Narrative:

This is a generalized systemic error. Controllers are required to [keep aircraft] at least 3 miles from active restricted airspace. When there is weather present; deviations can make it difficult to attain this distance. Twenty years ago nobody even heard of a moving map; but now almost all pilots have one with them when flying. As a controller I urge pilots to turn away from restricted airspace; then they believe they have 3 more miles prior to entering a restricted area. One of two 2 events are about to take place; a pilot deviation or an operational deviation. It seems ridiculous to me that pilots have no idea of the 'imaginary line' drawn in the sand by the FAA. I wonder how many pilots have been violated while they were arguing that they never entered restricted airspace; and they were right! So how is it that the aim doesn't inform pilots of the FAA's requirement to remain 3 miles clear? Furthermore; how many controllers have had operational deviations because they never used a radial off of a VOR to establish a definitive 'line in the sand' for the pilot to not cross. The pilot is just thinking a mile or two more and they'll turn away from the restricted area; after all; they have a moving map and know exactly where the restricted area starts. It is time to 'clear the air' between pilots and controllers! All pilot handbooks/info manuals/flight planning guides for general aviation/domestic and international/and military entities need to reflect our standards so we can all work together for a safer system.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Enroute Controller voiced concern regarding the separation standard for Restricted Airspace; especially during weather deviation maneuvers; noting the disconnect between pilots' requirement to simply avoid the areas and the controllers' three mile standard; adding the moving map equipment has magnified these potentially confusing standards.

Narrative: This is a generalized systemic error. Controllers are required to [keep aircraft] at least 3 miles from active restricted airspace. When there is weather present; deviations can make it difficult to attain this distance. Twenty years ago nobody even heard of a moving map; but now almost all pilots have one with them when flying. As a controller I urge pilots to turn away from restricted airspace; then they believe they have 3 more miles prior to entering a restricted area. One of two 2 events are about to take place; a Pilot Deviation or an Operational Deviation. It seems ridiculous to me that pilots have no idea of the 'imaginary line' drawn in the sand by the FAA. I wonder how many pilots have been violated while they were arguing that they never entered restricted airspace; and they were right! So how is it that the AIM doesn't inform pilots of the FAA's requirement to remain 3 miles clear? Furthermore; how many controllers have had Operational Deviations because they never used a radial off of a VOR to establish a definitive 'line in the sand' for the pilot to not cross. The pilot is just thinking a mile or two more and they'll turn away from the restricted area; after all; they have a moving map and know exactly where the restricted area starts. It is time to 'clear the air' between pilots and controllers! All pilot handbooks/info manuals/flight planning guides for General Aviation/domestic and international/and military entities need to reflect our standards so we can all work together for a safer system.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.