Flying through MOAs and Restricted/Prohibited Airspace - InTheHangar

(Please Subscribe to our channel!) Can general aviation airplanes fly through military operation airspace? What are the rules and best practices for flying through MOA's and Restricted/Prohibited airspaces. Christy sits down with Seth Lake, a retired military C-130 pilot and now DPE in the Arkansas area for a good discussion from the military's side of a MOA and what is going on.
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[@LoganEakins]

OMG!!!! Seth was my DPE back in June. Had I been aware of his background, I think I would have been even more terrified. As you can imagine, as a DPE, Seth is very helpful and fair and I learned a lot during my examination. I passed!!! Anyway, it's really neat to see him here. Completely unexpected on my part. Nice work, Seth.

[@scottmiller4711]

I live in the Pensacola area, I fly in MOA’s every time I fly as they surround the place…no way to avoid them.

[@RaspySquares]

I def agree. Operating on the same frequencies makes too much sense. They don't need to hide.

[@Morningfire19D]

For reasons of National Security, as well as clarity (comms on a freq that isnt being used by anyone else), it isnt desirable to cram all military and public traffic on the same freqs. Do you want our enemies hearing how our military communicates and trains? I doubt any other nation does that. Should our military aircraft be monitoring vhf? Perhaps at an oversight level that can quickly relay positional info to active flight crews committed to operations within an established MOA.

[@jchowelljr]

I recently moved to NC and the number of MOA's and Restricted Areas are surprising. I have always tried to plan routes outside of these areas and in planning a future flight to KFFA its interesting that there is an west east alley to allow us (GA folks) to get there without staying over water too long. A local CFI said that if you want to go early enough in the morning many of these MOA's are inactive. But I like the TFR idea a lot. Thanks for the video.

[@Semsdoyle]

I also have recently moved to NC, Jacksonville area from northeastern Penna. I too have plans of the FFA flight plan while worrying about these air spaces. Best wishes and Blue Skies!

[@peteranderson037]

It can be very difficult to get from point A to point B in a straight line around here. If you're not coming in on V189 or V266, then getting to FFA can be a bit of a hassle. Flight following is almost mandatory to avoid getting run over by an F-18.

[@mikev1822]

Pilot and controller here. Great video!! I have 2 active USAF bases in my airspace and they do a great job with outreach like this. Greatest take away is the safe vs legal part. I see a lot of “I’m legal, so I’m good…” but it’s definitely questioning the “safe” part of the decision making process. My facility directly controls a MOA and we feed (the center) 3 other MOA’s around and above my airspace. I routinely see VFR targets go right through active MOA’s with no communications. Obviously completely legal but in the 7.5 years I’ve been at my facility, we had quite a few near mid airs in the MOA’s - all resulting from VFR aircraft not talking to ATC. 2 of these this year required the military pilots to evasive action to not hit the VFR aircraft. I wonder if the VFR pilot knew how close they were to a pretty bad day? Pilots - active MOA’s are annoying and the reroutes around them suck. I completely agree and hate them just like you do. Picking up flight following through these areas allows ATC to know your plan so we can see how it fits with where you are going. I just worked a Mooney a few weeks ago that needed to go through active MOA’s to stay VFR. This pilot was talking to ATC and we were able to get him through without a problem.

[@heefie8659]

I see this is a bit of an older comment but would like to interject my .02. As someone who served 10 years and now flies GA I have a differing view on this. When you look at how our country operates with a more of a freedom to fly as opposed to say Europe, there is a lot to take into account on just turning over freedoms for control for safety. Most MOA's are rather large and it's not something, as a pilot spending $250+/hr, i'm just going to decide I should eat that cost because of new rules (such as the TFR idea). Trust me I understand how much it costs the taxpayers to run missions, but I also have come to realize we (military) use that more as a justification rather than a good steward. That pilot flying is also contributing to the expenses of that military training, not the other way around. I believe there is an easy middle ground with ATC advising, on guard if needed, of aircraft in a MOA within 10nm of eachother and, as it is in accordance to the current regs, the military aircraft needs to cease activities.

