SR Routes

AIR FORCE T-38 TRACK INTERMEDIATES

CHAPTER 7

708.

SR ROUTES

SR routes, or slow speed routes, are flown at or below 1500 feet AGL at speeds of 250 knots or

less. AP/1B prohibits high speed aircraft from flying slow speed routes. For slow speed routes,

VFR is required and the entry point fix/radial/distance is required for the entry point only.

Now these AP/1B routes are just one way of flying a low level. You could fly VFR virtually

anywhere if you desired. You could fly in unrestricted airspace, a MOA, or a restricted area if

you coordinated clearance to enter. Either way, the TPC is the map of choice. So, go get your

map and start plotting.

709.

DRAWING YOUR ROUTE

The AP/1B will list corridor centerline points and width. Note that the corridor centerline is

not necessarily the intended route of flight, it, when used with the route width, defines the

boundary you must stay within when selecting turn/check points. In the Tactical community, we

use felt tip markers to draw the route using black for the route line and information "doghouses."

Plot your turn/checkpoints on the map and connect them from the starting point to the end point.

Use the symbology in the appendix example chart. Put timing tick marks on the course line at

one-minute intervals. A good technique is to number every other minute mark on opposite sides

of the route of flight (this reduces clutter) continuously through to the target (eliminating the

need to re-start the clock at each point). Leg time between points is used for ease of fuel

calculations and is placed in the "doghouse" near the turn point. Next, draw the "doghouses" on

the map next to the turnpoint and pointing towards the next turn point. Fill in the information in

the doghouses as shown on Figure 1.

A couple of other things that need to be done that may not be on your Jet Log are Route Abort

Altitude (RAA), Bingo fuel and Joker fuel. We already talked about Bingo and Joker fuels; just

put them on the map. Bingo fuel should be prominent and in red and written next to the furthest

turn point on the route. Continuation fuel for each point should be put under the bottom of the

doghouse in black. So much for fuels, how about RAA?

Route Abort Altitude is calculated to give you a safe "hip pocket" altitude you could climb to if

you inadvertently enter IMC. In the tactical community, RAA is also used if a threat reaction

has taken you off the "black line" and you are trying to get your SA back. Calculate RAA by

finding the highest obstacle along your route line of flight. Round this altitude up to the nearest

100 feet and then add 500 feet. This is your RAA. Write it in large red letters on your map.

710.

FLYING THE LOW LEVEL

Now that you have completed the planning, it is time to fly the plan. Low level navigation is a

step-by-step process using dead reckoning and pilotage to fly from a known position to an

unknown position. Proper pilotage requires a CLOCK TO MAP TO GROUND sequence: Note

the time elapsed, find a feature on the map that is at your time elapsed or slightly in front of the

aircraft, and then find that feature on the ground. This sequence allows you to progress from one

known point to another. Do not be tempted to find a feature on the ground and try to match it to

T-38 LOW LEVEL NAVIGATION 7-5