A little MOA discussion…a MOA is airspace where military aircraft can fly in a manner that limits their ability to see and avoid. There is no prohibition, but caution should be advised.
So, you can always clarify the situation going on inside a MOA with ARTCC. However, ARTCC does not blindly hand over control, they still know what type aircraft are operating and are still ultimately responsible for what goes on in the MOA. Usually a military entity will control their own aircraft in the MOA (via a UHF frequency), so you’ll not be able to talk directly to the military controllers (usually). An ARTCC usually is the controlling agency for a MOA (See a VFR Sectional legend for specific MOA’s), but they pass off this control to the military controllers when the MOA’s are active.
You will not be cleared to enter an active MOA (Military Operations Area) while operating IFR in an “N” register aircraft. You must make the request as ATC cannot recommend it to you. It allows you to get out of their way so they can focus on the airplanes slugging it out in the congestion. Again, just like VFR flight following, the controller will probably be pleased that you asked for this clearance. This method can get you out of congested airspace quickly. If you don’t want to cancel IFR for the whole flight, but have VFR weather during the climb, you can be on an IFR clearance and request the climb portions of the flight under VFR. In this case going from IFR to VFR advisories saved me about 10 minutes travel time and a few headaches. I kept my same squak turned the airplane directly to LFK and had a super flight. He seemed really relieved when I requested to “Cancel IFR and proceed with VFR flight following”. That is a horrible clearance to fly (not to mention input into the Garmin 530), but I understood that the controller was hamstrung in making it any easier for me under IFR. Much to my chagrin, the clearance was, “Cleared to LFK via DIRECT Centex VOR, 040 degree radial to the 56DME fix, Leona VOR, Direct LFK”. I took off under VFR from 3R9 and picked up my IFR clearance at about 2000 ft during climb out. I just landed in Lufkin (LFK) on a flight from Lakeway Airport (3R9). For the VFR aircraft (that’s you if you had cancelled IFR to obtain advisories), ATC would have provided “advisories” of the IFR aircraft’s position and possibly a heading or altitude suggestion only. Ever notice that ATC will advise you of other nearby IFR traffic, but, even if you announce that you see the traffic, ATC will not allow you to descend (for example) until that traffic is beyond the prescribed buffer space? Had this traffic been VFR, upon receiving a “traffic in sight” call from both aircraft, the IFR aircraft would have received a clearance to descend along with a directive to “maintain visual separation”. When an aircraft is flying VFR, it provides the the controller more ability to maneuver you. While VFR advisories are provided at the pleasure and availability of the ATC controller, most controllers want to talk to VFR aircraft flying their sector, so most will accept requests for VFR advisory service.
ATC exists primarily for IFR traffic, and they must provide a buffer of space (5 mile lateral/ 1000′ vertical) around IFR traffic from other IFR traffic. Most pilots are slow to switch from IFR to VFR, but it is a real possibility, and it won’t offend ATC. Obviously, you must have VFR conditions for the remainder of your flight, but that is often the case. How can a pilot handle the situation in a professional manner so he gets what he wants, but also doesn’t put the controller in a bad position? Here’s some options that might help: Cancel IFR and get VFR flight following I’ve been flying to South Texas from East Texas a lot lately the heavy traffic going from the DFW area to the Houston area in the middle teen altitudes slows my climb and the MOA’s around San Antonio get in the way frequently. Ever had one of those IFR flights where ATC vectored you all over in complex airspace, wouldn’t let you climb or descend in a timely fashion, or vectored you around a MOA that is bigger than most New England States? I’ve had a bunch of them over the years, and several recently.
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