[@GaryMCurran]

Sharing airspace with a C-130 can be scary. Forty or so years ago, I was flying a Cherokee 180 back from a family gathering in New York. I was headed to Groton, CT. I had my two sisters in the airplane. I was at 3,500' heading east, up the coast of Connecticut, and was just approaching New Haven. Even though I was above them, I called them anyway to let them know I was there. Got the standard 'no traffic in the area call. The 180 was equipped with a Mode C transponder, and I had it on with the altitude enabled. Since we were VFR, I started my scan from the left to the right. When I got to about 30º to the right of center, I saw something out of the periphery of my vision. C-130. Big, Close and getting closer! He was on a curved left hand turn, coming up from behind me, about my 3:30-4:00 position, and he was on a collision course. I immediately pulled the power back and pushed the nose of the aircraft down. Luckily we all were belted in because we came out of our seats. I saw the side door on the pilot's side behind the wing cross in front of me. He was close enough I could count rivets, if I had wanted to. How the tail of the airplane didn't collide, I don't know. God took care of us, I guess. I have no better explanation for it. Got out the other side and I don't think this guy ever saw us, at all. Climbed back up to 3,500' and called New Haven back to tell them what happened. They didn't seem fazed by it, just 'we had no report he was there.' I should have called Bradley Approach, but wasn't smart enough at the time to think about that. I didn't even have time to be scared, but I was angry later on. Total time was less than 10 seconds from the time I saw him until the time he passed in front of me. Had I not started my scan when I did, and saw him when I did, I would be a 41 year old statistic, three dead in the Cherokee and I don't know how many in the Herkybird. Could it happen today? ADS-B, TCAS, better radar says it shouldn't, but not everyone uses that stuff. Yeah, it can still happen today, so keep your head on a swivel, your life may depend on it.

[@jerseyshoredroneservices225]

"Funny" story... GA friend of mine was once upon a time flying through the alert area around fort Dix/ McGuire Air Force base/ Lakehurst naval Air Station. This is before it became the joint base. He observed what he thought was crop dusting several thousand feet below him but at one point these crop dusters seemed to be climbing higher than he expected. Then he could discern several of them, and then he was called on the radio by the bass controller. They voluntold him to turn left heading 270 immediately because the blue Angels were practicing.

[@colinthepilot]

Fellow Herk guy here, and I've flown a lot of those MTRs. My closest call in Little Rock was with a Bonanza who wasn't talking to anyone, and we were in a C-130 sorting out a gear malfunction, outside of any MTR or MOA. Little Rock Approach called him out to us, and we avoided visually.

[@Qrail]

Ha!! I used to have a bus route thru an MOA. I was target practice every day. Where? Highway 50 in Fallon NV going to Ely. Also on the Ely, NV run to Las Vegas, that was active on a regular basis. I waved to the Red Team leader on many occasions. One day near sunrise in 1983, I saw a single headlight coming toward me. It was an A7 leading the way. Behind it was an F117 being flight tested. It peeled off over the mountains when the A7 got close to me, but that shape was so unusual, it always remained stuck in my brain.

[@MrSam-db1vw]

There is no doubt of great man, but I expect him will simulate as being a student pilot for the first time will fly through one of the military operation area or MTR, and show us what supposed to be done in the real world. Hopefully you can think about this for next video. Thanks.

[@LiraNuna]

I used to routinely fly through the MOA in Travis AFB (SUU) on flight following. The controller was always so happy and cheery to let me through and sometimes even held conversations on freq. I think they were mostly bored. I hope this is similar to other MOAs around the US.

[@dtsh4451]

I flew over Travis AFB on the way to yolo and saw c-17 flying over. It was surreal 😂

[@LiraNuna]

Travis is a C-17 training airport! They will do pattern work there! The MOA there is slightly larger than the pattern size!

