Special use airspace (SUA) is airspace designated for operations that may cause limitations on other, uninvolved aircraft. These operations are often military. Designating these sections of airspace helps inform pilots about the potential hazards so that they can be easily avoided.
Most SUAs are depicted on aeronautical charts and, in the United States, listed on FAA websites.
Airspace is the portion of the atmosphere controlled by a country above its territory and territorial waters that fall under the country's sovereignty and regulatory control.
Internationally, allocation and management of airspace is coordinated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which was established through the Chicago Convention in 1947 to unify air traffic. ICAO organizes airspace into Flight Information Regions (FIRs) and provides classification guidelines. National authorities, such as the FAA, CAA, or EASA implement rules and regulations for air traffic control, special-use airspace, and enforcement within their own FIRs.