Section 7. Restricted Area and MOA Annual Utilization Reports

21-7-1. PURPOSE

Annual utilization reports provide the FAA with information regarding the times and altitudes used, and the types of activities conducted in restricted areas and MOAs. These reports assist the FAA in its management of the SUA program.

21-7-2. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

a. Using agencies are required to submit annual reports to the FAA detailing the use of all assigned restricted areas and/or MOAs. Actual utilization data are required. See FIG 21-7-1 for report format. Instructions for preparing the report are contained in FIG 21-7-2.

b. Reports must cover each fiscal year period (October 1 through September 30). If the area was assigned to the using agency for only part of the fiscal year, report the utilization for that partial period.

c. For areas that are subdivided by legal description, a separate report is required for each officially designated sub-area published in FAAO JO 7400.8, Special Use Airspace.

d. Do not include classified information in the report.

e.  Submit reports by January 31 following the end of each fiscal year, to the office of the service area office director having jurisdiction over the airspace being reported.

f. Military using agencies must submit reports to the FAA through the appropriate regional military representative. The military representative will ensure that an information copy of each report is sent to the Director of Mission Support, Airspace Services, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20591.

g. Non-military using agencies must submit reports directly to the FAA service area office director. The service area office will send an information copy of nonmilitary reports to Airspace Regulations and ATC Procedures Group.

21-7-3. SUPPLEMENTARY REPORTS

The service area office may request the using agency to submit a supplementary report if it determines that additional information is needed to evaluate the use of a restricted area or MOA. Requests will be submitted through the appropriate regional military representative. Using agencies should provide the requested information within 60 days of receiving the request.

21-7-4. UTILIZATION REPORT TERMS

Terms as used in Restricted Area and MOA Annual Utilization Reports are defined as follows:

a. ATCAA. Airspace assigned by ATC to segregate air traffic between the specified activities being conducted within the assigned airspace and other IFR traffic.

b. Activated. The time-period during which the controlling agency has returned the restricted area or MOA to the using agency; regardless of whether any activity is actually occurring.

c. Controlling Agency. The designated ATC facility having jurisdiction over the SUA airspace when it is not in use by the using agency. Also, the facility that authorizes transit through, or flight within, special use airspace, in accordance with joint-use procedures contained in a letter of agreement.

d. Joint Use. A term applied to SUA which is released to the controlling agency for public access during periods when the airspace is not needed by the using agency. It also means airspace wherein access may be granted to non-participating aircraft subject to the joint-use procedures specified in a letter of agreement between the controlling and using agencies.

e. Nonparticipating aircraft. An aircraft, civil or military, which is not a part of the activities being conducted within a SUA area.

f. Scheduled. The using agency's planned time period(s) of intended use of a SUA area as submitted in advance to the controlling agency (for military using agencies, see the scheduling requirements contained in FAAO JO 7610.4, Chapter 9, Military Operations Requirements).

g. Using agency - The organization, unit, or military command that the SUA was established; and the agency responsible for compilation and submission of Restricted Area/MOA Annual Utilization Reports.

h. Utilized - Amount of time (hours or days) that activities were actually conducted in the SUA area (e.g., when participating aircraft were operating, or other designated activities were conducted, in the airspace).

21-7-5. REVIEW REQUIREMENT

a. The service area office must perform a thorough review of all annual utilization reports for restricted areas and MOAs within its jurisdiction. At a minimum, the following utilization report items should be analyzed:

1. Activities. Are the reported activities appropriate for the airspace type and designated purpose?

2. Altitudes. Do the reported activities and altitudes reflect a requirement for the altitudes published in the area's legal description?

3. Utilization Data. Consider whether actual use supports the published parameters, or if discussions should be held with the user to determine if an airspace amendment action is appropriate. Calculate the following percentages for reference in comparing the published parameters of the area with its reported actual utilization.

(a)  Hours actually utilized as a percentage of hours activated.

(b) Hours scheduled as a percentage of hours published in the area's legal description.

(c) Hours activated as a percentage of hours scheduled.

(d)Days actually utilized as a percentage of days activated.

4. Joint Use Information. Is the airspace being made available for joint use (if applicable)?

5. Remarks. Consider any mitigating factors that explain or clarify reported data. Are any other issues identified that require further action?

b. If additional information is needed to complete the utilization report review, request the user to submit a supplementary report as described in paragraph 21-7-3.

c. As required, initiate discussions to resolve issues or forward recommendations for corrective action, to the regional military representative or responsible official for nonmilitary SUA.

d. Refer to Section 8 of this chapter for additional information regarding SUA review procedures and utilization standards.

21-7-6. REVIEW SUMMARY

The service area office must prepare a summary of the results of its annual utilization report review. The summary should document the findings, recommendations, and actions taken, as appropriate. Submit review summaries to Airspace Regulations and ATC Procedures Group by March 31 of each year. It is not necessary to submit copies of the actual utilization reports with the summary.

