News Archive
Questions and answers on new aircraft guidelines
Q: Why is this change being made?
New national security concerns require that the airspace above some areas in the United States become restricted and/or prohibited to air carrier or private aircraft.
Q: What is a "restricted area"?
Restricted area: Airspace designated under FAA Regulations (FAR Part 73), within which flight of aircraft, while not wholly prohibited, is subject to restriction. Existing restricted areas are clearly depicted on "enroute" charts and are a part of routine trip planning for pilots. However, as the restricted and prohibited areas will now be updated periodically, every pilot must take steps to find out where these zones are located and to observe them scrupulously whenever they fly.
Q: What is a "prohibited area"?
Prohibited area: Airspace designated under FAR Part 73 within which no person may operate an aircraft without permission of the using agency. For example, the U.S. Capitol area is defined as Prohibited Area 56 (P-56).
Q: What is under the new airspace that is so important?
Key industrial assets and areas that are important to protect for national security.
Q: What specifically is new in the change?
Prior to September 11, 2001, when an aircraft transited through an active restricted or prohibited area, intentionally or unintentionally, warnings were provided by air traffic control when the aircraft was under surveillance and control. Ultimately, pilot certificate revocation and/or civil penalties by FAA Flight Standards were possible.
Under the new change, pilots who enter prohibited or restricted airspace—or are flying in a suspicious manner—may be intercepted by military aircraft. In these situations, pilots must strictly adhere to interception procedures in the Aeronautical Information Manual and any instructions provided by the military or FAA controllers. Failure to follow these instructions could result in the use of deadly force.
Q: What are the exact procedures published in the Aeronautical Information Manual that pilots are to follow if intercepted?
An aircraft that is intercepted by another aircraft shall immediately:
- Follow the instructions given by the intercepting aircraft, interpreting and responding to the visual signals.
- Notify, if possible, the appropriate air traffic services unit.
- Attempt to establish radio communication with the intercepting aircraft or with the appropriate intercept control unit, by making a general call on the emergency frequency 243.0 MHz and repeating this call on the emergency frequency 121.5 MHz, if practicable, giving the identity and position of the aircraft and the nature of the flight.
- If equipped with SSR transponder, select MODE 3/A Code 7700, unless otherwise instructed by the appropriate air traffic services unit. If any instructions received by radio from any sources conflict with those given by the intercepting aircraft by visual or radio signals, the intercepted aircraft shall request immediate clarification while continuing to comply with the instructions given by the intercepting aircraft.
Q: What is the exact definition of "deadly" or "lethal" force?
A pilot who enters prohibited or restricted airspace and does not comply with the military intercept procedures could be shot down as a last resort.
Q: What are the current rules of engagement and interception when a plane enters prohibited or restricted airspace?
The FAA has interception policies for a few specific activities such as hijacks in the Aeronautical Information Manual, but not for unauthorized entrance into restricted or prohibited areas.
Q: How are the new rules different?
Aircraft operating in the United States have never been subject to intentional "harmful" penalties for entering into a restricted or prohibited area.
Q: Does this affect commercial and private pilots?
Yes. However, air carrier pilots are under the supervision of air traffic control, which ensures that flight paths do not conflict with restricted or prohibited airspace.
Q: How will pilots be alerted of this change?
Every step possible will be taken to ensure that private pilots learn of the changes. Airline pilots are always under air traffic control supervision, so the main notification concerns are for private pilots.
A notice to airmen (notam) will be issued, which will be sent to every air traffic control facility and to flight service stations for pilot briefings. Notams are the primary way pilots are contacted with important new changes. In addition, contact with the numerous association groups representing pilots in the United States will be made to ensure broad distribution of the new implications of unauthorized entry to restricted and prohibited areas. Special notification is being provided to general aviation airports. The FAA, Department of Transportation, and pilot association Web sites will publish the information, and the news media will be alerted nationwide. In addition, the administration intends to call attention to this policy through general news media.
Q: When will new aviation maps show the new changes?
This process will require 10 to 14 days to complete and will then fall into the normal 56-day charting cycle. A special charting process will be initiated to display each new prohibited area and to include the new warning statement to the pilot on each "enroute" chart.
Q: Will this bring harm to the general aviation industry?
There will invariably be some inconveniences for pilots who will have to divert away from prohibited or restricted airspace. However, the aviation should generally be able to accommodate these changes with little difficulty.
Q: Is this change permanent?
It will be indicated as "until further notice" and will be reviewed periodically.
September 27, 2001
