the Federal Register and constitute 14 CFR Part 73. 

b. 

ATC facilities apply the following procedures when aircraft are operating on an IFR clearance (including 

those cleared by ATC to maintain VFR-on-top) via a route which lies within joint-use restricted airspace. 

1. 

If the restricted area is not active and has been released to the controlling agency (FAA), the ATC facility 

will allow the aircraft to operate in the restricted airspace without issuing specific clearance for it to do so. 

2. 

If the restricted area is active and has not been released to the controlling agency (FAA), the ATC facility 

will issue a clearance which will ensure the aircraft avoids the restricted airspace unless it is on an approved 

altitude reservation mission or has obtained its own permission to operate in the airspace and so informs the 

controlling facility. 

NOTE

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The above apply only to joint-use restricted airspace and not to prohibited and nonjoint-use airspace. For the latter 

Special Use Airspace 

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