Definition
An FAA facility that coordinates and approves altitude reservations (ALTRVs) — blocks of airspace reserved at specific altitudes, routes, and times for activities that cannot be accommodated through normal air traffic control procedures, such as large military formations, missile launches, or special government missions.
Plain English
It is the office that books and protects chunks of sky for special flights or operations that need their own dedicated space, so normal traffic stays clear of them.
Context Anchor
Seen in flight planning material, aviation notices, and coordination for special operations that need reserved airspace.
Derivation
‘Central’ because it is a single national facility coordinating these reservations across the country. ‘Altitude Reservation’ describes what it does — it reserves a defined altitude block. Knowing the name spells out the function helps the term stick.
Why Pilots Care
Awareness of active CARF reservations prevents airspace conflicts and supports safe flight planning.
Intuition Check
Do not read “reservation” as a casual request or preference here. In this context, it means a formally coordinated block of airspace set aside for a specific operation.
Example Sentence 1
The military formation flight filed its altitude reservation through CARF before departure.
Example Sentence 2
CARF approved an altitude reservation for the military refueling track along the route.