1. PURPOSE:

This Letter of Agreement (LOA) establishes operating procedures for R-2508 Complex between Los Angles ARTCC (Center), the vUSAF Air Force Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC) at Edwards AFB and the vUSN at China Lake NAWS. This LOA will be for providing control services in the R-2508 Complex to include Edwards AFB and China Lake NAWS.

2. SCOPE:

These procedures apply to all VFR/IFR aircraft entering or exiting the R-2508 Complex to include Edwards AFB, China Lake NAWS, all local MOAs, air refueling routes and military training routes (MTRs).

3. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Offices of Primary Responsibility (OPR) for this LOA are the ZLA Advisory Board (FAB), the vUSAF 81st TW (ATC) and the vUSN ATC Operations Center.

Joshua Approach provides service for the R-2508 Complex which is comprised of Restricted Areas 2502N/E and 2508 along with the following MOA’s: Deep Springs, Saline, Owens, Isabella, Panamint, Shoshone, South Shoshone, Barstow East and West and Buckhorn to include the overlying air traffic control assigned airspace (ATCAA) and from surface to unlimited. Sport Control provides service within R-2515 and China Control provides service within R-2505, 2506 and 2524. Edwards Tower provides Class D service within a 8 NM radius, surface to 4800’ MSL and China Lake Tower provides Class D service within a 5 NM radius from surface to 4800’ MSL.

4. DISTRIBUTION:

This LOA is intended for use by ZLA and controllers of the vUSAF staffing Edwards AFB and the vUSN staffing China Lake NAWS.

5. BACKGROUND:

This LOA has been developed and shall be maintained to establish flight management procedures for vUSAF and vUSN operations, so that ZLA ARTCC ATC staff and pilots of the vUSAF and vUSN can expect consistent ATC support within the ARTCC. The procedures set forth in this LOA shall be disseminated to vUSAF and vUSN command staff, pilots and the ZLA ARTCC ATC Staff and controller roster.

6. POLICIES:

1. Facilities.

1. Facilities will be of two types: "joint civil/military" and "military-only", as listed in section 7. ZLA controllers, vUSAF and vUSN military controllers, who are certified as outlined in section 6 (b) shall be authorized to man "joint" facilities. ZLA controllers shall not be authorized to man "military-only" facilities.

2. vUSAF and vUSN military controllers are not authorized to man any ATC positions other than those listed in section 7, unless they become certified visiting controllers as provided by ZLA-007.

3. vUSAF and vUSN controllers shall use certified ZLA ARTCC sector files as available on the ZLA ARTCC web site, or may use other sector files, only if they have been reviewed and certified by the ZLA ARTCC Facility Engineer. Currently the following non-ZLA files have been reviewed and certified:

1. None.

2. Certification and Enforcement - vUSAF and vUSN military controllers

1. vUSAF and vUSN controllers shall be considered a unique class of visiting controller. They shall not be required to comply with the ZLA ARTCC visiting controller policy (ZLA-007). They shall instead be subject to provisions contained solely in this LOA. This shall be referred to as "military controller privileges".

2. vUSAF and vUSN military controllers must meet published VSOA military certification requirements for the position manned. If no applicable VSOA military certification requirements are published, the following shall be applied:

1. Must hold a C-1 grade or higher to work an Approach Control position. Personnel at grades S-3 or lower can only work Tower or lower positions.

3. For the vUSAF, the Air Traffic Control Center Commander will provide an e-mail list of the approved controllers to the Assistant Chief for posting on the ZLA Guest Controller roster.

4. For the vUSN, the ATC Operations Center will provide an e-mail list of the approved controllers to the Assistant Chief for posting on the ZLA Guest Controller roster.

5. The ZLA shift supervisor shall use the Guest Controller roster as posted on the ZLA web site for verification of certification. vUSAF and vUSN military Controllers not listed in this roster may be asked to leave the position.

6. vUSAF and vUSN military controllers must strictly adhere to all aspects of this LOA. The ZLA shift supervisor shall be authorized to remove any vUSAF and vUSN military controller who fails to demonstrate detailed familiarity with the provisions of this LOA.

3. Certification and Enforcement - ZLA controllers

1. ZLA controllers must meet standard ZLA ARTCC facility certification rules outlined in ZLA-GEN when operating joint civil/military positions.

2. When ZLA ARTCC controllers are working at positions subordinate to a vUSAF or vUSN controller (Ex: ZLA controller on EDW_GND, vUSAF controller on EDW_TWR), the vUSAF or vUSN controller may request removal of the ZLA controller from the ZLA ARTCC shift supervisor if the ZLA ARTCC controller fails to demonstrate detailed familiarity with the provisions of this LOA.

