Legal Interpretations
Davis 2010
Summary
The Question
Is a clearance required to fly VFR through a restricted area that the controlling or using agency has determined is "cold"?
Background
A requester asked three questions about VFR flight through a "cold" restricted area under 14 CFR part 73, understood as one not designated as restricted at the time and altitudes of the planned flight.
The FAA’s Interpretation
No. Under 14 CFR 73.13, advance permission is required only between the designated altitudes and during the time of designation. When the controlling or using agency has determined the area is cold, VFR aircraft may enter and transit it without a clearance. If ATC, as the controlling or using agency, says the area is cold, that statement is not itself a clearance, permission, or authorization (14 CFR 91.133).
- Requester
- Davis
- Issued
- November 23, 2010
- Subject
- General Operating & Flight Rules
Regulations Cited
Page 1
U.S. Deportment
of Transportation
Federal Aviation
Administration
NOV 2 3 2010
Alan C. Davis
Dear Mr. Davis:
Office of the Chief Counsel 800 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20591
This responds to your letter of July 7, 20 l 0, requesting guidance concerning airspace that is described and designated in 14 CFR Part 73 as a restricted area. You provided excerpts from email strings and comments as background material. We are answering the three specific questions you asked about a "cold" restricted area and VFR flight. We believe that when you refer to a "cold" restricted area you mean that the restricted area is not designated as a restricted area during the time, and between the designated altitudes, when you wish to operate VFR.
Subpart B of Part 73 designates restricted areas and prescribes limitations on the operation of aircraft within them. Section 73.13 states:
73. l 3 Restrictions.
No person may operate an aircraft within a restricted area between the designated altitudes and during the time of designation, unless he has the advance permission of
(a) The using agency described in §73.15; or
(b) The controlling agency described in §73.17.
Question 1. ls a clearance required to fly VFR through a "cold" restricted area? Answer 1. A clearance is not required to operate VFR through a restricted area when the controlling or using agency, as applicable, has made a determination that the restricted area is "cold".
Question 2. If a clearance is required to fly VFR through a "cold" restricted area, who would provide it?
Since the answer to question 1 was no, an answer·to question 2 is not necessary.
Page 2
Question 3. Is the statement by ATC that the restricted area is "cold," in fact, a tacit clearance/permission/authorization to fly through that airspace?
To answer your question we assume that ATC is the controlling or using agency, as appropriate for the restricted area, and that ATC has communicated to the VFR operator that the restricted area is "cold". In those circumstances, the VFR operator may legally enter and transit the restricted area. However, the ATC communication is not an air traffic control clearance, permission, or authorization to operate VFR in the airspace. See, §73.13 and 14 CFR §91.133.
This response was prepared by Cecile O'Connor, an attorney in the Regulations Division, and has been coordinated with the Airspace, Regulations and ATC Procedures Group, AJV-11. We hope this response is helpful to you. If you have additional questions regarding this matter, please contact us at (202) 267-3073.
Sincerely,
~:t.=.'J!~-
Assistant Chief Counsel for Regulations, AGC-200
Regulations Referenced
Snapshot retrieved August 6, 2026.