U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION

Section 4. Coordination of Proposals

21-4-1. POLICY

The regional military representatives are the service area office points of contact for the coordination of the respective military service's SUA proposals at the FAA regional/service area office level. The service area office will handle all coordination of nonmilitary SUA proposals.

21-4-2. PROPOSAL PRE-COORDINATION

a. Before submitting a SUA proposal to the FAA service area office, military proponents will coordinate, at a minimum, with locally affected ATC facilities and military units, local FAA representatives or liaison officers (where assigned), and the ARTCC having jurisdiction over the affected airspace.

b. Inquiries received from nonmilitary sources requesting the establishment or amendment of SUA will be referred to the appropriate service area office for assistance.

21-4-3. ATC FACILITY COORDINATION

a. The proponent will coordinate with affected ATC facilities as needed to discuss the proposal. Proponents should provide the facility with specific information about the mission requirement, desired airspace parameters, and why existing SUA within a reasonable distance are not suitable to accommodate the requirement (see paragraph 21-3-1).

b. The ATC facility will review the proposal to evaluate its potential impact on aeronautical and facility operations. Following its review, the facility will inform the proponent whether the proposed airspace is operationally feasible, would adversely impact aeronautical or facility operations, or if the location is not acceptable to the FAA for aeronautical reasons. The facility may suggest alternative locations or negotiate the design of the proposed SUA area to resolve or lessen any adverse impacts.

c. Proponents are cautioned that ATC facility concurrence with the proposal represents just the facility's preliminary assessment of the aeronautical and ATC operational feasibility of the proposal. The proposal will still be subject to the further processing requirements of this order (e.g., aeronautical study, public comment period, and environmental analysis), and the development of a letter of agreement. Therefore, the facility's concurrence shall not be interpreted as the FAA's endorsement or as a final approval of the proposal.

21-4-4. SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

a. Submit SUA proposals to the appropriate FAA service area office for formal processing. Military SUA proposals shall be submitted to the service area office through the appropriate military representative. Before submitting the proposal to the service area office, the military representative will review the package to determine compliance with the requirements of this order and applicable military service policies.

b. Proponents shall promptly notify the service area office if there is a change in requirements that would alter the requested effective date, or cancel the need for the proposed airspace.