Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 53 - Establishment of Warning Areas in the Airspace Overlying the Waters Between 3 and 12 Nautical Miles From the United States Coast

1. Applicability. This rule establishes warning areas in the same location as nonregulatory warning areas previously designated over international waters. This special regulation does not affect the validity of any nonregulatory warning area which is designated over international waters beyond 12 nautical miles from the coast of the United States. This special regulation expires on January 15, 1996.

2. Definition—Warning area. A warning area established under this special rule is airspace of defined dimensions, extending from 3 to 12 nautical miles from the coast of the United States, that contains activity which may be hazardous to nonparticipating aircraft. The purpose of such warning areas is to warn nonparticipating pilots of the potential danger. Part 91 is applicable within the airspace designated under this special rule.

Non-regulatory warning area. A non-regulatory warning area is airspace of defined dimensions designated over international waters that contains activity which may be hazardous to nonparticipating aircraft. The purpose of such warning areas is to warn nonparticipating pilots of the potential danger.

3. Participating aircraft. Each person conducting an aircraft operation within a warning area designated under this special rule and operating with the approval of the using agency may deviate from the rules of part 91, subpart B, to the extent that the rules are not compatible with approved operations.

4. Nonparticipating aircraft. Nonparticipating pilots, while not excluded from the warning areas established by this SFAR, are on notice that military activity, which may be hazardous to nonparticipating aircraft, is conducted in these areas.