MART Vol. II MO/MP - NESA - Civil Air Patrol

Figure 8-4Only route centerlines are printed on sectional charts, but each route includesa specified lateral distance to either side of the printed centerline and a specificaltitude “block”. Route widths vary, but can be determined for any individual routeby requesting Department of Defense Flight Information Publication AP-1B at theFlight Service Station.The letters IR in IR-120 indicate that military aircraft operate in that routeaccording to IFR clearances issued by air traffic control. Other non-military VFRaircraft may enter the lateral or vertical boundaries of an active IR route withoutprior coordination, while aircraft operating IFR are kept out by air traffic control.Just as in the case of a MOA, air traffic control may not have radar and radiocontact with the military aircraft using the route. Therefore, it is necessary toprovide separation between other IFR aircraft and the route airspace regardless ofwhere the military aircraft may be located along the route. This may force either aroute or altitude change. Civil Air Patrol members can request the status of IRroutes from the controlling air traffic facility.The letters VR in VR-1102 indicate that the military operates under VFR whenoperating within the lateral and vertical limits of that airspace. The see-and-avoidconcept applies to all civilian and military aircraft operating there, and all crewmembers must be vigilant in visual lookout when within or near a VR trainingroute. Many military missions go to and from visual training routes' start and exitpoints on IFR clearances, and the prudent crew can inquire about the status of theroute with air traffic control when operating through or near a VR training route.You can determine scheduled military activity for restricted areas, MOAs, andmilitary training routes by checking Notices to Airmen (NOTAMS) at the FlightService Station. However, checking with the air traffic control facilities ispreferable since it will reveal actual, "real time" activity versus scheduled activity.When flying through any special use airspace or training route, crewmembersshould be alert and cautious at all times, because incorrect or incompletecoordination between the military and the FAA is the rule rather than theexception.The FAA now has a website that graphically depicts the real-time status ofalmost every SUA in the country; it can be found athttp://sua.faa.gov/sua/Welcome.do. SUA can also be found on the Air NationalGuard’s site (http://www.seeandavoid.org), or on AOPA’s website under “AirportDirectory.”74