Under what condition can you fly through a restricted area?

The correct answer involves obtaining authorization from the controlling agency before flying through a restricted area. Restricted areas are designated airspace where certain limitations apply due to hazards to flight or to protect national security. Access to these areas is tightly controlled to ensure safety and security.

Obtaining authorization is crucial because it allows pilots to receive real-time information about the airspace, which could include active military operations, hazard activities, or other circumstances that make the area unsafe for general aviation. The controlling agency—typically a military authority—will be able to provide the necessary clearances and conditions for safe passage through the restricted space.

Other choices can be misleading. Yielding to ATC requests doesn’t inherently entitle a pilot to fly through a restricted area without proper authorization. Predetermined times might suggest that there are moments when access is allowed, but no such blanket allowance exists without the necessary clearance. Prior notice may be a protocol for some areas, but it does not substitute for the requirement of formal authorization from the appropriate agency.

Understanding these stipulations helps foster compliance with federal aviation regulations and enhances safety in both civilian and restricted airspaces.