Can Student Pilots Fly Through Military Airspace?

Can Student Pilots Fly Through Military Airspace?

Q: I'm a student pilot who has just entered the solo cross-country phase of my training. My home airport is an uncontrolled field near several military bases. One of my flight instructors suggested routing around military airspace rather than flying straight through. Does transiting military airspace require special training or a specific endorsement — or is it simply off-limits to civilians?

A: Unless there is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) or another published restriction in effect over the military base, the airspace there is typically just ordinary controlled airspace — most often Class C or Class D.

Why Do Some Instructors Recommend Going Around?

Flight instructors sometimes advise student pilots to route around military airspace — or any controlled airspace — rather than fly directly through it, and the reasoning often comes down to building flight time. During the training phase, every minute in the air counts.

The downside of this approach, however, is that it can create a misconception — leading students to believe that transiting controlled airspace is somehow legally restricted or that obtaining a clearance is a complicated process. In most situations, neither is true.

How the Process Actually Works

Transiting airspace over a military base works essentially the same way as transiting any other Class D or Class C airspace: the pilot simply contacts the tower and requests a transit clearance, using the same procedures as at a civilian airport.

• If the controller denies the request and asks you to stay clear of the airspace, comply and route around it.
• If the clearance is granted, expect altitude restrictions (for example, "Maintain at or above 2,100 feet") and possibly an assigned squawk code if one has not already been issued.

Is Special Training Required?

Strictly speaking, no special training or endorsement is required. That said, transiting military airspace can be a particularly memorable experience — especially when the flight has a personal dimension.

One of my students had just been accepted to the United States Air Force Academy with dreams of flying the C-17 Globemaster III. As we flew over Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, Washington, I asked the controller if we could make a couple of orbits over the field, explaining that I had a soon-to-be Air Force cadet on board who wanted a closer look at the aircraft he hoped to one day fly.

The request was approved. When we called ready to depart the area, the controller handed us off to the next frequency and signed off with:

"See you in four years, son."

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