MART Vol. II MO/MP - NESA - Civil Air Patrol

CAP aircraft and personnel. Special use airspace normally appears on sectionalcharts as irregularly shaped areas outlined by either blue or magenta hatchedlines. It is also identified by either a name, such as Tyndall E MOA, or analphanumerical identifier like R-4404A.Prohibited Areas contain airspace within which the flight of aircraft isprohibited for national security or other reasons. An example is the airspacearound the White House.In the first example, the letters MOA (Military Operations Area) indicate thatthe Tyndall E airspace is a military operating area. Within its boundaries, themilitary may be conducting high-speed jet combat training or practicing air-togroundweapons attack, without objects actually being released from the aircraft.Figure 8-2 illustrates how the MOA is portrayed on the sectional chart. MOAboundaries and their names are always printed in magenta on the sectional chart.Figure 8-2Civilian aircraft operating under VFR are not prohibited from entering anactive MOA, and may do so at any time without any coordination whatsoever(although this is considered foolish by many pilots). As stated earlier, since theFAA retains control of the airspace, it is prudent to contact the controlling air trafficfacility before continuing a search into any MOA.Military aircraft, often flying at very low altitudes and at high speeds, areusually not in radar or radio contact with the air traffic controller (nor can they seeor hear you). A controller can only provide positive separation to civilian IFRaircraft from the MOA boundary, not from the military aircraft itself. This mayforce significant maneuvering off your intended course.In the second example, the “R” prefix to the five-letter identifier indicates thisis a Restricted Area. The Army may be conducting artillery firing within thisairspace, or military aircraft may be practicing actual air-to-surface bombing,gunnery, or munitions testing. Shells, bombs, and bullets, as well as the dirt andfragments they throw into the air on ground impact, present a severe hazard toany aircraft that might come in their path. Figure 8-3 illustrates how a typicalrestricted area is portrayed on the sectional chart. The restricted area’sboundaries are always printed in blue.72