Can drones fly in a Military Operations Area (MOA)?
Yes. 14 CFR 107.45 requires permission in prohibited and restricted areas, and a MOA is neither: it is nonregulatory special use airspace. Still, the AIM tells VFR pilots to use extreme caution when military training is under way, so check the MOA status before you fly.
The AIM says examples of activity in MOAs include air combat tactics, air intercepts, aerobatics, formation training and low-altitude tactics. Military pilots in an active MOA are exempt from the aerobatic flight prohibition in 14 CFR 91.303(c) and (d), and the Department of Defense has an authorization to operate at indicated airspeeds above 250 knots below 10,000 feet MSL within active MOAs. That is why a legal flight can still be hazardous.
The activity status of a MOA may change frequently. The AIM says pilots should contact any Flight Service Station within 100 miles for real-time information, and contact the controlling agency before entering an active MOA. On the chart, permanent MOAs are shown on the Sectional, and the tabulation on the chart border lists each MOA alphabetically with its altitude, time of use and controlling agency. A NOTAM is not issued for permanently listed times of use.
Temporary MOAs are not charted, so the AIM tells pilots to review the Domestic Notices on the Federal NOTAM System. Restricted areas differ: they are regulatory airspace under 14 CFR part 73 and 107.45 applies. Our sectional chart page shows how to find special use airspace on the chart.
§ 107.45 Operation in prohibited or restricted areas.
No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft in prohibited or restricted areas unless that person has permission from the using or controlling agency, as appropriate.
AIM 3-4-1, Special Use Airspace General
Prohibited and restricted areas are regulatory special use airspace and are established in 14 CFR part 73 through the rulemaking process. Warning areas, MOAs, alert areas, CFAs, and national security areas (NSA) are nonregulatory special use airspace.
AIM 3-4-5, Military Operations Areas
MOAs consist of airspace of defined vertical and lateral limits established for the purpose of separating certain military training activities from IFR traffic.
AIM 3-4-5, Military Operations Areas
Pilots operating under VFR should exercise extreme caution while flying within a MOA when military activity is being conducted.
Chart Users' Guide, Chart Tabulations
A tabulation of Alert Areas (listed numerically) and Military Operations Areas (MOA) (listed alphabetically) appear on the chart in magenta. All are supplemented with altitude, time of use and the controlling agency/ contact facility, and its frequency when available.
A MOA is not a restricted area: 14 CFR 107.45 names only prohibited and restricted areas, and the AIM lists MOAs as nonregulatory special use airspace.
No permission needed does not mean no hazard: military aircraft in an active MOA may fly aerobatics and exceed 250 knots below 10,000 feet MSL.
Temporary MOAs are not charted, and the activity status of a charted MOA may change frequently.
A NOTAM is not issued to announce permanently listed times of use, so read the chart tabulation and ask Flight Service for the live status.
Quick quiz: 3 questions
Similar to the FAA test, not the actual test questions. Each answer shows its FAA source.
Question 1 of 3
What hazards to aircraft may exist in areas such as Devils Lake East MOA?
A Unusual, often invisible, hazards to aircraft such as artillery firing, aerial gunnery, or guided missiles.
B High volume of pilot training or an unusual type of aerial activity.
C Military training activities that necessitate acrobatic or abrupt flight maneuvers.
Show the answer
Answer: C. Military training activities that necessitate acrobatic or abrupt flight maneuvers.
Military Operations Areas (MOA) are designed to delineate the areas where high volumes of military training are taking place. While it is legal to fly your UAS in MOAs without approval, you should exercise extreme caution.
Refer to the chart excerpt. What is WALKER MOA, and what does it mean for a remote pilot?
Tap the figure to open it full size.
A It is Class D airspace; a small UA needs ATC authorization to operate there.
B It is a military operations area; VFR flight is not prohibited, but pilots should use extreme caution when military activity is under way.
C It is a restricted area; a small UA may not operate there without permission from the controlling agency.
Show the answer
Answer: B. It is a military operations area; VFR flight is not prohibited, but pilots should use extreme caution when military activity is under way.
A MOA is airspace set aside to separate certain military training from IFR traffic. VFR operations are not prohibited, but pilots should exercise extreme caution when military activity is being conducted, and can check whether the MOA is active through Flight Service. Part 107 does not bar UA flight in a MOA (14 CFR 107.45 covers only prohibited and restricted areas). Walker MOA reaches down to the surface (up to 3,000 feet MSL), so low-flying UA are inside it.
You have been hired by a farmer to use your small UA to inspect his crops. The area that you are to survey is in the Devil's Lake West MOA, east of area How would you find out if the MOA is active?
Tap the figure to open it full size.
A Refer to the legend for special use airspace phone number.
B This information is available in the Small UAS database.
C Refer to the Military Operations Directory.
Show the answer
Answer: A. Refer to the legend for special use airspace phone number.
Details about MOAs (Military Operations Areas) and other special use airspace can be found on the edge of the Sectional Chart.
The AIM says to contact any Flight Service Station within 100 miles of the area for real-time information. The chart border tabulation gives the MOA altitude, time of use and controlling agency.
No. Restricted areas are regulatory, established in 14 CFR part 73, and denote unusual, often invisible hazards such as artillery firing. A MOA is nonregulatory and exists to separate military training from IFR traffic.
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