[@BryanArchambeault]

Like Christy said, please be good pilots and make use of Flight Following. They will always let you know if an area is hot or not.

[@KevinSmithAviation]

Another great episode Dan and Christy, thank you. Seth is a very knowledgeable guy, I have listened to him several times on the Aviation News Talk Podcast with Max Trescott. I live under a MOA in Arkansas and have those C130's low flying around every day. Thanks for the great information. 🤘🇺🇸🛩️

[@parkburrets4054]

We were doing some low level flight test near Bakersfield ca pretty near a MTR. An A-6 went screaming by, way over 250 knots (before our plane arrived). This underscored the need to coordinate flights.

[@dh-flies]

MOA’s being turned on only when there is a TFR is one of the best ideas I’ve heard in a long time.

[@eflasch]

At Oshkosh this year I spoke to the folks at the NORAD booth, and one thing I would add here is if you know the unit that uses a MOA you would like to fly through, look up the number of base operations and call them. For example I used to live in a town that was in the middle of a MOA, and I know the F-16 unit out of Duluth, MN was the primary user, so I would look up the unit and their operations phone number and call them directly in my flight planning. I'm still not very far into my flight training and saving up to complete it, but if I were still living there and flying out of that airport that would be a part of my flight planning.

[@joshawalister4657]

Which town? I'm up on the range

[@eflasch]

@@joshawalister4657 Ontonagon

[@brentking9263]

Yes I can attest that the fighter do sometimes come and say hi. Lol few months ago I was 1000 feet below a active moa, I was clipping a short corner of the moa controller mention fighter 30 miles of my position, and even told me they might come say hi. Lol long story short few minutes later had a fighter circle around me at maybe a mile away they also have really cool fireworks to show ya! Really awesome personal air show for me and my son. I have wondered every since weather that was “hey let’s go have some fun with a 210” or “ hey jack get the heck outta our area”. I hope it was the first one. Love y’all show keep it up.

[@WVUTOAD1]

I've spent years on the back of an AWACS providing Tactical Control to fighter aircraft in MOAs. I think just about every mission we've had to terminate a fight or just outright call a Knock It Off for VFR traffic transiting the airspace blissfully unaware of how dangerous of a situation they are in. When I fly in my C172, I either avoid the MOA all together or ask ATC if it's active before transiting. @Christy - No, fighters don't practice intercepting non-participating GA aircraft for several reasons (none of which I will get into on here).

[@GaryMCurran]

Tim, read my reply about an encounter with a C-130 elsewhere in the comments. If I was flying along VFR, or even IFR on top, and all of a sudden had an F-15 or an F-16 sitting off my wing for no reason (other than the unknown practice intercept) I would be freaking out. I would be on the radio immediately to whomever I was talking to to find out WTH was going on. An intercept pilot has no clue how a GA pilot is going to react. From what I've seen, read, and heard, even intercept pilots who go after TFR busters stay a good distance away from the target aircraft and are ready to maneuver out of the way quickly if the GA pilot does something silly. No, practice intercepts are a bad idea. Seth did say that the Civil Air Patrol will often act as a target, but you can bet that they are in a briefing before either airplane gets airborne.

[@JustaPilot1]

I fly through them all the time, after I get permission. The DC area is full of them.

[@KL7EN]

MOAs consist of airspace of defined vertical and lateral limits established for the purpose of separating certain military training activities from IFR traffic.

[@jerseyshoredroneservices225]

Would be interesting to hear an updated version of this discussion that covered civilian uas. A lot of the time the regulations for uas are the same as general aviation but there may be some differences that could "fly under the radar" for some of us. Here in New Jersey we have JBMDL right in the middle of the state with a large alert area around it and restricted area within it. We also have more restricted areas down in the pine barrens in the vicinity North of ACY. One of those areas is a gunnery range known as Warren Grove

[@roytaylor40]

Excellent information. Please keep it up.

