text: Chapter 2
  Airspace Control in Operations
  This chapter describes the Army’s approach to airspace control. The chapter addresses
  exercising airspace control, the principles of effective airspace control, and delineates
  the key roles and responsibilities, by echelon, of the Army air-ground system.
  AIRSPACE CONTROL INTEGRATION
  2-1. Commanders exercise airspace control to integrate Army forces with all airspace users. Integration
  aligns the commander’s intent, priorities, and risk guidance; maximizes all airspace users’ capabilities; and
  minimizes adverse impacts. Commanders understand that they do not operate independently but as part of a
  larger force. They integrate and synchronize their actions and operations within this larger framework,
  collaborating with entities outside of their direct control. Just as commanders manage terrain throughout their
  areas of operations (AOs), they continuously collaborate with unified action partners to integrate the use of
  airspace. In essence, this affords commanders the same flexibility and responsiveness for airspace use as for
  ground operations. Army commanders are the supported commanders within their designated AOs. As such,
  other commanders must coordinate their airspace use to avoid adverse effects and fratricide.
  2-2. Army commanders exercise mission command to control Army airspace users—commander-to-
  commander—while airspace elements control airspace use. This is a subtle but important distinction. Army
  commanders direct the employment of Army assets while airspace element personnel direct the best use of
  the airspace. To exercise mission command, Army commanders have the authority to direct (control) the
  maneuver of all Army airspace users within their designated AOs, so that the best use of airspace is made. If
  the airspace control authority assigns airspace control responsibility to the Army for a volume of airspace in
  the airspace control plan (ACP) or airspace control order (ACO), Army commanders exercise airspace control
  over all airspace users. This authority to exercise airspace control for an assigned volume of airspace does
  not include the authority to approve, disapprove, or deny joint combat operations.
  2-3. Airspace elements do not routinely manage the flight path or trajectory of individual airspace users.
  Rather, airspace elements integrate airspace use for flight paths and trajectories in planning and execution to
  manage risk. Only when two or more airspace users conflict do airspace elements direct changes in flight
  path or, in the case of fires, coordinate with the fires cell to alter the trajectory or timing of fires. These
  changes are based on the commanders’ mission priorities and risk guidance. Pilots, unmanned aircraft system
  operators, and weapon system controllers still maintain the responsibility to make the directed changes to
  their flight path or trajectory.
  AIRSPACE CONTROL PRINCIPLES
  2-4. Effective airspace control enables commanders to respond effectively to changing operational
  environments with appropriate, flexible, and timely actions. Army forces use the principles of airspace
  control, which complement joint airspace control principles, to integrate all airspace users. The five principles
  of Army airspace control are:
  * Airspace control is action executed through combined arms formations.
  * Airspace control is a commander’s responsibility based on the commander’s intent, priorities, and
  risk guidance.
  * Airspace control is continually planned for and coordinated throughout the operations process.
  * Airspace control is an integral part of risk management.
  * Near-real-time airspace control requires continuous assessment.