Military Flight Restrictions

[Don Zweifel <zweifel@chapman.edu>]

In response to the statement that, "The military can fly at whatever
altitude, speed or time of day/evening they want to."

All military flights within the US must comply with Federal Aviation
Regulations (FARs). No entity is exempt from these rules. The exceptions
are stipulated at the end of this document.

International aviation regulations also set designated altitudes beyond
the continental confines of the US. Violating these guidelines would be
tantamount to courting disaster (generally referring to flights below
48,000'AGL [above ground level]).

The military may not fly at any altitude it selects unless FAA regional 
air traffic controllers concur with their request. Safety is always most
paramount, if it weren't there would be chaos in the skies. 

All aircraft are required to fly at specified altitudes and within certain
airspeed parameters (and most must automatically "squawk" or transmit with
transponders, their aircraft registration or flight number and the
altitude at which they're flying at) depending on the type of aircraft 
i.e., reciprocating, turbo-prop or turbo-jet and whether it is general, 
commercial aviation or military. 

The exception is within designated "restricted or certain "warning"
airspace zones or during a declaration of national emergency and/or
mobilization (probably DEFCON [defense condition] ONE or TWO referencing
"general warfare" and "war imminent" respectively).

These zones are often above large military reservations or off-shore,
e.g., over San Clemente Island (100 miles west of San Diego, Ca.)

 Don Zweifel