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Other Airspace

Military Training Routes​

Military training routes are used for military flight training by high performance aircraft.

MTRs are established below 10,000 feet MSL for operations at speeds in excess of 250 knots.

  • IFR Military Training Routes are labelled IR-####
  • VFR Military Training Routes are labelled VR-####

The routes above 1,500 feet AGL are developed to be flown are generally flown under IFR. The routes at 1,500 feet AGL and below are generally developed to be flown under VFR.

  • Routes with no segments above 1,500' AGL will be labelled with 4 letters, e.g., IR1206, VR1207
  • Route with segments above 1,500' AGL must be identified by three number characters; e.g., IR206, VR207

Terminal Radar Surface Areas​

A TRSA is a non-regulatory piece of airspace that provides additional services around a busy Class D airport. These are technically non-part 71 airspaces.

TRSAs have their own approach control, which can provide vectoring, sequencing, and separation services to IFR traffic and participating VFR traffic. Participation in a TRSA is technically voluntary, however.

Temporary Flight Restrictions​

Temporary flight restrictions are areas where flight is temporarily restricted for a variety of reasons. They are issued via TFR NOTAM.

They can be issued for:

  • Protect persons and property in the air or on the surface from an existing or imminent hazard associated with an incident on the surface
  • Provide a safe environment for the operation of disaster relief aircraft
  • Prevent an unsafe congestion of sightseeing aircraft above an incident
  • Protect the President, Vice President, or other public figures
  • Provide a safe environment for space agency operations

Note that even under IFR, it is not legal to fly into a TFR unless prior permission has been arranged. Even if you have been cleared into a TFR on an IFR flight plan, you should double check with the controller that you are able to enter the airspace.

Special Air Traffic Rules (SATR) and Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA)​

Some area have unique airspace requirements which necessitate special rules for the operations conducted there.

Each person operating an aircraft to, from, or within airspace designated as a SATR area or SFRA must adhere to the special air traffic rules in as set forth in 14 CFR 93, as applicable, unless otherwise authorized or required by ATC.

Some examples of special flight rules areas include:

  • The Grand Canyon
  • Niagara Falls
  • Vancouver Pearson Field
  • Vicinity of Los Angeles International Airport
  • New York Class B Hudson River area