⚖ Airspace · § 73.83, FAA AIM Chapter 3AIR-015 · 65 of 261

What defines a Prohibited Area in the National Airspace System?

AAirspace above military facilities where pilots must call ahead before entry.

BAirspace where flight by any aircraft, including sUAS, is prohibited for national security or welfare reasons.✓

CAirspace temporarily closed due to a VIP movement or special event.

Why →Prohibited Areas (designated "P" followed by a number, e.g., P-56 over the White House) are established for national security or public welfare. No aircraft, manned or unmanned, may enter without specific authorization. They are permanent features on sectional charts, unlike TFRs, which are temporary.

The trap →TFRs cover VIP movements and temporary events, not Prohibited Areas. Military facilities are typically MOAs or Restricted Areas with different access rules. Prohibited Areas are the strictest permanent restriction in the NAS.

Field note →The best-known are P-56A and P-56B over the White House and Naval Observatory. Any drone flight within the Washington D.C. SFRA requires specific FAA authorization, and it is one of the most-enforced areas in the country.

SOURCE → 14 CFR § 73.83, FAA AIM Chapter 3CHECKED JUL 16ACS II.A.K3EASY

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