Flying Restricted Airspace

H.J. wrote:

If I want to fly in some restricted airspace - nevermind the reason - how is
that done?
The chart says the controlling authority is ZLC Center. That's Salt Lake
ARTCC, right?
So if I'm flying VFR, what do I do?
Do I find any low alt freq to the SLC ARTCC in the AF/D and call "Salt Lake
Center. 1234X Request transition through R12345"

Oh yeah, how do we know you are not a terrorist *smile*.

Or work for a terrorist that doesn't want to fly....

I would suspect the area would be restricted for photo opportunities as
well, so taking snapshots may be one of the reasons for restricted
airspace.

Why else would you want to overfly a restricted area? Inquiring minds
like to know....

Allen

A Lieberman wrote:

H.J. wrote:

If I want to fly in some restricted airspace - nevermind the reason - how is
that done?
The chart says the controlling authority is ZLC Center. That's Salt Lake
ARTCC, right?
So if I'm flying VFR, what do I do?
Do I find any low alt freq to the SLC ARTCC in the AF/D and call "Salt Lake
Center. 1234X Request transition through R12345"

If you're lucky the chart might even have a frequency to get the green light
through the restricted airspace. But, yes contact the facility responsible for
the airspace at the frequency appropriate for the location/altitude you are at.



Oh yeah, how do we know you are not a terrorist *smile*.

Or work for a terrorist that doesn't want to fly....

I would suspect the area would be restricted for photo opportunities as
well, so taking snapshots may be one of the reasons for restricted
airspace.

Why would you suspect that? If "taking snapshops" was to be avoided, the
airspace would be prohibited, although you'd have to prohibit awfully darn high to
be meaningful in an age with quality telephoto lenses and even satellite
photography. Restricted areas many times are areas where there is a lot of
military training activity and/or parachuting, mortar firing, etc. (MOAs have
activity too but are not restricted). If the danger is not present at the moment,
("not hot") you can often get approval to fly through.

Why else would you want to overfly a restricted area? Inquiring minds
like to know....

Because it lies between Point A & Point B where you are trying to travel?

Jessica Core wrote:

Why would you suspect that? If "taking snapshops" was to be avoided, the
airspace would be prohibited, although you'd have to prohibit awfully darn high to
be meaningful in an age with quality telephoto lenses and even satellite
photography. Restricted areas many times are areas where there is a lot of
military training activity and/or parachuting, mortar firing, etc. (MOAs have
activity too but are not restricted). If the danger is not present at the moment,
("not hot") you can often get approval to fly through.

If the area is restricted and hot ATC will not issue a clearance. Go to
http://hal9000.inetstrat.com/airspace/SpecialUse.htm for special use
airspace. Website also provides the AIM chapters as appropriate.

The restricted airspace I have encountered was a military installation.
I'd suspect that the military may not want planes loitering overhead
when there may be sensitive operations on the ground that may be
subjected to photographs.

Because it lies between Point A & Point B where you are trying to travel?

Most of these restricted areas "may" take you a couple of miles out of
your way. Plan far enough ahead, and maybe a change of 10 degrees in
your heading before getting to the restricted airspace will circumvent
the area and then after passing, adjust the other direction. Really not
that hard to do. Situational awareness is the key.

Allen

A Lieberman wrote:

Jessica Core wrote:

Why would you suspect that? If "taking snapshops" was to be avoided, the
airspace would be prohibited, although you'd have to prohibit awfully darn high to
be meaningful in an age with quality telephoto lenses and even satellite
photography. Restricted areas many times are areas where there is a lot of
military training activity and/or parachuting, mortar firing, etc. (MOAs have
activity too but are not restricted). If the danger is not present at the moment,
("not hot") you can often get approval to fly through.

If the area is restricted and hot ATC will not issue a clearance. Go to
http://hal9000.inetstrat.com/airspace/SpecialUse.htm for special use
airspace. Website also provides the AIM chapters as appropriate.

