DC ADIZ Regulations and Requirements Quiz

Separation Responsibilities in Controlled Airspace

• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for separating civilian and military aircraft in the United States' controlled airspace.
• The FAA divides the country's airspace into 24 areas and assigns aircraft separation responsibility to 24 Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs).
• ARTCC personnel are ultimately responsible for separating all Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) and participating Visual Flight Rules (VFR) aircraft within controlled airspace.
• Non-participating aircraft or those operating in uncontrolled airspace are not provided separation services.
• ARTCCs primarily manage aircraft movement between airports.
• In congested areas, local Air Traffic Control (ATC) facilities might take over separation responsibility for aircraft near the airport.
• Safety and efficiency are considered when assigning separation duties to the smaller facility. This decision results from a study of the local airspace and traffic structure.
• Agreements are formally documented through letters of agreement (LOAs). These clarify airspace boundaries, procedures, and routes for transfers between facilities.

Military Use of Civilian Airspace

• Department of Defense (DOD) air traffic controllers use separate procedures.
• DOD procedures generally adhere to FAA handbooks but may permit less flexibility.
• The FAA and DOD have agreed on procedures for when an FAA and a military ATC facility support the same airspace.
• If an FAA facility manages separation at a civilian airport, FAA separation rules apply to both civilian and military aircraft operating there.
• If a military facility manages separation at a military airport, military procedures are applied to military and civilian aircraft.
• When an FAA facility supports a military base exclusively, military separation rules apply to all aircraft operating there.
• Training exercises outside restricted areas, often requiring reduced separation, might need permission for a designated airspace block (MARSA) where military control is assumed.

Air Defense Identification Zones (ADIZs)

• Air Defense Identification Zones (ADIZs) are zones surrounding the US, used for early detection and possible interception of unidentified aircraft.
• FAA controllers are notified of MARSA airspace to reroute civilian IFR aircraft. VFR aircraft can operate in MARSA airspace if weather conditions are maintained.
• Pilots entering an ADIZ need to file a flight plan and follow specific procedures.
• Pilots are responsible for maintaining visual separation from military aircraft in ADIZs; military pilots are responsible for similar separation with civilian aircraft.

Air Traffic Control Procedures

• Air traffic controllers must use procedures found in the FAA's Air Traffic Control Handbook. This handbook borrows guidelines from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
• DOD air traffic controllers have alternative procedures that can differ from FAA procedures, depending on the location.

Delegation of Responsibility

• The FAA is responsible for separating every aircraft in the country's air traffic control system operating under flight rules (IFR).
• The FAA delegates responsibility to 22 air route traffic control centers (ARTCCs).
• The geographic regions covered by the centers are described.

Preferential Routes and Approval Requests

• The FAA has established preferential routes and altitudes to enhance traffic flow.
• Letters of agreement specify procedures to ensure safety and efficiency during transitions between sectors.
• If exceptional circumstances arise, controllers may request approval to deviate from the established procedures. This is documented as an "approval request" (APPREQ).

Controller Duties

• ARTCC sectors have controllers assigned for aircraft separation within their geographic areas.
• A Flight Data Controller supports other controllers, providing flight information.
• Radar controllers manage aircraft separation using radar-based displays
• Non-radar controllers support radar controllers in managing aircraft that are not on the radar display.

Local Control and Approach/Departure Control

• Local controllers manage aircraft operations and traffic flow within airport traffic areas and on active runways.
• Approach/Departure Controllers (typically housed in separate facilities like TRACONs) maintain traffic flow in more complex airspace around airports. They are responsible for inbound and outbound traffic. They may also be part of larger regional centers.