5-6-7. Civil Aircraft Operations Transiting
U.S. Territorial Airspace
a. Civil aircraft (except those operating in
accordance with subparagraphs 5-6-7b, 5-6-7c,
5-6-7d, and 5-6-7e) are authorized to transit U.S.
territorial airspace if in compliance with all of the
following conditions:
1. File and are on an active flight plan (IFR,
VFR, or DVFR);
2. Equipped with an operational transponder
with altitude reporting capability and continuously
squawk an ATC assigned transponder code;
3. Maintain two-way radio communications
with ATC;
4. Comply with all other applicable ADIZ
requirements described in paragraph 5-6-4 and any
other national security requirements in paragraph
5-6-2;
5. Are operating under an approved TSA
aviation security program (see paragraph 5-6-10 for
TSA aviation security program information) or are
operating with and in accordance with an FAA/TSA
airspace waiver (see paragraph 5-6-9 for FAA/TSA
airspace waiver information), if:
(a) The aircraft is not registered in the U.S.; or
(b) The aircraft is registered in the U.S. and its
maximum takeoff gross weight is greater than
100,309 pounds (45,500 kgs);
6. Are in receipt of, and are operating in
accordance with, an FAA routing authorization if the
aircraft is registered in a U.S. State Department-designated special interest country or is operating with
the ICAO 3LD of a company in a country listed as a
U.S. State Department-designated special interest
country, unless the operator holds valid FAA Part 129
operations specifications. VFR and DVFR flight
operations are prohibited for any aircraft requiring an
FAA routing authorization. (See paragraph 5-6-11
for FAA routing authorization information.)
b. Civil aircraft registered in Canada or Mexico,
and engaged in operations for the purposes of air
ambulance, firefighting, law enforcement, search and
rescue, or emergency evacuation are authorized to
transit U.S. territorial airspace within 50 NM of their
respective borders with the U.S., with or without an
active flight plan, provided they have received and

National Security and Interception Procedures

continuously transmit an ATC-assigned transponder
code.
c. Civil aircraft registered in Canada, Mexico,
Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, or the British
Virgin Islands with a maximum certificated takeoff
gross weight of 100,309 pounds (45,500 kgs) or less
are authorized to transit U.S. territorial airspace if in
compliance with all of the following conditions:
1. File and are on an active flight plan (IFR,
VFR, or DVFR) that enters U.S. territorial airspace
directly from any of the countries listed in this
subparagraph 5-6-7c. Flights that include a stop in a
non-listed country prior to entering U.S. territorial
airspace must comply with the requirements
prescribed by subparagraph 5-6-7bove, including
operating under an approved TSA aviation security
program (see paragraph 5-6-10 for TSA aviation
program information) or operating with, and in
accordance with, an FAA/TSA airspace waiver (see
paragraph 5-6-9 for FAA/TSA airspace waiver
information).
2. Equipped with an operational transponder
with altitude reporting capability and continuously
squawk an ATC assigned transponder code; and
3. Maintain two-way radio communications
with ATC.
4. Comply with all other applicable ADIZ
requirements described in paragraph 5-6-4 and any
other national security requirements in paragraph
d. Civil aircraft registered in Canada, Mexico,
Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, or the British
Virgin Islands with a maximum certificated takeoff
gross weight greater than 100,309 pounds
(45,500 kgs) must comply with the requirements
subparagraph 5-6-7a, including operating under an
approved TSA aviation security program (see
paragraph 5-6-10 for TSA aviation program
information) or operating with, and in accordance
with, an FAA/TSA airspace waiver (see paragraph
5-6-9 for FAA/TSA airspace waiver information).
e. Civil aircraft registered in the U.S., Canada, or
Mexico with a maximum certificated takeoff gross
weight of 100,309 pounds (45,500 kgs) or less that are
operating without an operational transponder and/or
the ability to maintain two-way radio communications with ATC, are authorized to transit U.S.
territorial airspace over Alaska if in compliance with
all of the following conditions:

5-6-5