Section 7. VR Route Definition

  1. ROUTE WIDTH

Widths of route segments must be defined by the military. In all cases, the route width must be of sufficient size to contain all planned activities. For cartographical purposes, the standard route width must be 5 NM.

  1. ROUTE ALIGNMENT

Route alignment criteria must be as follows:

  1. Route widths must be designed to avoid Class B and C airspace areas. Additionally, route widths must be designed to avoid Class D and E surface areas below 3,000 feet AGL.
  2. All VRs to be flown at/below 1,500 feet AGL should be designed to permit aircraft flying the route to avoid charted, uncontrolled airports by 3 NM or 1,500 feet. Where it is impractical to comply with this criteria, procedures must be established by the scheduling/originating agency to minimize conflict with airport traffic; i.e., identify volume and type of traffic, highlight need for increased vigilance commensurate with the situation, maintain liaison with airport owner/operator, include appropriate cautionary note in route description: “Avoid flight within 1,500 feet or 3 NM of airport, when practicable,” etc.
  3. Subsequent charting of airports within 3 NM of an MTR may require route alignment to conform to the criteria established in subparagraph b.
  4. Routes should be aligned to avoid Class B airspace.
  5. During development of routes, consideration should be given to potential conflict with published and unpublished instrument procedures/routes.
  6. Routes must be aligned so that disturbance to persons or property on the ground is minimized.
  1. ALTITUDES

Altitudes must be established for each route segment. Routes must contain the minimum number of altitudes commensurate with mission requirements and may be specified singly, or in block. Minimum altitudes for each route segment must be established by the military. Altitude information must be reflected on FAA Form 7110-4 as follows:

  1. The lowest altitude may be depicted in either MSL or AGL terms. The highest altitudes may be depicted in AGL terms at 1,500 feet and below, but all altitudes above 1,500 feet AGL must be depicted in MSL terms.
  2. An altitude block must be depicted as the lowest altitude, followed by a “B,” followed by the highest altitude.

EXAMPLE-

SFC B 50 MSL
4 MSL B 15 MSL
SFC B 15 AGL

  1. ROUTE ENTRY AND EXIT POINTS

Route entry and exit points should be compatible with ATC requirements for operating IFR to and from the route.

  1. ALTERNATE ENTRY/EXIT/END POINTS
  1. Any point on the route may be identified as an alternate entry/exit/end point. Entry points must precede exit points on the routes/alternate routes with which they are associated. Additionally, compatibility with ATC requirements for operating IFR to/from the route must be considered.
  2. Whenever a route is modified by designating alternate entry/exit/end points, the route segments associated with the alternate points must be considered modifications to the basic/principal route and may be described and designated as alternate routes.
  3. Any alternate route segments must meet all of the requirements pertinent to the establishment of new routes.
  1. SPECIAL OPERATING PROCEDURES

Special operating procedures may be imposed but must be held to the minimum required. These procedures may be applied on a route segment basis and need not apply to the entire route. Such procedures must be a part of the narrative route description as published in the NFDD and the DoD FLIP AP/1B and AP/3.