FAR 73.1 — Special Use Airspace
FAR 73.1 designates special use airspace under Part 73, Subparts B and C, and sets the rules for using restricted and prohibited areas.
FAR 73.1 is the opening section of Part 73, which deals with special use airspace in the United States. It does two simple things:
- It designates the airspace described in Subpart B (restricted areas) and Subpart C (prohibited areas) of Part 73 as special use airspace.
- It states that those subparts prescribe the requirements for using that airspace.
In plain English, Part 73 is where the FAA officially establishes specific prohibited and restricted areas and lays out the rules a pilot must follow to operate in or near them. While Part 73 itself focuses on prohibited and restricted areas, other categories of special use airspace (like MOAs, warning areas, and alert areas) are handled elsewhere in the regulations and on aeronautical charts.
Why it matters operationally: Before any flight, you need to check your route for special use airspace. Entering a prohibited area is never allowed, and entering a restricted area without permission can be illegal and unsafe due to activities like live-fire training or missile testing. Section 73.1 is the foundation that makes those restrictions enforceable.