4. Airspeeds in the Complex.

1. It is recognized that certain training operations and training aircraft require high speeds. Military training aircraft on MTRs may exceed 250 knots below 10,000' MSL if required.

2. B-1B, B-52H, KC-10 and KC-135 aircraft may exceed 250 knots below 10,000' MSL within the R-2508 Complex airspace during formation departures to expedite formation join-up.

5. Flight Plans.

1. All aircraft departing any Air Force Base or Naval Station will file a flight plan in accordance with vUSAF or vUSN policy.

2. ATC will verify all “no flight plan” aircraft operations via the aircraft commander prior to granting engine start approval or landing clearance, unless an emergency exists.

3. Aircraft will also state in their flight plan which area they will be working in.

7. AUTHORIZED MILITARY FACILITIES:

1. vUSAF- The following facilities are designated as joint-use civil/military facilities, with the associated authorized positions. These positions may be manned by properly certified vUSAF military or ZLA controllers:

2. vUSN- The following facilities are designated as joint-use civil/military facilities, with the associated authorized positions. These positions may be manned by properly certified vUSN military or ZLA controllers:

8. STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES:

1. General

1. vUSAF and vUSN military controllers shall comply with the following ZLA SOPs:

1. Joshua Approach ZLA-550

2. vUSAF and vUSN controllers shall comply with all provisions of ZLA ARTCC ZLA-802, IFR Release.

3. vUSAF and vUSN controllers shall comply with all provisions of ZLA ARTCC ZLA-003, Requirements for Controller ATIS.

4. vUSAF and vUSN controllers shall comply with all provisions of ZLA ARTCC ZLA-IFR, Issuing IFR Clearances.

2. Specific Flight Procedures

These specific procedures apply to military aircraft and other authorized flight activities that operate within R-2508, MOAs, ATCAAs, and internal restricted areas as participating aircraft.

1. All aircraft within R-2508, MOAs, or ATCAAs shall operate VFR.

2. Scheduling or receiving a clearance to operate within the R-2508 Complex does not constitute exclusive use of the area. Those operations requiring exclusive use will normally be conducted within internal restricted areas after prior coordination with all parties.

3. All participating aircraft operating in the R-2508 Complex area are required to have an operational transponder and Mode C, unless otherwise pre-coordinated. The flight lead for standard formation flights shall squawk normal and wingman shall squawk standby. Upon formation breakup, flights will squawk per either established procedures, or as initially assigned.

3. The R-2508 Complex

1. The R-2508 Complex is comprised of Military Operations Areas (MOAs) and Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspace (ATCAAs). In addition to the MOAs, R-2508 extends from FL200 upward to unlimited and is shared-use airspace. Individual restricted areas within the R-2508 Complex include R-2502N, R-2502E, R-2505, R-2506, R-2515, and R-2524. These internal restricted areas have vertical dimensions of surface to unlimited, except for R-2506, which extends from surface to 6,000 feet MSL and are "managed" by individual military agencies.

2. MOAs: The four main MOA work areas—Isabella, Owens, Saline, and Panamint—have a minimum altitude boundary of 200 feet AGL. MOAs DO NOT include airspace below 1,500 feet AGL within 3 miles of any charted airport.

3. ATCAAs: The ATCAAs are used to fill the airspace gap between the top of the MOAs (FL180) and the base of R-2508 (FL200). When R-2508 is not activated, the ATCAAs may extend upward to FL600. ATCAAs are also located above the peripheral MOAs, outside the lateral boundaries of R-2508, to provide additional work areas up to FL600 for segregation of military operations from IFR traffic.

4. Joshua Approach

1. Authorized text callsign and text frequencies are:

1. EDW_APP…124.55

2. Authorized voice callsign is “Joshua Approach”.

3. When manned, EDW_APP shall be delegated the airspace of R-2508 from surface to unlimited to include all other Restricted Areas and MOAs with the exception of when China or Sport Control are active.

