What is the purpose of Restricted Areas (R-###) in aviation?

Restricted Areas (R-###) in aviation are designated to prevent aircraft from flying in specific areas, particularly when military operations are active. These areas are established for the safety and security of military activities, which may involve live munitions testing, training exercises, or other missions that could be hazardous to civilian aircraft.

When these areas are active, they are strictly off-limits to general aviation to ensure that the operations can be conducted without interference or risk to civilian pilots and their aircraft. Temporary flight restrictions will often be published, and pilots are required to be aware of these restrictions to maintain safety.

Other options address different concerns: emergency landing areas are not defined by the same restrictions, recreational flying does not encompass military operations, and civilian flights are not allowed in restricted areas when they are active, contrasting with the correct answer that emphasizes the prohibition during military operations.