FAR 73.83 — Prohibited Area Restrictions

FAR 73.83 is short but absolute: you may not operate an aircraft within a prohibited area unless the using agency has granted you authorization.

Prohibited areas are blocks of airspace, depicted on charts with a "P-" prefix (for example, P-56 over the White House), established to protect national security or other critical assets on the ground. Unlike restricted areas, which sometimes allow transit when the area is cold, prohibited areas are exactly what the name says — entry is not permitted at any time without specific permission.

Key points to remember:

• No entry without authorization. The default answer is always "stay out."
• Authorization must come from the using agency that controls the airspace, not ATC.
• The rule applies to any aircraft operation, VFR or IFR.

Operationally, this matters because busting a prohibited area can trigger an immediate intercept, certificate action, and even national-security consequences. Always check your sectional and any TFRs before flight near these areas.