I know one of the guys involved in this...he was a brand-new FAIP, going through T-38 IP school at Randolph.

They are on a dedicated low-level route, which in effect, is like a MOA for low-altitude flying. Again, this was something that was not explained to me adequately when I was a civilian flyer. The routes are typically about 5-8 miles wide, surface to 1500 ft, or even as high as 4000 ft (typical; each route and each leg is different. Only place to find the info I know of is in military publications--any civilians know of another source? AIM?) I know the centerline of the routes is usually shown on sectionals.

In the T-38, we fly these routes at 500-700 ft AGL, at a planned speed of 360 Ground. As long as you do this inside the route airspace, the speed below 10,000 rule does not apply. You fly the route to meet a time over target at the end of the route (about 25-30 minutes later), plus or minus 15 seconds. (This means the meandering route may be 200 miles long). To make timing corrections, we can go up to 400 IAS, or as slow as 300.

Of note: this occured south of San Antonio, within radar coverage of San Antonio Approach, and the T-38C has TCAS--nobody saw anything until it was real close. They missed by about 50-100 ft. It is believed the civilian never saw them (he never maneuvered).

Fast-Fighters will do them in multiples of 60 knots (makes the math easy), so most fighters fly at 420 or 480 ground. Target leg may be as fast as 540.

My point here is civilian flyers would be at an advantage if they could find the route dimensions of VR and IR low-level routes. IR routes are "owned" by an approach control or center; they could tell you if they are hot. VR routes are usually owned by a FSS, but sometimes controlled by approach controls.

Heavies sometimes fly "SR" routes. I believe it stands for Special Routes, but we tend to think of them as "Slow Routes." However, to a civilian, a C-130 barreling down on you at 200 knots, 3-500 ft AGL, would certainly get your attention, and be plenty fast.