4. All flights shall contact JOSHUA prior to R-2508 Complex entry and exit. Initial contact shall include a request for an Area Clearance and altitudes. JOSHUA will issue appropriate Area Clearances to allow flights to operate VFR in the R-2508 Complex and will normally be given in an abbreviated format as follows:

1. SAGE 2: Specifies a clearance to operate within the Isabella, Owens, Saline, and Panamint Areas at and below FL290. Aircraft shall schedule and request (real time with JOSHUA) higher altitudes. Sample Phraseology: "Cleared Sage 2"

2. PANCHO 2: Specifies a clearance to operate within the Isabella, and the Panamint Areas at and below FL500, the Owens and Saline Areas at and below FL290. Edwards aircraft only: Barstow MOA, Barstow East at and below FL230, and Barstow West at and below FL500. Aircraft shall schedule and request (real time with JOSHUA) higher altitudes. Sample Phraseology: "Cleared Pancho 2"

5. Clearances into areas other than the above areas will be issued in addition to the normal Sage 2. However these areas must be requested real time with JOSHUA.

6. Aircraft shall remain on the assigned local altimeter while operating in the R-2508 Complex, regardless of altitude. The altimeter setting to use will be based on the Edwards AFB altimeter setting.

7. Participating aircraft departing the R-2508 Complex shall maintain VFR until crossing the R-2508 Complex boundary.

8. Flight crews are responsible for obtaining an enroute clearance prior to departing Complex boundaries IFR. If departing VFR, advise TRACON.

9. Aircraft entering the and exiting the R-2508 complex shall use the following points:

Note: See attachment 1 for entry/exit map.

10. To assist pilots in avoiding traffic conflicts, a dedicated low-level UHF frequency, rw.avisim.net/315.90 has been established.

11. The procedures for using this frequency are similar to UNICOM in concept and allow aircrews to inform other aircrews of their mission and intentions, and to coordinate and deconflict as necessary.

5. Sport Control (vUSAF)

1. Sport Control authorized callsign and text frequencies are:

1. EDW_S_APP- 132.75.

2. Authorized voice callsign is "Sport Control".

3. When manned, EDW_S_APP shall be delegated the airspace of R-2515 from surface to unlimited with exception of the Edwards AFB airspace.

4. Responsibility is to provide boundary calls, radar traffic, and safety advisories to all participating aircraft within R-2515.

5. EDW_APP shall handle all R-2508 Complex departures on a fixed point-out with EDW_S_APP.

6. R-2508 Complex Entry and Exit. See Joshua Approach section.

7. In R-2515 contains various instrument ranges and special-use areas (spin areas, supersonic corridors, drop zones, etc.). The area is used for a variety of flight test operations that require a high degree of eyes-in-the-cockpit flying.

Layout of R-2515 Airspace

6. China Control (vUSN)

1. China Control authorized callsign and text frequencies are:

1. NID_APP- 120.25.

2. Authorized voice callsign is "China Control".

3. When manned, NID_APP shall be delegated the airspace of following Restricted Areas: R-2505, R-2506 and R-2524 from surface to unlimited with exception of the China Lake Tower airspace.

4. Responsibility is to provide boundary calls, radar traffic, and safety advisories to all participating aircraft.

5. EDW_APP shall handle all R-2508 Complex departures on a fixed point-out with NID_APP.

6. R-2508 Complex Entry and Exit. See Joshua Approach section.

7. Restricted Area R-2505 is restricted from surface to unlimited on a continuous basis and is subdivided into five primary ranges. Located within R-2505 are six bombing ranges, one guided-missile range, and numerous ground ranges and arenas. The six bombing ranges contain instrument targets for air-to-surface, air-to-air, and surface-to-air firings. The target complex in the Coso and Baker Ranges contains targets for air-to-surface bombing and strafing by fleet and development activities.

R-2505 Air-to-Ground Range

7. Edwards AFB (KEDW) (vUSAF)

1. Authorized text callsigns and text frequencies are:

1. EDW_GND...121.80

2. EDW_TWR...120.70

2. Airspace. Edwards Tower has control of the airspace in an 8 statue mile radius from the center of runway 04/22 and from surface to 4800’ MSL.

3. Active Runway. Runway 22 is the calm wind runway. When prevailing winds exceed 10 knots, the runway most nearly aligned with the winds will be designated the active runway.

4. All departures will be VFR. If IMC conditions exist, an IFR clearance will be issued. Pilots can expect radar vector on departure.

1. PANCHO Departure. The PANCHO Departure is for VFR use for Runway 04 and 22.

1. For take-off on Runway 22 aircraft will depart via the EDW 223 radial outbound to intercept the EDW 16 DME arc. Arc north to intercept the RDW 334 radial outbound to CIBIV. Climb and maintain 11,000 or as assigned.

2. For take-off on Runway 04 aircraft will depart via the EDW radial inbound to the EDW VORTAC. Turn left to intercept the EDW 334 radial outbound to CIBIV. Climb and maintain 11,000 or as assigned.

