Block Allocation?

Gene Seibel wrote:

Military aircraft in MOA's are often given blocks of altitude.

That's different. Once in the MOA they are not IFR.

Continental Express conducts some training within 150 miles of my area,
and at night, I have heard them request and recieve blocks of airspace
(big pie wedges) that are thousands of feet deep for airborne
maneuvering. Im presuming that they are required to operate under IFR by
company or Fed/Op Spec guidelines, so to conduct these maneuvers in IFR
requires the chunk of airspace, hence the "block"

Dave

AES/newspost wrote:
Listening to channel nine on UA 1225 Denver-Reno yesterday, I heard
something like:

"Denver Center, Jackpot 123, can we request a block allocation
for 39 to 41?"

and then

"Jackpot 123, Denver Center, block allocation 39 to 41 approved."

["Jackpot 123" is made-up name since I don't remember actual name; maybe
it was "block assignment" instead of "allocation"; and I don't recall if
the wording was "Flight levels 39 to 41" or just the numbers.]

Anyway, I'm assuming that "Jackpot 1243" wanted to move up and down
freely between 39,000 and 41,000 feet seeking smoothest ride and best
fuel economy without having to make repeated requests; and Denver Center
was willing to approve this since nobody else was up that high anyway.

Is that likely the case?

Dave S wrote:

Continental Express conducts some training within 150 miles of my area,
and at night, I have heard them request and recieve blocks of airspace
(big pie wedges) that are thousands of feet deep for airborne
maneuvering. Im presuming that they are required to operate under IFR by
company or Fed/Op Spec guidelines, so to conduct these maneuvers in IFR
requires the chunk of airspace, hence the "block"

When flying a glider in Class A airspace pursuant to an LOA,
I call to open what we colloquially refer to as a "wave
window." The phone at ATC is always answered "Military
Desk" which I presume is the desk responsible for
controlling "blocks" of airspace that are defined by
geographical limits (set in the LOA). ATC will ask for the
name of the block (also defined in the LOA), the requested
altitude block (typically from the bottom of Class A to
FL250 to start) check it in the computer and then advise
if/when it can be opened. These "blocks" opened by the
military desk are geographically defined blocks as well as
altitude blocks, and we're free to roam within the altitude
and geographic limits of the block while it's open.
Todd Pattist
(Remove DONTSPAMME from address to email reply.)
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Often air to air refueling flights will request and get block altitudes but
generally they are around 30K' not 40K'.

Mike
MU-2


"AES/newspost" wrote in message
...
Listening to channel nine on UA 1225 Denver-Reno yesterday, I heard
something like:

"Denver Center, Jackpot 123, can we request a block allocation
for 39 to 41?"

and then

"Jackpot 123, Denver Center, block allocation 39 to 41 approved."

["Jackpot 123" is made-up name since I don't remember actual name; maybe
it was "block assignment" instead of "allocation"; and I don't recall if
the wording was "Flight levels 39 to 41" or just the numbers.]

Anyway, I'm assuming that "Jackpot 1243" wanted to move up and down
freely between 39,000 and 41,000 feet seeking smoothest ride and best
fuel economy without having to make repeated requests; and Denver Center
was willing to approve this since nobody else was up that high anyway.

Is that likely the case?