[@SmittySmithsonite]

I fly a paramotor at these AGL's, and in the past, I've seen C-130's skimming the treetops buy my house. There's no MOA's in my entire state, nor within a few hundred miles that I'm aware of. Just being within 300' of one of these would probably knock me right out of the sky! We don't have radios or transponders - just a lowly strobe, which is only required a half hour before or after the sun changes it's daily phases (I run mine at all times for safety). At the speeds these guys are moving, they'd have very little warning, as would I. Something I've always thought about!! Great topic, & nice work as usual, Christy!

[@clarkpj1]

One of my kids flies a UH-60 Black Hawk for the National Guard. One very dark night his company was operating a flight of 5 A/C on a simulated air assault training flight in a MOA with minimal exterior lighting. A civilian medivac helicopter flew right through their formation nearly killing a number of Army aviators.

[@mmalocsay10ez]

Hi and thank you for your response to my comments. Great site, I've subscribed and will continue to listen in. Hmm, will see if you have one for preparing for a BFR.

[@TakingOff]

You bet. This recent video covers some FLight Review things: kzbin.info/www/bejne/poXPiaGojqytn9k

[@timdykes6675]

What’s up, Seth? Love your channel. The MOA TFR idea is kind of a good one. But some of them are so big. They’re a long way around. They should leave vfr flyways maybe with altitude restrictions through them.

[@terryrutherford2114]

A big rig driver told me that he was driving out in the South West desert and an A10 lined up on him nice and low, and wagged his wings at him. Don't know if true, but that's the story.

[@russbell6418]

There’s an IR route lines up with the state highway at Rosebud, NM. My Dad got a rear view mirror full of C-130 one evening.

[@Qrail]

Terry, I’d buy his story. See my comment

[@megadavis5377]

Very helpful video. G.A. needs more visible outreach with the military and ATC like this in order for interested pilots to gain both knowledge and better safety practices. I have learned - in my 52 years of aviation experience - that flying through an active (hot) MOA is really just a roll of the dice. It's a gamble at best. I won't do it anymore because of what I've seen, heard about, read about, and experienced for myself. However, others must learn as they will... If you do it on a regular basis then may the 'force' be with you.

[@clydecessna737]

Use Flight following; it is a jewel. They won't let you gt into any legal trouble by bumbling into the wrong airspace or physical trouble like hitting something.

[@Semsdoyle]

Great info, Thanks. I recently moved to Coastal Carolina and there are LOTS and LOTS of MOAs and restricted airspace that I need to bone up on.

[@daysix628]

Just a note: The base at Groom Lake, NV (KXTA) is in R5808N and not a Prohibited Area. That said, don’t ever expect to be cleared in and if you do go there expect a government vehicle to be waiting when you land.

[@GentleResponseLLC]

Great post, I've always just tried to avoid MOA when just flying around, and after watching this I will be sure to make sure an MOA is inactive if I need or feel like passing through while VFR. I like the idea and think it would be VERY beneficial if MOA's popped up highlighted on my foreflight when they are active!

[@ryaninman6307]

Cant avoid them in my area, if going fly.

[@magatica05]

I fly out of MRI Merrill field in Anchorage Alaska. There are so many small, medium, and large airports, planes and helicopter (military and civilian) that if you are new to the area, buckle up... departing or arriving get a flight following. Ps: if it is very busy you will the a hold instruction on a VFR flight, so be ready. Ps2: yes, there is MOA's (a bit further away) restricted, prohibited D, E, C airspace just around Anchorage

[@patrickheavirland3599]

Hello from Minnesota! Great interview!

[@frankwgregoryiii6347]

He really said that ”it costs tax payer money” I pay for my fuel and his with taxes when flying for guard. Can’t tell how many times I had to divert my landing or wait to take off when the Delaware NG flies in Wilmington

[@protoolsfanatic7276]

the alien question was out of left field but that was funny.

[@RealRickCox]

I've been following Trevor for a year or so. Loved hearing his crazy stories. Never imagined we'd be talking about an INTENTIONAL airplane crash that he was involved with. I hope for the sake of the aviation community, this turns out to be a case of bad judgement and not a pre-meditated event. And if it turns out he had planned this all along, yanking his pilots license is just the beginning of what I think should happen to him.

