Reading sectional for Special use airspace

codejoy · May 8, 2019

I have my b4ufly app, and it says entire towns near me not to fly. Though I double check the sectionals and it is special use defined by the following codes:

R-5109A
R-5017F
R-5107G

But other R- numbers are on sectionals but not the above ones?

The areas are on here:

https://aeronav.faa.gov/content/aeronav/sectional_files/PDFs/Albuquerque_103_P.pdf

over the cities of Alamogordo NM and Ruidoso NM.

Is there somewhere I can go and read up on these to find out if I can fly or not, I thought the sectionals were supposed to provide additional information but it seemed difficult to discern if there was a time I could fly in these zones. Any help on cracking this would be awesome.

BigAl07 · May 8, 2019

You would probably do well to go to your local Flight School and sign up for an hour of instruction specifically on interpreting the sectionals in your area. Once it "clicks" it gets a lot easier but even after years of reading them I still get stumped more often than I care to admit

Welcome to the forum.

Fred Garvin · May 8, 2019

Many times you can Google the restriction code.....like 5109A pertains to White Sands Missile Range.

R Martin · May 9, 2019

codejoy said:
I have my b4ufly app, and it says entire towns near me not to fly. Though I double check the sectionals and it is special use defined by the following codes:

R-5109A
R-5017F
R-5107G

over the cities of Alamogordo NM and Ruidoso NM.

Is there somewhere I can go and read up on these to find out if I can fly or not, I thought the sectionals were supposed to provide additional information but it seemed difficult to discern if there was a time I could fly in these zones. Any help on cracking this would be awesome.

First off, do not rely on an app to give you accurate information. That is the reason the FAA publishes sectional charts and other navigation aids. They are the source for aeronautical information. The rest are unreliable. That is the reason the FAA placed so much emphasis on learning to read a sectional chart and it was on the test numerous times.
Ruidoso falls under the Beak B MOA. Alamogordo proper is either Class D or Class E airspace unless you stray farther east which falls under another MOA or farther west which falls under restricted airspace (White Sands complex). Like @BigAl07 suggested, sign up for some instruction and learn to read the charts.

LUIS MARTINEZ · May 9, 2019

R Martin said:
First off, do not rely on an app to give you accurate information. That is the reason the FAA publishes sectional charts and other navigation aids. They are the source for aeronautical information. The rest are unreliable. That is the reason the FAA placed so much emphasis on learning to read a sectional chart and it was on the test numerous times.
Ruidoso falls under the Beak B MOA. Alamogordo proper is either Class D or Class E airspace unless you stray farther east which falls under another MOA or farther west which falls under restricted airspace (White Sands complex). Like @BigAl07 suggested, sign up for some instruction and learn to read the charts.

Double thumbs up! Gotta learn Sectionals to operate safely in the aviation business. This may help.

https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/digital_products/aero_guide/media/editions/cug-complete.pdf

codejoy · May 9, 2019

R Martin said:
First off, do not rely on an app to give you accurate information. That is the reason the FAA publishes sectional charts and other navigation aids. They are the source for aeronautical information. The rest are unreliable. That is the reason the FAA placed so much emphasis on learning to read a sectional chart and it was on the test numerous times.
Ruidoso falls under the Beak B MOA. Alamogordo proper is either Class D or Class E airspace unless you stray farther east which falls under another MOA or farther west which falls under restricted airspace (White Sands complex). Like @BigAl07 suggested, sign up for some instruction and learn to read the charts.

I thought the b4ufly app was published by the FAA? It seemed like the app contradicted the sectionals. Reading the sectionals isn't too difficult, though I don't do it enough to make it second nature. I was pretty stumped since there was no notes on the above flight areas that I saw and googling the areas gave me general but no specifics (I thought R was restricted but possibly on schedule which is what I was looking for, I didn't think it was active all the time).

R Martin · May 9, 2019

codejoy said:
I thought the b4ufly app was published by the FAA? It seemed like the app contradicted the sectionals. Reading the sectionals isn't too difficult, though I don't do it enough to make it second nature. I was pretty stumped since there was no notes on the above flight areas that I saw and googling the areas gave me general but no specifics (I thought R was restricted but possibly on schedule which is what I was looking for, I didn't think it was active all the time).

