Aviation Glossary - Special Use Airspace

Special Use Airspace

Special Use Airspace (SUA): Airspace in which flight activities are subject to restrictions that can create limitations on the mixed use of airspace. Consists of prohibited, restricted, warning, military operations, and alert areas.

source: FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25A)

Special Use Airspace (SUA): Airspace that exists where activities must be confined because of their nature. Consists of prohibited, restricted, warning, military operations, and alert areas.

source: FAA Weight Shift Control Handbook (FAA-H-8083-5)

SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE (SUA) (USA): Airspace of defined dimensions identified by an area on the surface of the earth wherein activities must be confined because of their nature and/or wherein limitations may be imposed upon aircraft operations that are not a part of those activities. Types of special use airspace are:

Alert Area (USA) - Airspace which may contain a high volume of pilot training activities or an unusual type of aerial activity, neither of which is hazardous to aircraft. Alert Areas are depicted on aeronautical charts for the information of nonparticipating pilots. All activities within an Alert Area are conducted in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations, and pilots of participating aircraft as well as pilots transiting the area are equally responsible for collision avoidance.
Controlled Firing Area (USA) - Airspace wherein activities are conducted under conditions so controlled as to eliminate hazards to nonparticipating aircraft and to ensure the safety of persons and property on the ground.
Military Operations Area (MOA) (USA) - A MOA is airspace established outside of a Class “A” airspace area to separate or segregate certain nonhazardous military activities from IFR traffic and to identify for VFR traffic where these activities are conducted.
Prohibited Area - Airspace designated under FAR Part 73 within which no person may operate an aircraft without the permission of the using agency.
Restricted Area (USA) - Airspace designated under Part 73, within which the flight of aircraft, while not wholly prohibited, is subject to restriction. Most restricted areas are designated joint use and IFR/VFR operations in the area may be authorized by the controlling ATC facility when it is not being utilized by the using agency. Restricted areas are depicted on enroute charts. Where joint use is authorized, the name of the ATC controlling facility is also shown.
Restricted Area (ICAO) - An airspace of defined dimensions, above the land areas or territorial waters of a state, within which the flight of aircraft is restricted in accordance with certain specified coordinates.
Warning Area - A warning area is airspace of defined dimensions from 3 nautical miles outward from the coast of the United States, that contains activity that may be hazardous to nonparticipating aircraft. The purpose of such warning areas is to warn nonparticipating pilots of the potential danger. A warning area may be located over domestic or international waters or both.

source: ICAO Aviation Chart Glossary