Section 5. Military Operations

  1. SPECIAL MILITARY FLIGHTS

Advise the ARTCC of flight notification messages, progress reports, changes en route, and related messages concerning Presidential or Vice-Presidential flights.

  1. MILITARY FOREIGN FLIGHTS

Generally, all military foreign flights are required to clear through specified military bases. Pilots normally will not file flight plans directly with an FSS unless BASOPS is not available. BASOPS with no Service B access will forward an ICAO-type flight plan message via their tie-in FSS for relay through the Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunications Network (AFTN). BASOPS should specify all addressees, both ATC and operational, in accordance with ICAO standards and military regulations.

  1. USAF/USN UNDERGRADUATE PILOTS

Aircraft piloted by solo USAF/USN undergraduate student pilots (who may occasionally request revised clearances), are normally restricted to flight in VFR conditions. The aircraft identification in the flight plan must include the letter “Z” as a suffix. Do not use this suffix in ground-to-air communication.

NOTE-

USAF/USN solo students who have passed an instrument certification check may penetrate cloud layers in climb or descent only. Requests for revised clearances to avoid clouds in level flight can still be expected. This does not change the requirement to use the letter “Z” as a suffix to the aircraft identification.

  1. MESSAGE HANDLING

Accept and forward messages from any military authority that concern aircraft movement, national defense, safety of flight, or emergencies. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  1. Flight Advisory Messages.
  1. The FSS originating the advisory or receiving it from the originating BASOPS must determine the FSS nearest the aircraft's estimated position for VFR flights, or the appropriate ARTCC for IFR flights. Transmit a numbered message only to the facility identified. Include in the text “FLT ADVY,” aircraft identification and type, and route of flight, in that order. The last item must be the identifier of the originating BASOPS or FSS. Plain language may be used.
  2. Inform the originator if unable to deliver the flight advisory within 15 minutes. Store the message in the history files.
  1. Electronic Counter Measure (ECM) Alerts. Transmit a numbered message via Service B to tie-in stations serving the addressees. If acknowledgements are not received within 1 hour, deliver via telephone.
  2. REACH and SAM Flight Messages. Forward to the airlift command post specified by the pilot if message contains request “Pass to Air Mobility Command & Airlift Command Post (AMC ACP),” specified by the pilot.