FAA Special Use Airspace 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: On a VFR sectional chart, Military Operations Area (MOA) boundaries are depicted using:
- Solid blue lines
- Dashed magenta lines (Correct answer)
- Blue crosshatching
- Solid red lines
Correct answer: Dashed magenta lines
MOA boundaries are shown with dashed magenta lines on VFR sectional charts, distinct from restricted or prohibited area depictions which use blue.
Question 2: When a Military Operations Area is active, a VFR pilot:
- Must receive ATC clearance before entry
- May enter but should exercise extreme caution and contact the controlling agency (Correct answer)
- Is absolutely prohibited from entry
- Must fly above 18,000 feet MSL to avoid the area
Correct answer: May enter but should exercise extreme caution and contact the controlling agency
VFR pilots are not prohibited from active MOAs but should contact the controlling agency and exercise extreme caution while transiting.
Question 3: To determine if a Restricted Area is currently active, a pilot should:
- Assume it is always active and avoid it entirely
- Contact the controlling agency or check applicable NOTAMs (Correct answer)
- Only review the sectional chart legend for hours
- Contact any FAA control tower for automatic clearance
Correct answer: Contact the controlling agency or check applicable NOTAMs
Pilots verify Restricted Area activity by contacting the controlling agency listed in the Chart Supplement or by checking relevant NOTAMs.
Question 4: ATC handles IFR traffic transitioning through an active MOA by:
- Coordinating with the military controlling agency for passage
- Routing the traffic around or above the MOA to ensure separation (Correct answer)
- Allowing passage through the MOA at assigned altitudes
- Issuing pilot deviation waivers for IFR flights only
Correct answer: Routing the traffic around or above the MOA to ensure separation
ATC routes IFR traffic around or above active MOAs to maintain separation from military training activities occurring within the airspace.
Question 5: Detailed information about special use airspace hours of operation and controlling agencies is found in:
- The sectional chart legend only
- The FAA Chart Supplement (Airport/Facility Directory) (Correct answer)
- ATIS broadcasts at nearby airports
- Only the FAA Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM)
Correct answer: The FAA Chart Supplement (Airport/Facility Directory)
The Chart Supplement (formerly Airport/Facility Directory) contains comprehensive details on special use airspace including hours of operation and controlling agencies.
Question 6: When a Restricted Area's hours of operation are listed as 'by NOTAM,' this indicates:
- The area is permanently inactive
- The area's activation times are announced through Notice to Air Missions (Correct answer)
- Pilots must file a NOTAM before entering the area
- The area is continuously active without interruption
Correct answer: The area's activation times are announced through Notice to Air Missions
'By NOTAM' means activation times are not fixed — pilots must check current NOTAMs to determine whether the Restricted Area is active before flight.
Question 7: The label 'R-2508' on a sectional chart identifies:
- Radio frequency 250.8 MHz for communication
- Restricted Area number 2508 (Correct answer)
- Route 2508 on a federal airway
- Radial 250 at 8 nautical miles from a VOR
Correct answer: Restricted Area number 2508
The 'R-' prefix designates a Restricted Area, with the number 2508 serving as its unique identifier on the sectional chart.
FAA Special Use Airspace 2
On a VFR sectional chart, Military Operations Area (MOA) boundaries are depicted using: