a. Airspace within the NAS has become a critical national resource. Increasing numbers of users are making greater demands on existing airspace. This requires more controls to be imposed by the FAA and the manager of the NAS, more cooperation between users, and more effective and efficient utilization of the airspace.
b. It is Army policy that commanders ensure that assigned special use airspace (SUA) is used efficiently, effectively, and properly. In this regard--
(1) An activity that is considered hazardous to nonparticipating aircraft, or requires SUA to segregate it from other users of the NAS, will not be conducted until such airspace has been designated by FAA or otherwise arranged for by the DA air traffic and airspace (AT&A) manager, the DARR, or other appropriate Army authority.
(2) Commanders will carefully consider each new requirement for airspace to determine if the activity can be conducted in existing SUA areas before submitting proposals for additional airspace.
(3) Army SUA will be designated joint use with an FAA ATC facility except when it is not in the best interest of national defense or security, or when it detracts from the Army's ability to accomplish its mission. The Army must be prepared to justify its position for not permitting joint use. Commanders will promptly release joint use SUA to the controlling agency when it is not being used in accordance with the purpose for which it was designated.Note: When a restricted area is designated as joint use, the using agency will ensure that the time of designation for that restricted area, as stated in FAA Order 7400.6, accurately describes the time of use.
(4) Army using agencies will permit shared use of SUA by other DOD agencies or other NAS users when such use is in keeping with the purpose for which the SUA was designated and when it will not detract from the using agency's ability to accomplish its mission. Letters of agreement (LOAs) will be developed between the using agency and the shared user as to how this is accomplished.
(5) Commanders will review at least once each year their requirements for SUA. If necessary, they will take action to change their currently designated SUA to accommodate existing requirements. The appropriate DARR will be apprised of the results of the review.