Alert areas
Alert areas flag high training volume or unusual activity; everyone shares responsibility for see-and-avoid.
An alert area is special-use airspace established to inform pilots of a specific area where a high volume of pilot training or an unusual type of aeronautical activity takes place. Examples include concentrations of flight-training around a busy general-aviation field, glider operations, or parachute jumping zones.
The defining principle of an alert area is shared responsibility: there are no special entry requirements, and all pilots — both those operating in the area and those transiting it — are equally responsible for collision avoidance. Flying through an alert area is perfectly legal, but you should do so with heightened vigilance.
Alert areas are charted with a magenta hatched boundary and an "A-" designator (e.g. A-211), with a note describing the activity (such as "high volume of pilot training"). Unlike restricted areas, they aren't "hot or cold" — the activity is generally ongoing, so treat the area as busy whenever you're near it.
Practical airmanship in an alert area:
- Clear thoroughly and keep a continuous visual scan.
- Use landing/recognition lights and consider VFR flight following.
- Monitor the appropriate CTAF or approach frequency to build a picture of nearby traffic.
- If parachute or glider activity is noted, give the drop zone or gliderport a wide margin.
*Reference and training only. Consult current charts and the FAA AIM.*