USA: Prohibited and Restricted Areas
In addition to the airspace around Temporary Flight Restrictions, Special Flight Rules Areas, stadiums, and national parks, there are a few other areas in which drone flights are usually forbidden.
Prohibited and Restricted Areas
On the Skyward Airspace Map, Prohibited Areas (usually for national security or critical infrastructure) and Restricted Areas (usually over hazardous areas like artillery ranges) are shown as red shapes. Don’t fly within a Prohibited or Restricted area without explicit permission.
In Skyward, you can click on the area to get its name and more information.
Unlike TFRs, Prohibited and Restricted areas are more permanent. While it may be possible for more advanced aviators to get permission to fly in these areas, less experienced drone pilots should avoid flying in these areas.
For expert aviators who need to fly in Prohibited or Restricted areas:
Some types of restricted airspace aren’t restricted at all times. Instead, they are activated on a fixed schedule or activated by a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM).
The FAA publishes the schedule for each restricted area. Use the name of the restricted area (e.g., R-6312) to find the restricted area in the FAA list of Special Use Airspace. Time of Designation will tell you if the restricted area is activated continuously, by schedule, or by a NOTAM.
Before scheduling an operation within a restricted area:
- Click on the area to get its name.
- Get the latitude and longitude of the flight area from the Skyward Airspace map.
- Use the name to get the restricted area schedule from the FAA list of Special Use Airspace.
- Check for a NOTAM using the latitude and longitude.
If you aren’t comfortable doing this, get the location of the flight area from the Skyward Airspace Map and call your local Flight Service Station at 1-800-WX-BRIEF.
Do not fly within a restricted area if you are unsure whether or not it is activated.
It may be possible to get permission to fly within a red area from the using or controlling agency. The name of the using and controlling agency can be found in the FAA list of Special Use Airspace.
Click on the area to get the name of the restricted area. In the example above, the large area is R-2906. Get the latitude and longitude of any point within the restricted area.
Use the name of the area (e.g. R-2906) to get information from the FAA list of Special Use Airspace. R-2906 is active 0800-2400 local time, everyday and at other times by a NOTAM.