3. If aircraft are to remain in R-2515, once at the EDW334/16 radial DME fix, proceed direct to MITES.

5. Aircraft staying in R-2515 will be handed off to Sport Control. If aircraft are to leave the R-2515 airspace, they will be issued either the PONCHO2 or SAGE2 clearance for R-2508.

6. Recoveries. Aircraft will recover VFR to expedite the flow of traffic into Edwards AFB. If IMC conditions exist, aircraft will be vectored for an instrument approach.

7. VFR Traffic Pattern Procedures. Expect frequency change to Edwards Tower approximately 8 NM from Edwards. Edwards Tower will consider all aircraft a full stop from initial unless advised otherwise on initial contact.

1. Overhead patterns: Initial will be flown to Runway 04/22, unless otherwise instructed, at 3800' MSL within 3 nautical miles of the field.

8. All departures, missed approaches, low approaches and touch and go landings to runway 04/22 will not climb above 3300’ MSL until departure end.

9. Touch and go landings to lakebed runways are not authorized unless in performance testing of AFOTEC aircraft.

10. IFR arrivals shall be vectored for the HI-TACAN or ILS for Runway 22 or the HI-VOR/DME TACAN for 04. Coordination between EDW_S_APP or EDW_APP is required.

11. Local climbout for touch-and-goes and missed approaches when radar facilities are manned shall be runaway heading to 7000’ MSL and contact EDW_S_APP.

12. EDW_TWR shall contact EDW_S_APP with any aircraft that are to depart the Edwards AFB airspace. If aircraft are to depart and not enter the R-2508 Complex or EDW_S_APP is not up, EDW_TWR will contact EDW_APP.

8. China Lake NAWS (KNID) (vUSN)

1. China Lake authorized callsign and are:

1. NID_GND…360.20 (No VHF)

2. NID_TWR…120.15

2. Airspace. China Lake Tower has control of the airspace in a 5 statue mile radius from the center of the airfield and from surface to 4800’ MSL.

3. Active Runway. Runway 32 is the calm wind runway. When prevailing winds exceed 10 knots, the runway most nearly aligned with the winds will be designated the active runway.

4. All departures will be VFR unless IMC conditions exist. If IMC conditions do exist, an IFR clearance will be issued. Pilots can expect the CHINA-THREE LO Departure for flights within R-2515 or if planning to exit the R-2508 Complex from the South.

5. Aircraft staying in R-2515 will be handed off to Sport Control. If aircraft are to leave the R-2515 airspace, they will be issued either the PONCHO2 or SAGE2 clearance for R-2508.

6. Recoveries. Aircraft will plan to recover VFR to expedite the flow of traffic into China Lake. If IMC conditions exist, aircraft will be vectored for an instrument approach.

7. VFR Traffic Pattern Procedures. Expect frequency change to China Tower approximately 5 NM from China Lake. China Tower will consider all aircraft a full stop from initial unless advised otherwise on initial contact.

1. Overhead patterns: Initial will be flown to Runway 14/32, unless otherwise instructed, at 3800' MSL within 3 nautical miles of the field.

8. All departures, missed approaches, low approaches and touch and go landings to runway 14/32 will not climb above 3300’ MSL until departure end.

9. IFR arrivals shall be vectored for the HI-TACAN for Runway 32. Coordination between NID_APP or EDW_APP is required.

10. Local climbout for touch-and-goes and missed approaches when radar facilities are manned for Runway 32 shall be right turn to heading 340, climb to 8,000’ MSL and contact NID_APP.

11. NID_TWR shall contact NID_APP with any aircraft that are to depart the China Lake NAWS airspace. If aircraft are to depart and not enter the R-2508 Complex or NID_APP is not up, NID_TWR will contact EDW_APP.

9. R-2508 Air Refueling Tracks

1. Air Refueling (AR) Anchors and Procedures. R-2508 Complex has three unpublished refueling areas in addition to the use of AR625H/L.

2. Refueling area definitions:

3. AR-625: High and low tracks are located in Oakland Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) Class A Airspace adjacent to the northwest corner of the NTTR. Published altitudes are FL180-FL210 and FL230-FL250. AR-625 high and low may be scheduled simultaneously but not as a single block of airspace. The controlling agency is Nellis Control (126.65 or 124.95). Aircrews must receive ATC clearance prior to entering or exiting refueling airspace.

FAA Published Entry and Exit Points

Attachment 1

END.