AIM Text
- Pilots can request the status of SUA by contacting the using or controlling agency. The frequency for the controlling agency is tabulated in the margins of the applicable IFR and VFR charts.
- An airspace NOTAM will be issued for SUA when the SUA airspace (permanent and/or temporary) requires a NOTAM for activation. Pilots should check ARTCC NOTAMs for airspace activation.
- Special Use Airspace Information Service (SUAIS) (Alaska Only). The SUAIS is a 24-hour service operated by the military that provides civilian pilots, flying VFR, with information regarding military flight operations in certain MOAs and restricted airspace within central Alaska. The service provides “near real time” information on military flight activity in the interior Alaska MOA and Restricted Area complex. SUAIS also provides information on artillery firing, known helicopter operations, and unmanned aerial vehicle operations. Pilots flying VFR are encouraged to use SUAIS. See the Alaska Chart Supplement for hours of operation, phone numbers, and radio frequencies.
- Special use airspace scheduling data for preflight planning is available via the FAA SUA website.
Source: FAA Aeronautical Information Manual · current edition · paragraph 3-4-9.
The short answer
This AIM section is FAA advisory guidance on how pilots obtain the status of Special Use Airspace (SUA). It explains contacting the using or controlling agency, checking ARTCC airspace NOTAMs for activation, the Alaska-only Special Use Airspace Information Service (SUAIS), and using the FAA SUA website for preflight scheduling data.
Research Notes
Common Questions
How do I find out if Special Use Airspace is active?
What is the Special Use Airspace Information Service (SUAIS)?
Per the AIM, SUAIS is a 24-hour military-operated service in Alaska only that gives VFR pilots near real-time information on military flight activity in the interior Alaska MOA and Restricted Area complex, including artillery firing, helicopter operations, and unmanned aerial vehicle operations.
Where can I get SUA scheduling data for flight planning?
The AIM states special use airspace scheduling data for preflight planning is available via the FAA SUA website. For SUAIS hours, phone numbers, and radio frequencies, consult the Alaska Chart Supplement.