[@KTWardlaw]

I was under the impression that if you squawk 1200 while flying possible MTR areas that all military aircraft would see you before you see them…. Good to know! Thx!

[@erictaylor5462]

12:30 When I was a kid my dad and I were on approach into Concord (Ca) when we flew through a flock of geese. We didn't hit any, but I saw one go by my window so close it would have hit the wing strut if we had been in a 182 or 172 (we were in a 177 RG). I just remember how fast it happened. We went from where we could see them to being past them even before we could say "oh" let alone the rest of that expiative. Sky divers being rather heavier than geese I don't think it would have been any better.

[@hillcrestannie]

I have a landing strip in the Laughlin 1 moa north of Del Rio . I just stay under 9000 ft and have never had a problem. When I remember I call them to let them know . I use flight following but cancel it about 50 miles away because I can’t give the a final destination of my private strip.

[@skylersmith9363]

This came up in my ppl oral exam My DPE created a scenario in which I had to modify my flight plan to avoid weather. Two options Add more than 100 miles and land at my destination airport below minimum fuel or fly through the MOA . I made the correct decision and changed my plan to a rout through The MOA. After I passed my check ride I asked him what percent of students fail this question/ scenario!?!? He stated 98% of student don’t know they are allowed to fly through MOA’s. He was making it his mission to make sure every student he interacted with had the correct info by the time he was done with them. Great DPE Here in Utah.

[@TakingOff]

Nice!

[@markg4459]

You fly out west much and see how much airspace is 'reserved' for MOAs...you quickly learn that avoiding them would be equivalent to not flying at all. I'm retired USAF so definitely appreciate the mission but I'm also a taxpayer & love my freedoms -- what's left anyway -- so I'm going to use that airspace & keep my eyes peeled.

[@bobwright5557]

Great insight! Thanks for sharing.

[@robertshaver4432]

Stay the hell out of restricted and prohibited areas. I've got a story to tell, I'm not allowed to tell specifics, but I will say "Stay the hell out of where you don't belong!" I wonder if that Cessna had bullet holes in it when he landed. Multiple 20 mm cannons with a rate of fire of 4000 rounds per minute each, Multiple 50 Cals, even more M-16s, anything and everything was firing as he showed up flying low in sneaking through the winding valleys under the radar taking a short cut "through a prohibited area". We had no warning of his arrival. He almost collided with my target drone and I do mean "almost" (guess what they were shooting at). This was advanced training so I was twisting, turning, bobbing, weaving, anything and everything that I could throw at them in using less than 8Gs. My field of vision is narrow and I'll bet I did a 25G negative push to avoid him, My drone is easily large enough to take him down, I didn't care if it broke! He's damn lucky to be alive number one and If I'd have gotten his tail number, he'd have wished he was dead. "Stay The Hell Out of where you don't belong!" You have no clue of how lucky that pilot was...no clue! Maybe he wasn't lucky and his remains are still out there somewhere! Who knows!

[@stuartessex4535]

Communication is defo the key! I often worry when I see a military jet wiz past at 500ft, that if I was there doing PFLs in my 152, would we of known each other were there?😲😲

[@christinewunder1672]

Nice review, thanks!

[@frankbuoni1804]

I fly to Vegas a lot so go through them all the time no big deal.

[@Hibbie2963]

Yes the Civil Air Patrol does train to that in New Mexico

[@DISOPtv]

I fly out of Colorado Springs, you have to fly through MOAs or you would not get anywhere. :D

[@mmalocsay10ez]

Great discussion, just discovered this site. The lady host addressed most of my questions except...while in flight, who can I radio to ask about a MOA's status? Before flight as well, the WX Briefer? Please follow up with another pilot for variety, same lady host. Thank you!

