Definition
An altitude reservation that travels with one or more aircraft along a planned route, blocking off a defined block of airspace and altitudes around them as they move. It is approved and coordinated by the FAA's Air Traffic Control System Command Center to keep other traffic clear of the protected block while the mission is in progress.
Plain English
A protected bubble of airspace that moves along with the aircraft, keeping other traffic out of their way as they fly the route.
Context Anchor
Seen in air traffic control and flight planning for special operations that need protected airspace along a route, such as a large formation flight.
Derivation
"Reservation" comes from the Latin reservare, meaning to keep back or set aside. Here, a block of airspace is set aside for specific aircraft. "Moving" distinguishes it from a stationary reservation that stays fixed over one location.
Why Pilots Care
Allows pilots to anticipate route changes or altitude restrictions needed to maintain safe separation from the reserved operation.
Analogy
Think of it like a protected lane around a convoy on a highway. The protected space is not tied to one mile marker; it moves with the convoy.
Intuition Check
“Moving” does not mean the altitude itself is moving or changing. It means the reserved block of airspace follows the aircraft along its route instead of staying over one fixed location.
Example Sentence 1
The tanker formation flew under a moving altitude reservation that kept other IFR traffic clear of their refueling track across three ARTCC boundaries.
Example Sentence 2
ATC issued a reroute because our filed altitude crossed an active Moving Altitude Reservation for a formation of fighters.