"Jon Woellhaf" wrote in message
. ..
According to the Pilot/Controller Glossary,

TOWER EN ROUTE CONTROL SERVICE - The control of IFR en route traffic
within delegated airspace between two or more adjacent approach control
facilities. This service is designed to expedite traffic and reduce
control and pilot communication requirements.

TOWER TO TOWER-
(See TOWER EN ROUTE CONTROL SERVICE.)


Also see AIM 4-1-18
/excerpt

4-1-18. Tower En Route Control (TEC)

a. TEC is an ATC program to provide a service to
aircraft proceeding to and from metropolitan areas. It
links designated Approach Control Areas by a
network of identified routes made up of the existing
airway structure of the National Airspace System.

The FAA initiated an expanded TEC program to
include as many facilities as possible. The program’s
intent is to provide an overflow resource in the low
altitude system which would enhance ATC services.

A few facilities have historically allowed turbojets to
proceed between certain city pairs, such as
Milwaukee and Chicago, via tower en route and these
locations may continue this service. However, the
expanded TEC program will be applied, generally,
for nonturbojet aircraft operating at and below
10,000 feet. The program is entirely within the
approach control airspace of multiple terminal
facilities. Essentially, it is for relatively short flights.

Participating pilots are encouraged to use TEC for
flights of two hours duration or less. If longer flights
are planned, extensive coordination may be required
within the multiple complex which could result in
unanticipated delays.

b. Pilots requesting TEC are subject to the same
delay factor at the destination airport as other aircraft
in the ATC system. In addition, departure and en route
delays may occur depending upon individual facility
workload. When a major metropolitan airport is
incurring significant delays, pilots in the TEC
program may want to consider an alternative airport
experiencing no delay.

c. There are no unique requirements upon pilots to
use the TEC program. Normal flight plan filing
procedures will ensure proper flight plan processing.
Pilots should include the acronym “TEC” in the
remarks section of the flight plan when requesting
tower en route control.

d. All approach controls in the system may not
operate up to the maximum TEC altitude of
10,000 feet. IFR flight may be planned to any
satellite airport in proximity to the major primary
airport via the same routing.

/end
--
Matt
---------------------
Matthew W. Barrow
Site-Fill Homes, LLC.
Montrose, CO