FIG 21-7-1
RESTRICTED AREA AND MILITARY OPERATIONS AREA
ANNUAL UTILIZATION REPORT
(RCS: 1412-DOT-AN)

1. Restricted area number or MOA name:
2. Reporting period dates:
3. Reporting Unit Name and Phone:
4. Associated ATCAA:
(a) ATCAA Name:
(b) ATCAA Altitudes:
5. Aircraft Activities:
(a) Aircraft types:
(b) Types of activities conducted:
(c) Altitude/flight levels used for each type of activity:
(d) Supersonic flight:
(1) Area used for supersonic:
(2) Altitudes/flight levels:
6. Artillery/Mortar/Missile Activities (Restricted Area only):
(a) Type activities:
(b) Maximum altitude used for each activity:
7. Other activities not reported in 5 or 6 above:
(a) Type activity:
(b) Maximum altitude used for each activity:
8. Utilization information:
(a) Total number of aircraft sorties:
(b) Total number of days the area was:
(1) Scheduled for use:
(2) Activated:
(3) Actually utilized:
(c) Total number of hours the area was:
(1) Scheduled for use:
(2) Activated:
(3) Actually utilized:
9. Joint use information:
(a) Total number of hours the area was returned to the controlling agency:
(b) Letter of agreement provisions:
10. New chart Submitted/No Change:
11. Remarks:

FIG 21-7-2
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING RESTRICTED AREA AND MOA
ANNUAL UTILIZATION REPORTS

GENERAL: Restricted Area and MOA annual utilization reports provide information needed by FAA airspace managers to confirm airspace requirements and evaluate the efficiency of airspace utilization. It is essential that this report document actual utilization of the airspace as completely and as accurately as possible. The following format is used to report both restricted area and MOA utilization. If an item does not apply, enter “N/A" for that item. A “Remarks" section is provided to document additional pertinent information. Do not include classified information in this report. Refer to FAAO JO 7400.2, Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters, for definitions of terms used in this report, and for additional reporting and submission instructions.

REPORT FORMAT:

1. Restricted area number or MOA name: State the Restricted Area number or MOA name. Report only one area per form. For areas that are officially subdivided by legal description (See FAAO JO 7400.8), prepare a separate report for each subdivision.

2. Reporting Period Dates: Enter the fiscal year dates (1 Oct [enter applicable fiscal year] to 30 Sept [enter applicable fiscal year]), or period covered if other than a full fiscal year.

3. Reporting Unit: Provide name of organization preparing the report and DSN, commercial and FAX numbers (as available).

4. Associated ATCAA:

(a) ATCAA Name: Name(s) of ATCAA established for use in conjunction with the area being reported in Item 1. Enter “None" if no ATCAA established.

(b) ATCAA Altitudes: State the ATCAA altitudes available.

5. Aircraft Activities:

(a) Aircraft types: List the specific types of aircraft, which used the area during the reporting period (e.g., F-15, B-1, etc.). Include ROA activities in this section.

(b) Types of activities conducted: List each specific type of activity conducted. Do not use general terms such as “air operations," etc.

(c) Altitudes/flight levels used for each type activity: State the highest altitude/flight level used for each activity listed in 5.(b), above.

(d) Supersonic flight:

(1) Area used for supersonic: Indicate yes/no.

(2) Altitudes/Flight levels: State altitudes/flight levels used for supersonic flight.

6. Artillery/Mortar/Missile Activities (Restricted Areas only):

(a) Type of activities: Indicate type(s) of weapon(s) fired.

(b) Maximum altitude used for each activity: State the highest altitude used for each activity/weapon.

7. Other activities not reported in 5 or 6 above:

(a) Type activity: List any other activities conducted in the area, but not already covered in other sections of the report.

(b) Maximum altitude for each activity: State highest altitude used for each type activity.

8. Utilization information:

(a) Total number of aircraft sorties: Enter the total number of aircraft sorties that utilized the area during the reporting period.

(b) Total number of DAYS the area was: Count a “day" as being scheduled, activated, or utilized, regardless of the amount of time involved on that particular day. The intent of this item is to document the number of different days during the year that the area was needed in order to accomplish the mission, whether it was needed for only 10 minutes or a full 24 hours.

(1) Scheduled for use:

(2) Activated:

(3) Actually utilized:

(c) Total number of HOURS area was:

(1) Scheduled for use: Hours the area was activated by NOTAM may be included in this item.

(2) Activated:

(3) Actually utilized: When computing “actually utilized" time, do not provide a cumulative total of individual aircraft hours flown in the area. Hours reported cannot exceed the area's total available published hours.

9. Joint use information:

(a) Total number of hours the area was returned to the controlling agency: To compute this figure, subtract the hours reported in 8(c)(2) from 8760 hours (use 8784 hours for “leap year" reporting).

(b) Letter of agreement provisions: Note whether the letter of agreement between the controlling agency and the using agency includes any joint-use provisions which permit the controlling agency to route nonparticipating aircraft through the airspace.

10. New chart Submitted/No Change: Attach a chart of the area depicting, as applicable, aircraft operating areas, flight patterns, ordnance delivery areas, surface firing points, and target, fan, and impact areas. After once submitting an appropriate chart, annual charts are not required unless there is a change in the area, activity, or altitudes used, which would alter the depiction of the activities originally reported. If no change is to be submitted, indicate “No change."

11. Remarks: Include any other information that should be considered by airspace reviewers. Explain reasons for apparent low utilization rates or large differences between “scheduled," “activated," and/or “utilized" data (e.g., extensive weather or maintenance cancellations and delays, unit deployments, etc.); or note recurring airspace denials or restrictions on use of the area imposed by the controlling agency.