9-2-18

Awacs/Norad Special Flights

JO 7110.65BB, Change 3, effective July 9, 2026 · Official text on faa.gov

Do not delay E-3 AWACS aircraft identified as “AWACS/NORAD Special” flights. The following control actions are acceptable while expediting these aircraft to the destination orbit.

En route altitude changes ⁺/– 2,000 feet from the requested flight level.
Radar vectors or minor route changes that do not impede progress towards the destination orbit.
Note

NORAD has a requirement to position E-3 AWACS aircraft at selected locations on a time‐critical basis. To the extent possible these flights will utilize routes to the destination orbit that have been precoordinated with the impacted ATC facilities. To identify these flights, the words “AWACS/NORAD SPECIAL” will be included as the first item in the remarks section of the flight plan.