pointSixtyFive

9-2-12

Law Enforcement and Sensitive Government Missions

JO 7110.65BB, Change 3, effective July 9, 2026 · Official text on faa.gov

  1. Provide the maximum assistance possible to law enforcement aircraft when requested.
    1. If requested by the pilot/flight crew, communicate with law enforcement aircraft on a separate and unique communications frequency whenever possible.
    2. Ensure assistance to law enforcement aircraft does not compromise approved separation minima or place the aircraft in unsafe proximity to terrain, obstructions or other aircraft.
    3. When requested, assist law enforcement in locating suspect aircraft.
    4. Forward any information received pertaining to stolen aircraft to the OS/CIC for reporting on the Domestic Events Network (DEN).
  2. Sensitive government missions.
    1. Sensitive government missions include inflight identification, surveillance, interdiction and pursuit activities conducted by government aircraft for national defense, homeland security, and intelligence or law enforcement purposes.
    2. Provide support to national security and homeland defense activities as specified in paragraph 2-1-2, Duty Priority.
    3. To facilitate accomplishment of sensitive government missions, exemptions from specified parts of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations have been granted to designated departments and agencies. Each organization's exemption identifies its responsibilities for notifying ATC of its intent to operate under an exemption before commencing operations.
    4. Departments and agencies that conduct sensitive government missions are assigned U.S. special call signs. Additionally, some have pre-assigned beacon codes to permit them to apprise ATC of ongoing mission activities and solicit air traffic assistance. To support these sensitive government missions, ATC must:
      1. Not change the sensitive beacon codes requested or displayed by these operators.
      2. To the maximum extent possible, ensure the full call sign designator of aircraft conducting sensitive government operations is entered into FAA automation systems.
      3. Not alter or abbreviate the U.S. special call signs used by aircraft for sensitive government operations.