Narrative:

While working a radar en route sector (ZOA sector 0) I had a flight of 2 mlt transports enter the sector at ave. Their route was direct prb 281 014. Intending to cancel IFR and work in VMC in R2513. During the descent, I advised the pilot that the direct route would penetrate R2504, and I could provide radar vectors around that area since it was in use. The pilot responded that 'we're marsa with that area, sir.' (marsa -- military assumes responsibility for separation). At the eastern edge of R2504, about prb 300010. The pilot cancelled IFR and descended to 3500 ft. I terminated radar service and released the flight to change frequencys. I observed the flight transitioning R2504 and commence airwork in R2513. Shortly thereafter my supervisor received a phone call from the range controller of R2504. They saw the 2 mlt's fly overhead and ceased their firing activity. The jets had transitioned a firing range without clearance, where the army was practicing with 155 MM shells! Later during the day my supervisor spoke with the pilot of the lead aircraft. He stated that he had called the range control office on friday (2/X/92) to arrange transition approval and was told that the area would be 'cold' or not in use all weekend. Well, on sunday the army came very close to blasting 2 mlts into history. When the pilot states marsa, the controller is relieved of responsibility for separation. In spite of my stating that the area was in use, the flight proceeded through with the idea that they were safe.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: 2 MLTS ADVISE CTLR THEY HAVE PERMISSION TO TRANSIT A RESTRICTED AREA, THEN LATER FIND OUT THE AREA IS HOT.

Narrative: WHILE WORKING A RADAR ENRTE SECTOR (ZOA SECTOR 0) I HAD A FLT OF 2 MLT TRANSPORTS ENTER THE SECTOR AT AVE. THEIR RTE WAS DIRECT PRB 281 014. INTENDING TO CANCEL IFR AND WORK IN VMC IN R2513. DURING THE DSCNT, I ADVISED THE PLT THAT THE DIRECT RTE WOULD PENETRATE R2504, AND I COULD PROVIDE RADAR VECTORS AROUND THAT AREA SINCE IT WAS IN USE. THE PLT RESPONDED THAT 'WE'RE MARSA WITH THAT AREA, SIR.' (MARSA -- MIL ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY FOR SEPARATION). AT THE EASTERN EDGE OF R2504, ABOUT PRB 300010. THE PLT CANCELLED IFR AND DSNDED TO 3500 FT. I TERMINATED RADAR SVC AND RELEASED THE FLT TO CHANGE FREQS. I OBSERVED THE FLT TRANSITIONING R2504 AND COMMENCE AIRWORK IN R2513. SHORTLY THEREAFTER MY SUPVR RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THE RANGE CTLR OF R2504. THEY SAW THE 2 MLT'S FLY OVERHEAD AND CEASED THEIR FIRING ACTIVITY. THE JETS HAD TRANSITIONED A FIRING RANGE WITHOUT CLRNC, WHERE THE ARMY WAS PRACTICING WITH 155 MM SHELLS! LATER DURING THE DAY MY SUPVR SPOKE WITH THE PLT OF THE LEAD ACFT. HE STATED THAT HE HAD CALLED THE RANGE CTL OFFICE ON FRIDAY (2/X/92) TO ARRANGE TRANSITION APPROVAL AND WAS TOLD THAT THE AREA WOULD BE 'COLD' OR NOT IN USE ALL WEEKEND. WELL, ON SUNDAY THE ARMY CAME VERY CLOSE TO BLASTING 2 MLTS INTO HISTORY. WHEN THE PLT STATES MARSA, THE CTLR IS RELIEVED OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR SEPARATION. IN SPITE OF MY STATING THAT THE AREA WAS IN USE, THE FLT PROCEEDED THROUGH WITH THE IDEA THAT THEY WERE SAFE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.