[@TakingOff]

WX briefer can tell you if MOAs are active. In flight, any controller can tell you as well. If you're on Flight Following, just ask them.

[@TIO540S1]

I have to fly to Inyokern, it’s in an MOA. We’re directed to contact Joshua Approach.

[@shawnnj5999]

Very informative 👌🏾👌🏾

[@WoutervanTiel]

That scares me, 130s are flying below 500' through our valley and over our towns. I do not see some military aircraft on the ADSB, so now that I know what you use to "see" us, this TCAS, I feel very apprehensive to fly here because your 130 does not move quickly and if I can't see you then I can't stay away from you. This is in class E space. Those c130s fly as low as 200' over our town. Seems like there is some work to do to get you and us 'talking to each other' properly in the sky.

[@mafp22w]

At least one aircraft in a military group should have to be on ADS-B

[@onefourwhisky]

i have a question, why does the FAA SUA Website rarely have the correct information about MOAs and MTRs? l have lived under a MTR for the past decade and have seen V-22s /C-130s and other another military aircraft doing low-level training right over my house this happens 3 or four times a month , But when I check the SUA website it never shows the MTR hot. The opposite seems to be true about MOAs, if the SUA website shows a MOA is hot, it is rarely hot when I call the Flight Service And if the SUA website show a MOA is cold,,, it is most likely to be hot Why cant the FAA SUA website post correct/Timely info ?

[@thejcarne]

I fly through them all the time. I do however ask center if they are active; they have never told me yes. Maybe it's time to give flight following a try again; I used to use it but I eventually got tired of very often being denied.

[@brianeney4856]

My home airport is under a MOA, have no choice if I want to fly!

[@jhaedtler]

The other side of the coin on this subject is to get the military aircraft to follow the rules. I have seen too many times when the airforce was flying below their restricted altitudes. Also if military flys in civilian areas they have to use civilian frequency's. In the 90's I was flying into KROW and had a near miss with the navy! Turbine T-34's almost knocked us out of the sky! When confronted they just said get out of our way! I called the FAA and shut down there ops!

[@majorpayne608]

Not all military aircraft have VHF.

[@jhaedtler]

@@majorpayne608 Then they should not be flying in Civilian areas!

[@waukeshapilot6462]

Did anybody else notice the price of razor blades and apples always goes up this time of the year?????

[@TB-sv3nw]

I wanted to know "What is the step by step process of pre-flight checks / permissions needed to fly in an MOA ?" In particular Naval AS Corpus Christi, Alert Area A-632E ?

[@TakingOff]

First, flying VFR, you actually do not need permission to fly in a MOA or an Alert area. Now it's advised to be especially alert, and when I'm in an active MOA, I"m always on FLight Following and they can tell me if it's cold or hot. And a quick check of A-632E, it's actually a very thin alert area-- 6,000 to 8,999 MSL. Easy to stay out of.

[@mikeryan6277]

Think it’s a good idea to treat them like TFR’s I mean if ForeFlight can show a TFR around every Baseball/football stadium why not.

[@watashiandroid8314]

Do you know any Navy folk who can talk about warning areas?

[@mafp22w]

The amount of Federal airspace and Federal land in the West makes a mockery of the idea that the USA is a free country. The government would take it all if they had the opportunity.

[@JSFGuy]

Welcome comments

[@billmoran3812]

This was very useful information. I’ve flown through MOAs before but always with ATC guidance. Even on one occasion had ATC advise traffic was a flight of four F-16s! These days with ADSB, do military aircraft broadcast their location on ADSB so we would see them in the cockpit? I can understand that they would not use ADSB in combat, but what about in US air space during training?

[@rustypotato1884]

I work in a high traffic training environment that is right next to a MOA and some very active MTR's. From what I have seen most military aircraft do not transmit ADSB unless they start having a lot of traffic areas then they will turn them on. Most cases you will not see them.

