Chapter 4. Altitude Reservation (ALTRV) Procedures

Section 3. ATC Facility Responsibilities

4-3-1. APREQ REVIEW AND COORDINATION

  1. Review all altitude reservation (ALTRV) approval requests (APREQs) to ensure completeness, and advise ­Central Altitude Reservation Function (CARF) of any requested change to the ALTRV APREQ as soon as ­possible.
  2. Ensure that the required separation exists in accordance with (IAW) FAA Order JO 7110.65 between two ­or more missions departing within the ARTCC/CCF/HCF of origin up to the first cruising altitude requested. ­This coordination includes all ATC facilities to which airspace has been delegated.
  3. Schedule ATC-Assigned Airspace (ATCAAs) to allow ALTRVs to transit or utilize the airspace. If unable ­to schedule an ATCAA, provide alternate routing.

4-3-2. ARTCC/CCF/HCF APPROVED ALTRVs

Where practical and advantageous, an ARTCC/CCF/HCF may be the final approval authority for an ALTRV ­when the entire route of flight and associated protected airspace will not involve more than two ­ARTCC/CCF/HCF areas of control jurisdiction. The ARTCC/CCF/HCF must:

  1. Assume the ALTRV APREQ responsibilities outlined in paragraph 4-2-3.
  2. Assume the ALTRV APVL responsibilities outlined in paragraph 4-2-4.
  3. Forward ALTRV APREQ/APVL to CARF for ALTRVs which will be conducted in airspace outlined in ­paragraph 4-2-2.
  4. Deliver all ALTRV APVLs and amendments to the designated project officer in accordance with delivery ­instructions contained in the ALTRV APREQ message. Comply with the security restrictions contained in the ­APREQ message regarding release time to military personnel, estimated time of departure (ETD), etc.

4-3-3. MISSION SEPARATION

Ensure that required separation exists, to the altitudes specified in paragraph 4-3-1, APREQ Review and ­Coordination, between two or more missions departing within the U.S. ARTCC/CCF/HCF of origin.

4-3-4. FLIGHT PROGRESS STRIPS

Departure ARTCC/CCF/HCF must ensure unclassified ALTRVs are entered into the NAS computer in ­accordance with FAA Order JO 7110.65, Air Traffic Control; and FAA Order JO 7210.3, Facility Operation and ­Administration, paragraph 8-1-2, ALTRV Flight Data Processing, to display the required information on ­mission aircraft utilizing an ALTRV.

4-3-5. NOTIFICATION

  1. Forward departure times of ALTRV aircraft to the ALTRV approval authority and to all facilities concerned. ­Departure messages must include the departure time and identification of the following:
    1. Cell formation.
    2. First and last aircraft of a stream formation.
    3. Individual aircraft not listed in the above.
  2. Forward cancellations of ALTRV aircraft and other ALTRV changes to CARF and appropriate approach ­control facilities. This applies to cancellations of individual aircraft within the ALTRV or the whole mission. ­CARF will forward the information to the appropriate ATC and international reservation facilities.

4-3-6. ISSUE ALTITUDE RESERVATION NOTAM

  1. ARTCC/CCF/HCFs are responsible for the formulation and dissemination of an altitude reservation Notice ­to Airmen (NOTAM) for ALTRVs for which they are the final approval authority.
  2. Coordination must be effected between adjacent ARTCC/CCF/HCFs for the issuance of a joint altitude ­reservation NOTAM if it will permit consolidation of the altitude reservation NOTAM information prescribed ­above.

4-3-7. TRUSTED AGENTS

Each ARTCC/CCF/HCF must provide CARF a current listing of trusted agents, responsible for safeguarding ­and controlling COMSEC material, updated at least once per year, no later than March 1. If the list changes ­during the year, forward updates as needed.

4-3-8. ALTRV AUTHORIZATION AND CHANGES

An ALTRV APVL authorizes the aircraft to climb or descend as specified. Controllers are not required to issue ­a climb or descent clearance for the various flight segments. They may, however, request that the pilot advise ­them prior to initiating an altitude change. Routing and altitude(s) of aircraft established on an approved ALTRV ­must not be changed except in the interest of safety of flight or as specified below:

  1. Aircraft requested routing or altitude changes that are not in the approved ALTRV are handled in ­accordance with subparagraph 4-1-3i.
  2. Short-term adjustments to altitude or course of single aircraft (or standard formation) on an ALTRV may ­be issued with the concurrence of the aircraft (flight) commander in order to expedite overall traffic flow as long ­as the controller ensures return of the aircraft to the ALTRV, within their sector or within sectors with which the ­adjustment and return are directly coordinated.
  3. If ARTCC/CCF/HCF initiates changes to the ALTRV due to safety of flight or other extraordinary ­circumstances, military authority assumes responsibility for separation of aircraft (MARSA), if applicable, is ­suspended and the ARTCC/CCF/HCF assumes responsibility for separation. The ARTCC/CCF/HCF is also ­responsible to return the aircraft to the ALTRV as soon as practicable.
  4. Multiple cells in an ALTRV are responsible for their own separation (MARSA) from other cells within the ­same ALTRV from the initiation of the ALTRV until the termination or cancellation of the ALTRV.
    1. Controller-assigned course or altitude changes without the concurrence of the formation flight leader ­will void MARSA between cells.
    2. The ARTCC/CCF/HCF is responsible for returning the cell to the ALTRV as soon as practical and ­confirming re-establishment of MARSA between cells.