Chapter 6. Military Training Routes (MTR)

6-5-1. ESTABLISHING OR REVISING IR ROUTES

1. Military units having a requirement to establish or revise a route must have that requirement validated by ­the appropriate military major/type command. As a part of the validation process, a determination must be made ­that other alternatives have been explored (e.g., use of existing MOAs, restricted areas, or other routes). This ­determination must be documented in writing and become a part of the route proposal.
2. All route requests or route amendments developed by the originating unit must be submitted on FAA Form ­7110-4 (see FIG 6-5-2 for sample form). A letter of transmittal must contain sufficient information to allow ­each reviewing authority to adequately understand and evaluate the proposal/revision. For route revisions, ­complete FAA Form 7110-4 with only the changed/new data, route designation, and originating activity. Select ­“Modify” in the Action box.
3. All route proposals must be illustrated on a current sectional chart (not required for revisions that do not ­effect route alignment) with routes depicted as follows:
   1. Routes must be depicted by lines defining the route widths.
   2. Altitudes must be depicted along each route segment and expressed in hundreds of feet AGL or MSL ­as appropriate. Altitude blocks or ranges must be indicated by separating the altitudes with a “B” for blocks or ­a dash “-” for ranges. (Refer to paragraph 6-4-3, Altitudes.)
   3. Each point/fix, including turn points, must be identified in degrees, minutes, and seconds to the nearest ­tenth of a second, by sequential alphabetical lettering in accordance with the direction of flight.
4. The originating unit must coordinate the route proposal with other affected military organizations.
5. The ARTCC/CCF/HCF in whose area the route originates must be the focal point and coordinate with other ­ATC facilities.
6. A listing of all personnel and organizations coordinated with must become a part of the route proposal.
7. Once the ARTCC/CCF/HCF has concurred with an IR proposal, subsequent changes must be ­re-coordinated with the ARTCC/CCF/HCF and documented regardless of the level at which the change was ­made.
8. Prior to submission for publication, the military must conduct an operational flight evaluation of the entire ­route to ensure compatibility with obstacle clearance, navigation, communication, and special restriction ­requirements. Coordination with the appropriate ATC facilities is required.
9. Once ARTCC/CCF/HCF proponent agreement has been reached, proposals must be forwarded to the ­appropriate military major/type command headquarters for review and environmental certification.
10. If agreement between the proponent and the ATC facilities involved cannot be achieved after consideration ­of all feasible alternatives and compromises, the proponent must request assistance from the appropriate military ­headquarters and the FAA Service Area military representative. A resolution must then be sought at a meeting ­attended by the proponent, the ATC facilities involved, military major/type command headquarters ­representatives, the FAA Service Area, and the military representatives. Should a resolution not be achieved, ­the military headquarters representatives may authorize the proponent to proceed with processing of a VR ­proposal in lieu of the disagreed IR.
11. FAAService Area Review action: IR proposals must be forwarded to the military representative at the FAA ­Service Area in which the routes originate. The IR proposal(s) must include copies of all environmental ­documentation supporting the proposal and the major/type command headquarters' environmental certification ­addressed in paragraph 6-5-1.i. above. The military representative must review the proposals for compliance ­with this criteria, coordinate with other military service representatives, and then submit them to the FAA Service ­Area office.
12. The FAA Service Area must:
    1. Coordinate all proposals with other interested FAA Service Units.
    2. Determine when proposals will increase the burden on civil users of the navigable airspace, and ­coordinate those proposals with the appropriate civil aviation user groups.
    3. Approve or disapprove the proposal and notify the Service Area military representative, in writing, ­within 45 days of receipt of the original proposal.
13. The FAA Service Area office is the final approval authority for all IR proposals/revisions.
14. The block diagram below represents the normal coordination flow of a proposed IR.

    

6-5-2. PUBLICATION

1. The FAA Service Area office in whose area the route originates must submit the approved FAA Form ­7110-4 containing the route descriptive data to FAA Aeronautical Information Services (AIS), Aeronautical ­Data website at https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/aero_data/, at least 58 days prior to the ­requested/required airspace effective date. Send a copy to the appropriate Service Area military representative.
   1. AIS must issue the official, complete route description via the National Flight Data Digest (NFDD). It ­must be published in the same format as FAA Form 7110-4.
   2. The DoD FLIP Area Planning booklets, AP/1B or AP/3, as appropriate, must be the official source of ­MTR descriptions for military users. It must be published in the same format as FAA Form 7110-4.
2. ARTCC/CCF/HCFs must review IR data published in the NFDD for accuracy and inform the appropriate ­FAA Service Area office whenever a disparity exists between that which was agreed to and that which was ­published.
3. The military is responsible for submitting IR data for publication in the DoD FLIP AP/1B booklet in ­accordance with DoD FLIP GP, Chapter 11. Military originating activities must review IR data published in the ­DoD FLIP AP/1B and AP/3 booklets and charts for accuracy and inform the appropriate Service Area military ­representative whenever a disparity exists between that which was submitted and that which was published.
4. Military originating activities and ARTCC/CCF/HCFs must ensure that IR data published in the DoD FLIP ­AP/1B and AP/3 booklets correlate with provisions contained in the letters of agreement governing the use of ­the route.

6-5-3. EFFECTIVE DATE

1. New routes are effective upon the Aeronautical Information Regulation and Control (AIRAC) date ­published in the National Flight Data Digest (NFDD) and the DoD FLIP Area Planning booklets, AP/1B or ­AP/3, as appropriate.
2. Revisions to existing routes are effective upon the AIRAC date published in the NFDD and the DoD FLIP ­Area Planning booklets, AP/1B or AP/3, and issued as a Flight Data Center (FDC) NOTAM.

   This form must be completed by federal government employees only.