FAA Flight Instructor Airplane (FIA)Navigation and AirspaceMedium
A student pilot planning a flight notices a shaded area on the sectional chart labeled 'MOA' with a name and altitude block. During the preflight briefing, the CFI should explain that this designation means:
- AVFR flight is permitted, but pilots should exercise caution due to military training activity and check for activity status
- BThe area is restricted to military use only and civilian aircraft may never enter
- CVFR flight is prohibited within the MOA at all times
- DThe MOA functions identically to a Restricted Area requiring FAA authorization to enter
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. VFR flight is permitted, but pilots should exercise caution due to military training activity and check for activity status
A Military Operations Area (MOA) is established to separate military training activities from IFR traffic, but VFR aircraft may fly through it; pilots should check with Flight Service or ATC for current activity status before entering.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. MOAs allow civilian VFR traffic; they are not exclusively for military use.
- C. VFR flight is not prohibited in a MOA, unlike Prohibited or Restricted areas.
- D. Restricted Areas require authorization; MOAs do not have this requirement for VFR flight.
Military Operations Area (MOA)
A MOA is special use airspace established to separate certain military training activities from IFR traffic; VFR flight is permitted but caution is advised.
- VFR flight permitted without clearance
- Pilots should contact Flight Service for activity status
- IFR traffic is separated from MOA activity by ATC
Memory trick: 'MOA = May Overfly, but be Alert'