That's why the chart lists a facility that handles the particular restricted area so you
can call them, find out if its actually currently hot, and get permission to transit the
airspace if available.

The restricted airspace I have encountered was a military installation.
I'd suspect that the military may not want planes loitering overhead
when there may be sensitive operations on the ground that may be
subjected to photographs.

Again, contact the listed facility and give them your intentions. They will tell you if
you can transit that airspace.



Because it lies between Point A & Point B where you are trying to travel?

Most of these restricted areas "may" take you a couple of miles out of
your way.

Or they may be larger.

Plan far enough ahead, and maybe a change of 10 degrees in
your heading before getting to the restricted airspace will circumvent
the area and then after passing, adjust the other direction. Really not
that hard to do. Situational awareness is the key.

Or just call the facility in charge of that airspace to see if you can enter. They are
typically quite nice and polite about it. Really. No need to be afraid of doing this.
Reading the information on the chart and communication is the key.

Let me guess, you live in the Eastern part of the United States, right? If you'd
ever flown out West you'd know how numerous and huge some of the restricted areas
are out there. Flying around them, especially in a 150/152 class airplane, can
literally add hours to a trip.

Most of the R areas, especially the big ones, aren't established for operational
security. Most of them are bombing ranges and the like where they don't want
civilians getting their--tailfeathers shot off. There are execptions, of course,
like the one in Nevada that contains what is popularly known as Area 51 or
"Dreamland". That area is as big as it is partly to give room for strange
aircraft and weapons, but also to keep prying eyes as far away as possible. If
you want an idea just how big a useful presidential TFR or Capital ADIZ would need
to be, take a look at that one. Sorry, I can't remember the number offhand.

On my long solo cross-country I had to change my route because of weather problems
at one of my planned stops. I ended up in Palm Springs and the shortest way home
was through an R area. The FSS briefer told me that I could fly around (not an
option-it was getting late and would be dark before I arrived), wait until the
next day when the area would be "cold", or go straight through at not more than
500 feet AGL. I spent the night at PSP.

The moral: never hesitate to ask if an R area is cold. If it isn't, they'll tell
you and you might save yourself a whole lot of travel time.

Dave Reinhart


A Lieberman wrote:

H.J. wrote:

If I want to fly in some restricted airspace - nevermind the reason - how is
that done?
The chart says the controlling authority is ZLC Center. That's Salt Lake
ARTCC, right?
So if I'm flying VFR, what do I do?
Do I find any low alt freq to the SLC ARTCC in the AF/D and call "Salt Lake
Center. 1234X Request transition through R12345"

Oh yeah, how do we know you are not a terrorist *smile*.

Or work for a terrorist that doesn't want to fly....

I would suspect the area would be restricted for photo opportunities as
well, so taking snapshots may be one of the reasons for restricted
airspace.

Why else would you want to overfly a restricted area? Inquiring minds
like to know....

Allen

"A Lieberman" wrote in message
...
H.J. wrote:

If I want to fly in some restricted airspace - nevermind the reason -
how is
that done?
The chart says the controlling authority is ZLC Center. That's Salt Lake
ARTCC, right?
So if I'm flying VFR, what do I do?
Do I find any low alt freq to the SLC ARTCC in the AF/D and call "Salt
Lake
Center. 1234X Request transition through R12345"

Oh yeah, how do we know you are not a terrorist *smile*.

You don't know.


Or work for a terrorist that doesn't want to fly....

I would suspect the area would be restricted for photo opportunities as
well, so taking snapshots may be one of the reasons for restricted
airspace.

Why else would you want to overfly a restricted area? Inquiring minds
like to know....

Allen


If you've ever been flying around SLC, you'd see three things.
1. Class B.
2. Mountains 10000 MSL tall
3. Restricted Airspace.

Basically If something is not #2, then it is #3 or #1
So it's good to get to know the ins and outs of about 50% of my airspace.