Section 4. Mission Planning

  1. RESOLVING MISSION CONFLICTS

During periods other than when the provisions of the Emergency Security Control of Air Traffic (ESCAT Plan 32 CFR part 245) are invoked, the order of precedence set forth in paragraph 4-4-2 below must be applied to all requests for altitude reservations (ALTRVs) for the purpose of resolving conflicts. Airspace assigned by ATC for the conduct of interceptor activity must be provided the same order of precedence class number as that applied to the ALTRV associated with the exercise or mission.

NOTE-

The ESCAT Air Traffic Priority List (EATPL) contained in the ESCAT Plan governs the movement of aircraft for airspace user requirements during time of tension and war.

  1. ORDER OF PRECEDENCE

The order of precedence contained herein is designed to facilitate the handling of airspace user requirements.

  1. The organization originating an ALTRV request must assign the appropriate order of precedence class number in accordance with the listing contained herein.
  2. FAA may, under certain emergency conditions, determine an appropriate order of precedence classification.
  3. The following class numbers establish the order of precedence designed to resolve mission conflicts in connection with ALTRVs:
  1. Class One-Aircraft implementing peacetime national emergency plans as well as missile activities authorized by approved and pre-coordinated procedures or letters of agreement. ALTRV approval request (APREQ) should be filed as far ahead of departure/estimated time of launch as practicable.
  2. Class Two-Aircraft engaged in search and rescue operations. ALTRV APREQ should be filed as far ahead of takeoff as practicable.
  3. Class Three-Aircraft engaged in emergency air evacuation, hurricane operations, weather reconnaissance (WX RECON), or other operations involving safety of lives or property (i.e., use of airlift forces as directed by appropriate authority in support of domestic crises). ALTRV APREQ should be filed as far ahead of takeoff as practicable.
  4. Class Four-Deployments at the direction of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in support of an exercise or large-scale mission and fulfilling an unforeseen requirement. The deployment should be essential to the success of the exercise or mission when assigned Class Four precedence. ALTRV APREQ should be filed as far ahead of departure as practicable.
  5. Class Five-Aircraft engaged in important peacetime service, joint or unified/specified command exercises or missions. Notification of application of this priority must be received from the appropriate military headquarters. ALTRV APREQ must be filed at least 15 days before proposed takeoff. It may be filed less than 15 days before proposed takeoff with Central Altitude Reservation Function (CARF) approval.
  6. Class Six-Aircraft engaged in a large scale mission directed by a major command headquarters. ALTRV APREQ must be filed at least 10 days before proposed takeoff.
  7. Class Seven-Aircraft engaged in evaluation-type operations or overseas deployment. ALTRV APREQ must be filed at least 4 days before proposed takeoff except for ALTRVs penetrating foreign airspace, which requires 6 days.
  8. Class Eight-Aircraft engaged in missions directed by specified air forces or commands, aircraft engaged in other training exercises, and all other aircraft requesting ALTRVs. ALTRV APREQ must be filed at least 4 days before proposed takeoff except for ALTRVs penetrating foreign airspace, which requires 6 days.
  1. SPECIFY VOID TIME

Aircraft must depart within the assigned ALTRV APVL void for aircraft not airborne (AVANA) time for the purpose of providing separation between altitude reservations. Normal AVANA will be 1 hour.

  1. RESCHEDULING

If a mission is to be delayed beyond the AVANA time, rescheduling:

  1. Will normally be in 24-hour increments after the original schedule.
  2. Can be in less than the time specified above, subject to CARF discretion and after approval from the affected ARTCC/CERAP/HCF.
  1. DELAY NOTIFICATIONS

As soon as the delay becomes apparent, notify the ALTRV approval authority and provide all available updated information.

  1. EN ROUTE TIMING

In a nonradar environment, unless otherwise stated in the ALTRV APVL, the pilot must advise ATC if actual fix timing will be more than plus or minus 5 minutes from the planned ALTRV en route fix estimate.