Definition
Special Air Traffic Rules (SATR) are FAA-issued regulations that apply specific operating requirements to aircraft flying within a defined geographic area. These rules supplement or modify the standard Federal Aviation Regulations and are codified in 14 CFR Part 93. SATR areas typically impose specific procedures such as required communications, routing, altitude restrictions, speed limits, or equipment requirements to manage traffic flow or address unique operational concerns in a given airspace.
Plain English
Extra flying rules that apply only inside certain marked areas. If you fly into one of these areas, you must follow its specific procedures in addition to the normal rules.
Context Anchor
You may see SATR in FAA guidance, preflight planning material, chart notes, or instructions for airspace with special operating requirements.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots must know and follow SATR to avoid violations and enforcement action in these areas.
Grounding Statement
Think of SATR as the local rule set for a particular airspace area: before you fly there, you check what extra rules apply.
Intuition Check
“Special” does not mean optional, unusual, or only for certain pilots. Here it means FAA rules that are specifically assigned to a particular area and must be followed when they apply.
Example Sentence 1
The pilot reviewed the SATR procedures for the Grand Canyon area before departing, noting the required routes and altitudes.
Example Sentence 2
Compliance with SATR is required in addition to standard VFR or IFR procedures.