Navy Request Expansion Of Three Areas For Weapons Training
The FAA has published an NPRM in the Federal Register seeking
comments on proposed changes to three restricted areas in central
Florida. Under the proposal, the lateral and vertical limits of
restricted areas R–2907A and R–2907B, Lake George, FL;
and restricted area R–2910, Pinecastle, FL would be expanded.
The U.S. Navy requested this action to provide the additional
airspace needed to contain laser operations and other hazardous
activities and to permit realistic training in current tactics. The
FAA contends that action would enhance the margin of safety for air
traffic in the Lake George and Pinecastle, FL, areas.
According to the NPRM, the Pinecastle, FL, and Lake George, FL,
restricted areas have, for many years, satisfied military training
requirements. However, with the introduction of
higher-performance and more versatile, multi-role fighter aircraft,
as well as advanced weapons systems and employment tactics, the
Navy now contends that available airspace at the Pinecastle and
Lake George complexes is inadequate to satisfy training
requirements. In order to fully exploit the capabilities of
today’s fighter/attack aircraft and provide essential
training that replicates the conditions units are encountering
today during wartime deployments, it is necessary to expand the
vertical and areas. The U.S. Navy has proposed that the FAA expand
R.2907A, R.2907B and R.2910 to provide enhanced air-to-ground
weapons delivery tactical training to transform the Pinecastle/
Lake George complex into a modern viable training asset.
The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 73 to realign
and expand the vertical and lateral limits of restricted areas
R.2907A and R.2907B, Lake George, FL, and R.2910, Pinecastle, FL.
This proposal would expand the boundaries of R.2907A westward to
encompass that restricted airspace currently designated as R.
2907B. In addition, the vertical limits in that section would be
raised to FL 230 to match the current R.2907A ceiling.
New restricted airspace would be established immediately to the
north of the newly incorporated section of R. 2907A. This new
restricted area would extend northward from the expanded R. 2907A
boundary to abut the boundary of the southern half of existing
restricted area R.2906, Rodman, FL. The R.2907B designation would
be redescribed to identify this new restricted area. The new
R.2907B would extend from 500 feet MSL up to FL 230. It
should be noted that R.2906 would not be modified in any way by
this proposal.
This proposal would also expand and restructure R.2910. The
current designation, R.2910, would be removed and replaced by four
sections: R.2910A, R.2910B, R.2910C and R.2910D. The new R.2910A
would consist of existing restricted airspace contained in the
current northwest extension of R.2910;
the current R.2910 circular area; and that existing part of R.2910
that extends southeastward from the circular area.
The vertical limits of R.2910A would extend from the surface up
to FL 230. The remaining section of the current R.2910 would be
split into two new subareas, designated R.2910B and R. 2910C,
that would extend from the surface to 6,000 feet mean sea
level (MSL). Setting the ceiling of these two subareas at 6,000
feet MSL would provide airspace to enable nonparticipating aircraft
to circumnavigate the R.2910 complex while remaining outside the
Orlando Class B airspace area. Also, dividing this part of the
restricted area into B and C subareas would permit sections not
needed for the military mission to be released to accommodate air
traffic control requirements.
Additional new restricted airspace would be established within
the airspace that lies between the new R–2910A and the
expanded R–2907A. This new area would be designated
R–2910D. R–2910D would be bounded on the north by
R–2907A; on the south by R– 2910A; on the east by the
current eastern boundary of the Palatka 1 military operations area
(MOA); and on the west by the western boundary of the Palatka 1
MOA.
The deadline for comments on the NPRM is February 7, 2011.
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