A CFI is teaching a ground school lesson on special use airspace. A student asks about the difference between a Restricted Area and a Prohibited Area. Which statement correctly distinguishes the two?
- AA Restricted Area applies only to military aircraft, while a Prohibited Area applies to all aircraft including civilian
- BA Prohibited Area may be entered with prior authorization from the controlling agency, while a Restricted Area may never be entered
- CA Restricted Area contains unusual, often invisible hazards to aircraft and may be entered with authorization from the controlling agency, while a Prohibited Area bars all flight for security or other reasons
- DBoth areas prohibit all flight without exception, differing only in the type of hazard present
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. A Restricted Area contains unusual, often invisible hazards to aircraft and may be entered with authorization from the controlling agency, while a Prohibited Area bars all flight for security or other reasons
Restricted Areas denote airspace with unusual, sometimes invisible hazards (artillery firing, aerial gunnery, etc.) and civil aircraft may transit with authorization from the controlling agency. Prohibited Areas, by contrast, bar all aircraft flight for security or other reasons, with no provision for authorized entry by transient civil traffic.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Both types of airspace apply to all aircraft, not just military or civilian exclusively.
- B. This reverses the actual rule—Restricted Areas allow authorized entry, not Prohibited Areas.
- D. Prohibited Areas bar all flight, but Restricted Areas can be entered with authorization, so they are not identical.
Restricted vs Prohibited Areas
Restricted Areas contain unusual hazards and may be entered with authorization; Prohibited Areas bar all flight entirely, typically for national security.
- Restricted Areas: identified by 'R-' and a number, hazards like artillery fire
- Prohibited Areas: identified by 'P-' and a number, entry never authorized for transient aircraft
- Both are depicted on sectional charts with blue hatched borders
Memory trick: 'P for Positively No, R for Request first'