Airport Reservations and STMPs

AIM ¶ 4-1-21 — Airport Reservations and STMPs

AIM 4-1-21 explains slot-controlled airport reservations, Special Traffic Management Programs (STMPs), and Prior Permission Required (PPR) procedures for pilots.

In Plain English

AIM 4-1-21 covers three reservation systems pilots may encounter when flying into busy or specially managed airports.

Slot Controlled Airports: The FAA limits unscheduled operations at certain high-density airports. The Airport Reservation Office (ARO) uses the Enhanced Computer Voice Reservation System (e-CVRS) at fly.faa.gov/ecvrs to allocate slots. Reservations open 72 hours in advance, no standby lists exist, and declared emergencies don't need a reservation. Details are in 14 CFR Part 93, Subpart K.
Special Traffic Management Programs (STMPs): Temporary programs for events like the Super Bowl, Oshkosh, or SUN 'n FUN, or reduced capacity from construction. Reservations are made via e-STMP (fly.faa.gov/estmp), and a domestic notice publishes the airports, dates, time windows, and contact info.
Prior Permission Required (PPR): Used when traffic doesn't justify an STMP but operations are limited (ramp space, runway construction, snow removal, GA into military fields). PPRs are published via NOTAM or in the Chart Supplement remarks. Pilots — not controllers — are responsible for compliance, and an issued ID number must go in the flight plan Remarks.

Knowing which system applies prevents you from being turned away or creating a ground safety hazard.

AIM Source Text

FAA AIM ¶ 4-1-21

4-1-21. 4-1-21. Airport Reservation Operations and Special Traffic Management Programs This section describes procedures for obtaining required airport reservations at airports designated by the FAA and for airports operating under Special Traffic Management Programs. Slot Controlled Airports. The FAA may adopt rules to require advance reservations for unscheduled operations at certain airports. In addition to the information in the rules adopted by the FAA, a listing of the airports and relevant information will be maintained on the FAA website www.fly.faa.gov/ecvrs . The FAA has established an Airport Reservation Office (ARO) to receive and process reservations for unscheduled flights at the slot controlled airports. The ARO uses the Enhanced Computer Voice Reservation System (e-CVRS) to allocate reservations. Reservations will be available beginning 72 hours in advance of the operation at the slot controlled airport. Standby lists are not maintained. Flights with declared emergencies do not require reservations. Refer to the website for the current listing of slot controlled airports, limitations, and reservation procedures. For more detailed information on operations and reservation procedures at a Slot Controlled Airport, please see 14 CFR part 93, Subpart K – High Density Traffic Airports. Special Traffic Management Programs (STMP). Special programs may be established when a location requires special traffic handling to accommodate above normal traffic demand (for example, NFL Super Bowl, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, SUN 'n FUN Aerospace Expo) or reduced airport capacity (for example, significant airport runway closures for airport construction). The special programs may remain in effect until the problem has been resolved or until local traffic management procedures can handle the volume and a need for special handling no longer exists. If an STMP is used to accommodate a special event, a domestic notice will be issued relaying the website address: www.fly.faa.gov/estmp . Domestic notice information includes: what airports are included in the STMP, the dates and times reservations are required, the time limits for reservation requests, the point of contact for reservations, and any other instructions. Making Reservations. Detailed information and User Instruction Guides for using the Web reservation systems are available on the websites for the slot controlled airports (e-CVRS), www.fly.faa.gov/ecvrs ; and STMPs (e-STMP), www.fly.faa.gov/estmp . NOTE- Users may contact the ARO at (540) 422-4246 if they have a problem with their reservation. Prior Permission Required (PPR). A PPR may be required at locations where air traffic demand does not require an STMP, but operations may be impacted by on-airport activity or by a nearby event. Events that may require a PPR include, but are not limited to: Construction on or near an active runway requiring time to remove personnel and equipment. Limited ramp space for parking aircraft. Snow removal at airports without an operating control tower. General aviation operations into military airports. Pilots are responsible for coordinating operations related to the PPR. Controllers may be aware of the PPR, but they do not enforce or otherwise oversee compliance. Operations contrary to a PPR could result in a safety hazard to persons or property on the ground. PPRs are disseminated via NOTAM or published in the airport remarks section of the Chart Supplement and typically includes a phone number or frequency to coordinate operations. An identification number may be issued that is to be included in the Remarks section of the flight plan. Major airports with PPRs are listed on the FAA's National Airspace System Status website ( https://nasstatus.faa.gov ).

Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask

Q1What is a slot-controlled airport, and how do you obtain a reservation to operate there?

Per AIM 4-1-21, slot-controlled airports are designated by FAA rule to require advance reservations for unscheduled operations. Reservations are obtained through the Airport Reservation Office (ARO) using the Enhanced Computer Voice Reservation System (e-CVRS) at www.fly.faa.gov/ecvrs, beginning 72 hours before the operation. No standby list is maintained, and declared emergencies do not require a reservation. Procedures are detailed in 14 CFR Part 93, Subpart K.

Q2When would the FAA establish a Special Traffic Management Program (STMP), and how would you find out about it?

Per AIM 4-1-21, an STMP may be established when an airport experiences above-normal traffic demand (e.g., Super Bowl, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, SUN 'n FUN) or reduced capacity due to events like runway construction. The FAA issues a domestic notice listing affected airports, dates and times, reservation time limits, and points of contact, and reservations are made via www.fly.faa.gov/estmp.

Q3What is a PPR, who is responsible for compliance, and where is it published?

Per AIM 4-1-21, a Prior Permission Required (PPR) is used at locations where traffic doesn't warrant an STMP but operations may be impacted — for example, runway construction, limited ramp space, snow removal at non-towered fields, or GA operations into military airports. PPRs are disseminated by NOTAM or in the Chart Supplement airport remarks, often with a phone number or frequency. The pilot — not ATC — is responsible for coordinating and complying. If issued, the PPR identification number must be included in the Remarks section of the flight plan.

Related Paragraphs in AIM Chapter 4

¶ 4-1-1

Air Route Traffic Control Centers

¶ 4-1-10

CTAF IFR Approach Procedures

¶ 4-1-11

UNICOM/MULTICOM Frequencies