The purpose of this Letter to Airmen is to inform all participants of the continuous use of VFR practice areas described in Pensacola TRACON’s airspace (see airspace map attachment). The procedures and areas defined in this letter were recommended and agreed upon by a joint committee of local area flight schools and the FAA.

Increased Awareness should be maintained by all participants while flying in the Practice Areas described below due to the high volume of military training in and around the practice areas from surface to 17,500 feet.

Former Choctaw VFR Practice Area is no longer used due to the high volume of military and other aircraft conducting rapid climbs and descents in the vicinity of Choctaw NOLF (NFJ).

Northwest VFR Practice Area is located northwest of Pensacola Regional Airport, and is defined as that airspace from a point approximately three (3) nautical miles south of the Molino Cross Roads, following the power line to the northwest where it intersects Highway 112, then due south to the westernmost antenna along I-10 southwestward to a point due north of Coastal Airport (closed), then north through Cantonment to the power line south of Molino. Altitudes are surface to 3,500 feet (MSL).  Aircraft should remain at least 1.5 nautical miles west of the line from Coastal Airport to Molino.

Midway Practice Area (formerly known as The Beach Practice Area is the area between the Midway Antenna and the Navarre Bridge, bounded on the north by Highway 98, and on the south by a line three nautical miles south of the coastline. This area is now being utilized by numerous local flight schools for intensive flight training.  All participants are signatories to a local Letter of Agreement for usage.  Utilization of this area by non-participants should be exercised with caution due to the high volume of traffic.  It is suggested that VFR aircraft utilize the Northwest Practice Area as much as feasible.

NOTE: Aircraft operating within or near the Midway Practice Area should be vigilant for military fixed-wing, rotary-wing and UAV aircraft operating to, from, and inside the Navy Choctaw NOLF (NFJ) Class D airspace.  Pilots should also be vigilant for high volume flight school student pilot training.