4-7-5
Military Turbojet En Route Descent
JO 7110.65BB, Change 3, effective July 9, 2026 · Official text on faa.gov
Provide military turbojet aircraft the same arrival procedures that are provided for nonmilitary turbojet aircraft except:
- An en route descent may be used in a nonradar environment; however, radar capability should exist which will permit the aircraft to be vectored to the final approach course of a published high altitude instrument approach procedure or PAR/ASR approach. Do not use this procedure if other than normal vectoring delays are anticipated.
- Prior to issuance of a descent clearance below the highest initial approach fix altitude established for any high altitude instrument approach procedure for the destination airport inform the aircraft:
- Type of approach to expect.
- Radar vectors will be provided to the final approach course.
- Current weather whenever the ceiling is below 1,000 feet (USAF: 1,500 feet) or the highest circling minimum whichever is greater, or when the visibility is less than 3 miles.
- If ATIS is provided and the pilot advises he/she has received the current ATIS broadcast before the descent clearance in subparagraph b is issued, omit those items in subparagraph b that are contained in the broadcast.
- To avoid requiring an aircraft to fly at low altitudes for an excessive distance, descent clearance should be issued at a point determined by adding 10 to the first two digits of the flight level.
- Do not terminate the en route descent of an aircraft without the consent of the pilot except as required by radar outage or an emergency situation.