Military Operations Areas

AIM ¶ 3-4-5 — Military Operations Areas

AIM 3-4-5 explains Military Operations Areas (MOAs): purpose, IFR/VFR rules, charting, and how pilots check activity status before flight.

In Plain English

Military Operations Areas (MOAs) are blocks of airspace with defined vertical and lateral limits used to separate certain military training activities from IFR traffic. Per AIM 3-4-5, typical activities include air combat tactics, air intercepts, aerobatics, formation training, and low-altitude tactics.

Key points for pilots:

IFR traffic: Nonparticipating IFR aircraft may be cleared through an active MOA if ATC can provide separation; otherwise ATC will reroute or restrict them.
VFR traffic: Not prohibited from entering, but pilots should exercise extreme caution when the MOA is active.
Military exemptions inside active MOAs: aerobatic flight is permitted (exempt from 14 CFR 91.303(c)/(d)), and DoD aircraft may exceed 250 knots below 10,000 ft MSL.
Activity status changes frequently. Contact any FSS within 100 miles for real-time hours of operation, and contact the controlling agency for traffic advisories before entry.
Charting: Permanent MOAs appear on Sectional, VFR Terminal Area, and En Route Low Altitude charts. Temporary MOAs are not charted.

This is operationally critical — flying through an active MOA without situational awareness can put you in conflict with high-speed military aircraft maneuvering aggressively.

AIM Source Text

FAA AIM ¶ 3-4-5

3-4-5. 3-4-5. Military Operations Areas MOAs consist of airspace of defined vertical and lateral limits established for the purpose of separating certain military training activities from IFR traffic. Whenever a MOA is being used, nonparticipating IFR traffic may be cleared through a MOA if IFR separation can be provided by ATC. Otherwise, ATC will reroute or restrict nonparticipating IFR traffic. Examples of activities conducted in MOAs include, but are not limited to: air combat tactics, air intercepts, aerobatics, formation training, and low-altitude tactics. Military pilots flying in an active MOA are exempted from the provisions of 14 CFR section 91.303(c) and (d) which prohibits aerobatic flight within Class D and Class E surface areas, and within Federal airways. Additionally, the Department of Defense has been issued an authorization to operate aircraft at indicated airspeeds in excess of 250 knots below 10,000 feet MSL within active MOAs. Pilots operating under VFR should exercise extreme caution while flying within a MOA when military activity is being conducted. The activity status (active/inactive) of MOAs may change frequently. Therefore, pilots should contact any FSS within 100 miles of the area to obtain accurate real‐time information concerning the MOA hours of operation. Prior to entering an active MOA, pilots should contact the controlling agency for traffic advisories. Permanent MOAs are charted on Sectional Aeronautical, VFR Terminal Area, and the appropriate En Route Low Altitude charts. NOTE- Temporary MOAs are not charted.

Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask

Q1What is the purpose of a Military Operations Area, and may a VFR pilot fly through one?

Per AIM 3-4-5, MOAs are airspace of defined vertical and lateral limits established to separate certain military training activities from IFR traffic. VFR pilots are not prohibited from entering, but should exercise extreme caution when the MOA is active and should contact the controlling agency for traffic advisories.

Q2How can a pilot determine whether an MOA is active, and where are MOAs depicted?

Per AIM 3-4-5, because activity status changes frequently, pilots should contact any FSS within 100 miles of the area for real-time hours of operation. Permanent MOAs are charted on Sectional, VFR Terminal Area, and appropriate En Route Low Altitude charts; temporary MOAs are not charted.

Q3What special rules apply to military aircraft operating inside an active MOA?

Per AIM 3-4-5, military pilots in an active MOA are exempted from 14 CFR 91.303(c) and (d), which prohibit aerobatic flight within Class D and Class E surface areas and Federal airways. The DoD is also authorized to operate at indicated airspeeds greater than 250 knots below 10,000 feet MSL within active MOAs.

Related Paragraphs in AIM Chapter 3