"The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has partnered with Kittyhawk to redevelop B4UFLY, the FAA's first mobile application, to improve the user experience so that recreational drone operators know where they can and cannot fly. " Emphasis added by me. Using a sectional should be second nature. They are the most authoritative source for airspace in the US. You cannot rely on short cuts in aviation.

AH-1G · May 9, 2019

I use skyward, now if you're a recreational flyer you'll have lesser places to fly, unlike having a 107.
@codejoy what town, I'll look at Syward and post Print Screens for you.

Use this, I couldn't open your file.
Also top right;
Layers you can have weather data and other info.

SkyVector: Flight Planning / Aeronautical Charts

Make your Flight Plan at SkyVector.com. SkyVector is a free online flight planner. Flight planning is easy on our large collection of Aeronautical Charts, including Sectional Charts, Approach Plates, IFR Enroute Charts, and Helicopter route charts. Weather data is always current, as are Jet Fuel...

skyvector.com

Another App

UAV Forecast

UAV Forecast combines weather forecasts, visible GPS satellites, and solar flare (Kp) activity, to produce a comprehensive report and forecast of flying conditions for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

www.uavforecast.com

codejoy · May 10, 2019

AH-1G said:
I use skyward, now if you're a recreational flyer you'll have lesser places to fly, unlike having a 107.
@codejoy what town, I'll look at Syward and post Print Screens for you.

Use this, I couldn't open your file.
Also top right;
Layers you can have weather data and other info.

SkyVector: Flight Planning / Aeronautical Charts

Make your Flight Plan at SkyVector.com. SkyVector is a free online flight planner. Flight planning is easy on our large collection of Aeronautical Charts, including Sectional Charts, Approach Plates, IFR Enroute Charts, and Helicopter route charts. Weather data is always current, as are Jet Fuel...

skyvector.com

Another App

UAV Forecast

UAV Forecast combines weather forecasts, visible GPS satellites, and solar flare (Kp) activity, to produce a comprehensive report and forecast of flying conditions for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

www.uavforecast.com

Okay I do have a 107, and the towns are Ruidoso, NM and Alamogordo, NM.

I needt o check out Skyward!

LUIS MARTINEZ · May 10, 2019

codejoy said:
Okay I do have a 107, and the towns are Ruidoso, NM and Alamogordo, NM.

I needt o check out Skyward!

Where's R-5109A? I need new glasses!

codejoy · May 10, 2019

LUIS MARTINEZ said:
Where's R-5109A? I need new glasses!

That was near my work, up on a mountain a bit south and east of alamogordo, the b4uflyapp said that one when there, and I couldn't see the restriction anywhere on the sectional. See attached with the red dot.

AH-1G · May 10, 2019

@codejoy
Looks like you're good to go to fly.
If you are flying at Alamogord, I wouldn't venture farther west.
Stay east of HWY 54.
Also there is a ATC

AH-1G · May 10, 2019

@codejoy

LUIS MARTINEZ · May 10, 2019

codejoy said:
That was near my work, up on a mountain a bit south and east of alamogordo, the b4uflyapp said that one when there, and I couldn't see the restriction anywhere on the sectional. See attached with the red dot.

OK, thanks, thought my eyes were going stupid. I couldn't see it on the sectional because it doesn't exist. In aviation, sectionals trump apps. In my 5 years in UAS business I have never even downloaded the b4uwhatever app. Too old to change I guess

Earnest Ward · May 11, 2019

Supplement your use of the Sectional with the UASFM. (See attached.) While the UASFM is not (currently) included in the 107 written, it is an invaluable tool for UAS pilots as (unlike the Sectional) it can be zoomed all the way in to street level and is designed specifically for operations at or below 400' AGL. In fact, if you apply for a airspace authorization your COA will almost certainly require that you check the UASFM prior to flight ops. (BTW, with 12 options you can even change the base map if you don't like their default choice.)

rvrrat14 · May 11, 2019

I use the FAA Flight Service portal. It has a new interactive map and all the sectionals are on it. They used to have individual sectionals posted, now it appears the map took their place. Very good cause you can zoom in with a mobile device and it re-focuses! You can build your own dashboard and store your local airports for weather, etc. It has a UAS specific section as well.