F/A 18 Hornet/Super Hornet
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Airspace Structure; Procedure
I accepted the position after being briefed that the HUNTER MOA's were active at or below FL180 and the ROBETS MOA at or below 15;000 along with an ALTRV over the ROBERTS MOA 160B180. All of these air spaces overlap. I was briefed that all the participants were MARSA with a flight of 2 AV8's; operating in the ROBERTS airspace. I received a hand off on a F18 requesting to use the HUNTER MOA's. I questioned the pilot to make sure he was a participant and he said he would be working with the jump aircraft in the MOA. I then asked if he needed clearance into the ROBERTS MOA as well; as it was also being used with aircraft flying into both MOA's. He said negative and that he was NOT MARSA in the ROBERTS MOA. I informed the supervisor of this and was told to go ahead and clear him and they were MARSA. I did clear the aircraft into the HUNTER MOA's and the HUNTER ATCAA as directed; and also informed the F18 of the location of the AV8's as a precaution as I observed the AV8's using both the ROBERTS and the HUNTER MOA's. I was also informed that during this operation to use 5 miles separation from the ALTRV and that Runway 01-31 IFR clearances off PRB were not authorized. A business jet was requesting clearance and Runway 01 was the active runway at the time. Pilot was very confused by the ODP. I informed the pilot that IFR clearance off the ground could only be given if he departed on a different runway; as this is what was briefed. Better Briefings on just what exactly is being released to the military. Rewrite the ODB off PRB to avoid confusion. Align the ROBERTS MOA southern boundary and R2504 southern boundary. Brief participants on who is using what and who is MARSA with whom. Don't release overlapping MOA's with different users. There is no provision for stationary ALTRV in domestic airspace in the 7110.65; that I could find; so don't establish one.
ZOA Controller described an unsafe airspace situation when coordination concerning MOA airspace was not briefed properly and unclear as to it's operational usage.