[@schnabel69]

No FAR saying you cant fly through a hot MOA vfr or ifr. Regs are regs. If it was so dangerous, the regs would not let you fly in a hot MOA

[@TakingOff]

Yeah but ATC will reroute you IFR through active MOA more often than not. I’ve canceled my IFR because they wanted to drop me below the MOA.

[@gozur7374]

There is legal and there is smart. Two different things. I am a retired F-16 pilot. When fighters are using MOAs for training, we are moving very fast, changing altitudes rapidly, and you will never see us coming. We won’t see you either, as we are pulling high G loads, and maneuvering against another aircraft. We have a lot of stuff going on, and we are NOT clearing for traffic. That is why the MOA exists. The MOAs are there to protect both of us. Case in point. When I was stationed at Luke AFB, we had a charter outfit insist on flying VFR through our MOA to save time. I came out of an engagement, and my wingman was rejoining on me. We had this VFR Charter guy fly right through the middle of our formation. Almost hit my wingman. Luckily my wingman saw him at the last second and did a five G inverted pull to avoid the collision. Controllers will not clear you IFR through an active MOA unless they can guarantee separation. That means they are talking to both you and the military aircraft. Otherwise, they will route you around it or under it (which is the most common scenario). If you decide to cancel IFR and proceed VFR through the MOA, you are taking an unnecessary risk. If the MOA is cold, fly VFR through it all day long. If it is active, do yourself, your passengers, and the military a favor and go around it or under it.

[@HoundDogMech]

Has ADS-B improved Situational Awareness For the Military?

[@davidcollier3604]

For the most part, the Military does not have ABS-B In. Some Mil A/C have TCAS but may do not.

[@clearance_delivery]

Wtf😂😂 Should I fly through a class E or G airspace? Class E has instrument approaches sometimes… lol MOA’s don’t mean anything except high military training area.. just look outside unless in IMC

[@Gunhound523]

@5:00 You weren't "given permission to fly through the MOA". Any VFR aircraft can transition any MOA. As you said, smart? not necessarily, but legal, yes. As far as being told to exit the MOA, that's more than likely a facility directive designed to ensure all aircraft receiving flight following are informed of the MOA. You were under no obligation to alter your course/altitude and in some cases will be out of the way sooner by continuing through to exit rather than turning while within the airspace. @9:45 those "prohibited areas" look an awful lot like Restricted Areas. Have the "R" designation and everything. Looks like the Air Force Pilot/DPE needs to hit the books and read up on actual Prohibited Areas like P56 in D.C. or P47 in Amarillo. In fact, P-49 shown in the video is Bush Ranch...not a tethered balloon. Tethered balloons are found in restricted areas, such as R-6316 near Eagle Pass, TX. Also, I'll call B.S. that you spent 12+ hours briefing for a flight. Maybe every second of ground training that went into that specific part of training, sure, but briefing to step for the one training flight...no way. Those ground training hours will be utilized on a variety of flights. If bad weather scrubbed the flight, you wouldn't have to start all over with your 12hr brief for the next day. Capping your mission in a MOA above the altitude of a GA aircraft is not going to stop your training either.

[@glennwatson]

I suspect the sectional inlays are Dan or his editor for the video not the guest

[@majorpayne608]

That 12+ "briefing" is usually a day of mission planning. Coordination with other military units that may not be at your base/location. ROEs are established for a particular exercise etc .

[@Gunhound523]

@@glennwatson He refers specifically to the "prohibited areas" protecting Groom Lake. There are no prohibited areas around Groom Lake, as they clearly show in the video. They are restricted areas.

[@Gunhound523]

@@majorpayne608 and ALL of that is lost if the sortie doesn't go? I understand coordinating for tanker support, MTR deconfliction, aircraft from other bases for intercept/friend v. foe and the like...no one is reinventing every aspect of the mission every single time.

[@jeffdeuchar1089]

Christy, where did you get your pants?

[@j.gregory5669]

If you don’t know MOA basics you shouldn’t be flying an airplane

[@countysecession]

I don't give a rat's ass about wasting military time or taxpayer money. They take way too much airspace.