FAA Special Use Airspace 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What prefix is used to identify a Prohibited Area on a sectional chart?
- R-
- P- (Correct answer)
- W-
- A-
Correct answer: P-
The 'P-' prefix designates Prohibited Areas (e.g., P-40 over Washington D.C.), matching the first letter of the airspace type's name.
Question 2: Which type of special use airspace is located in international airspace beyond 3 nautical miles from the U.S. coastline?
- Restricted Area
- Prohibited Area
- Warning Area (Correct answer)
- Alert Area
Correct answer: Warning Area
Warning Areas are located in international airspace starting 3 nautical miles offshore and contain potentially hazardous activities beyond U.S. jurisdiction.
Question 3: A Military Operations Area (MOA) is established primarily to:
- Prohibit all civilian aircraft for national security
- Separate military training from IFR traffic and warn VFR pilots (Correct answer)
- Mark areas with high commercial airline congestion
- Restrict airspace for classified weapons development
Correct answer: Separate military training from IFR traffic and warn VFR pilots
MOAs are established to separate military training activities from IFR traffic and to alert VFR pilots to potential hazards in the area.
Question 4: Which type of special use airspace prohibits all aircraft operations without specific authorization?
- Warning Area
- Restricted Area
- Alert Area
- Prohibited Area (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Prohibited Area
Prohibited Areas forbid all aircraft operations without authorization, typically established for national security such as over the White House.
Question 5: Alert Areas on a sectional chart notify pilots of:
- Areas requiring ATC clearance for entry
- High volumes of pilot training or unusual aerial activity (Correct answer)
- Active military weapons ranges with live ordnance
- Areas restricted to IFR operations only
Correct answer: High volumes of pilot training or unusual aerial activity
Alert Areas notify non-participating pilots of areas with unusual or concentrated aerial activity such as intensive student pilot training.
Question 6: What designator prefix identifies a Restricted Area on a sectional chart?
- P-
- A-
- R- (Correct answer)
- W-
Correct answer: R-
Restricted Areas use the 'R-' prefix followed by a numerical identifier on VFR sectional charts.
Question 7: A Controlled Firing Area (CFA) differs from all other special use airspace in that it:
- Is always active regardless of time or day
- Requires ATC clearance to transit
- Is not charted because activities are suspended when non-participating aircraft approach (Correct answer)
- Is only found over coastal water areas
Correct answer: Is not charted because activities are suspended when non-participating aircraft approach
CFAs are not depicted on sectional charts because lookouts suspend hazardous activities when aircraft approach, removing any danger to non-participating pilots.
FAA Special Use Airspace 1
What prefix is used to identify a Prohibited Area on a sectional chart?