Chapter 3. Military Exercise Planning

Section 2. Criteria

3-2-1. PURPOSE

This section prescribes policy, criteria, administrative and operating procedures pertaining to airspace for ­military operations/training activities during planned exercises and daily training missions/research, ­development, test and evaluation (RDT&E).

3-2-2. POLICY

FAA recognizes that the military has a continuing requirement to conduct certain training and RDT&E activities ­within airspace as free from other aircraft as is practicable. Therefore, certain special military training and/or ­RDT&E operations must be conducted within ATC-assigned airspace (ATCAA), altitude reservation (ALTRV), ­military operations areas (MOA), restricted areas, warning areas, and IFR military training routes (IR) so that ­these activities are separated from other IFR traffic in controlled airspace. Flights to/from such areas must be ­under the control of either FAA or military ATC facilities to the maximum extent possible. The policies and ­procedures for designating special use airspace (SUA) are contained in FAA Order JO 7400.2, Procedures for ­Handling Airspace Matters.

3-2-3. AIRSPACE DESCRIPTION

Airspace utilized for military operations must be described in terms of lateral and vertical dimensions and ­specific times of use. In developing the dimensions and times of use for SUA and ATCAA descriptions, apply ­the criteria contained in Chapter 21, Section 2, of FAA Order JO 7400.2, Procedures for Handling Airspace ­Matters.

3-2-4. LIMITATIONS

  1. The designation of SUA or ATCAA must be limited to the minimum number of areas necessary to support ­operational requirements.
  2. To the extent possible, the area must be designed so as to accommodate the maximum number of different ­types of military activities in the same airspace area. The military must provide procedures for joint-use ­scheduling in an area.
  3. To facilitate joint-use of SUA/ATCAA, activation must be limited to the minimum area, altitude, and time ­required for the activity/mission.

3-2-5. LETTERS OF AGREEMENT/PROCEDURE

  1. Letters of agreement/procedure governing SUA must include as a minimum:
    1. Scheduling procedures and positive updating, to include requirement and time parameters for providing ­these updates to the schedule.
    2. Activation/deactivation procedures.
    3. Activation/deactivation times.
  2. The letters of agreement/procedure governing special conditions of use and procedures for each SUA and ­ATCAA areas must be authorized (signed) by the affected ATC facility manager and the military representative ­of the originating/scheduling activity.
  3. Each SUA/ATCAA area will have a designated military office responsible for scheduling all military ­activities within that area. Areas must not be used for military activities unless scheduled by the responsible ­military office.
  4. When the use of SUA/ATCAA has been requested in accordance with agreed upon procedures, the military ­scheduling unit is responsible for determining priority of use and for advising all users of the operational ­procedures restrictions or other conditions contained in the letters of agreement/procedure.