The Latest Military Airspace Grab: 700 Square Miles!

On Mon, 14 Feb 2005 23:40:45 GMT, "Steven P. McNicoll"
wrote:


"Ed Rasimus" wrote in message
.. .

Restricted and prohibited. Prohibited is open never and restricted
requires you to get approval prior to filing through.


Approval is required only when it's hot.

If you check the FLIP (or civil equivalent) you'll find that some
restricted airspace is "always active" while others are activated when
needed. Usually you can file IFR for the route around and then request
transit enroute. Bottom line is that restricted airspace can vary
considerably.



Don't go blundering through R-18xx or whatever simply because it isn't
NOTAM'd as active.


Why not?


Because those nasty folks at the FAA will take your license away if
you survive the experience. Typically the pubs will tell you the hours
of operation for a chunk of airspace. And, don't think that simply
because ATC gave you a clearance along a route that goes through an
R-xxxx that it is "cold".

I remember (long ago in a galaxy far, far away) getting an IFR cleance
at FL 180 along a route from LAS to FAT. Problem was that the route
had an MEA of FL 240 and was published in those days with the note on
the map of "breaks in radio and radar coverage along this segment".
Blundering along badly iced up, I was astonishe to break into a open
hole in the clouds and find some very significant Sierra Nevada
mountains poking their granite heads up to my altitude. ATC didn't
really catch that one.

I've been in a lot of R-xxxx space and encountered Farmer Jones
cruising along VFR, fat, dumb, happy and endangered.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
www.thunderchief.org
www.thundertales.blogspot.com

"Ed Rasimus" wrote in message
...

If you check the FLIP (or civil equivalent) you'll find that some
restricted airspace is "always active" while others are activated when
needed. Usually you can file IFR for the route around and then request
transit enroute. Bottom line is that restricted airspace can vary
considerably.


Quite true, nevertheless approval is required only when it's hot.



Because those nasty folks at the FAA will take your license away if
you survive the experience.


Survive? What are the hazards of flying in a cold restricted area? The FAA
isn't going to take away anybody's license for doing so.