Definition
Military Training Routes are routes established jointly by the FAA and the Department of Defense to allow military aircraft to conduct low-altitude, high-speed training, generally below 10,000 feet MSL and at speeds in excess of 250 knots. They are identified on charts as IR (Instrument Routes) or VR (Visual Routes), followed by a number that indicates the route's altitude profile: routes with three-digit identifiers (for example, IR201) are flown wholly or partly above 1,500 feet AGL, and routes with four-digit identifiers (for example, VR1001) are flown entirely at or below 1,500 feet AGL.
Plain English
Special charted corridors where military aircraft practice flying fast and low. Civilian pilots can legally fly through them, but should expect fast military traffic and check whether the route is active before crossing.
Context Anchor
Seen on aviation charts and in preflight planning, especially when checking for areas where fast military traffic may cross or run near your route.
Why Pilots Care
Military aircraft on these routes can fly at high speeds and low altitudes, creating a collision hazard if civilian pilots are unaware of their location.
Grounding Statement
If your planned route crosses an MTR, picture a fast military jet or transport possibly passing through that area on a training run.
Intuition Check
Do not assume an MTR is closed airspace. It is a published training route, not a wall; civil aircraft may still fly there, but they should treat it as an area where fast military traffic may be present.
Example Sentence 1
During flight planning, she noticed her route crossed VR1750 and called Flight Service to check whether the MTR would be active during her crossing time.
Example Sentence 2
The controller advised traffic of military aircraft operating on VR1234.