V.A. Air Traffic Control Clearances
References: 14 CFR part 91; FAA-H-8083-15
Objectives
The student should develop knowledge of the elements related to communications with ATC
as well as copying and read back of an IFR clearance.
Key Elements
1. Pilot/Controller Responsibilities
2. C-R-A-F-T
3. Always clarify instructions if confused
Elements
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Air Traffic Clearance
Pilot Controller Responsibilities
ATC IFR Clearance
Interpretation, Clarification, Change of an ATC Clearance
Setting Com and Nav Frequencies
Schedule
1.
2.
3.
4.
Discuss Objectives
Review material
Development
Conclusion
Equipment
1. White board and markers
2. References
IP’s Actions
1.
2.
3.
4.
SP’s Actions
1. Participate in discussion
2. Take notes
3. Ask and respond to questions
Completion
Standards
The student understands the ATC communication system, the format behind an IFR clearance,
as well as how to obtain a clearance when necessary.
Discuss lesson objectives
Present Lecture
Ask and Answer Questions
Assign homework
V.A. Air Traffic Control Clearances
Instructors Notes:
Introduction:
Attention
Interesting fact or attention grabbing story
Overview
Review Objectives and Elements/Key ideas
What
This lesson will examine the responsibilities of the controller and pilot during communication in the IFR
world. You will also learn to the format of an IFR clearance, which is required for every IFR flight, and finally
how to most efficiently set up your communications for flight.
Why
Communication is a huge part of IFR flight. Due to potentially restricted visibility, communication with ATC
becomes essential for safety. The understanding of that communication is therefore imperative.
How:
1. Air Traffic Clearance
A. An authorization by ATC, for the purpose of preventing collision between know aircraft, for an aircraft to
proceed under specified traffic conditions within controlled airspace
2. Pilot/Controller Responsibilities (Tower, En Route Control, Clearance Void Times)
A. Pilot Responsibilities
i. Acknowledge and receipt and understanding of an ATC clearance
ii. Read back any hold short instructions issued by ATC
iii. Request clarification or amendment, as appropriate, any time clearance is not fully understood
a. Or considered unacceptable from a safety standpoint
iv. Promptly complies with ATC clearance upon receipt except as necessary to cope with an emergency
a. Advises ATC as soon as possible and obtains an amended clearance, if deviation is necessary
v. PIC is directly responsible for and the final authority as to the operation of the aircraft (91.3)
a. In emergencies, PIC may deviate from 14 CFR to the extent necessary to maintain safety and
then, if requested, send a written report to the Administrator
vi. Pilot is always responsible to see and avoid traffic when operating in VMC
vii. To operate under IFR in controlled airspace (91.173)
a. File an IFR flight plan
b. Obtain an ATC clearance
B. Controller responsibilities
i. Issuing appropriate clearances for the operation to be conducted
ii. In IFR clearances, assigning altitudes above the minimum IFR altitudes in controlled airspace
iii. Ensuring pilot acknowledgement/read back of clearances
a. If incorrect, distorted, or incomplete, makes corrections as appropriate
C. Tower En Route Control
i. The control of IFR en route traffic within delegated airspace between two or more adjacent
approach control facilities
a. An ATC program that uses overlapping approach control radar services to provide IFR clearances
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V.A. Air Traffic Control Clearances
b. You are routed by airport control towers
c. Usually for aircraft operating below 10,000’
ii. Advantages
a. Designed to expedite traffic and reduce control and pilot communication requirements
b. Abbreviated filing procedures, fewer delays and reduced traffic separation requirements
iii. There are many locations where instrument flight can be conducted entirely in terminal airspace
a. TEC routes can be found in the A/FD
b. Pilots desiring to use TEC should include it in the remarks section of the flight plan
D. Clearance Void Time
i. May receive a clearance, when operating from an airport w/o a tower, which contains a provision
for the clearance to be void if not airborne by a specific time
a. Used by ATC to advise an aircraft that the departure clearance is automatically canceled if T/O is
not made prior to a specified time
ii. If not off by the specified time, you must advise ATC of your intentions
a. The pilot must obtain a new clearance or cancel the IFR flight plan if not off by the specified time
b. ATC will normally advise of the time allotted to notify ATC that you did not depart
 Failure to contact ATC within the 30 min after the void time will result in search and rescue
 Other IFR traffic for the airport where the clearance is issued is suspended until the aircraft
has contacted ATC or 30 min after the clearance void time
 Pilots departing at or after their clearance void time are not afforded IFR separation and
may be in violation of 91.173 which requires pilots to receive an appropriate clearance
before operating IFR in controlled airspace
3. ATC IFR Clearance
A. Clearance is received from Clearance Del when available, otherwise Ground will perform this function
B. When “Ready to copy” inform the controller and copy as follows:
i. Clearance Limit
a. Occasionally a short-range clearance to a fix w/in or just outside the terminal area and provides
frequency on which the long-range clearance will be received
ii. Route, including any departure procedure
a. Normally "as filed," but may be changed for established flow patterns or preferred routes
b. Pilot responsibility to notify ATC if unable to comply with clearance
 e.g., radio equipment unable to receive necessary signals
iii. Altitude, the initial altitude (to maintain)
a. Cruise, instead of maintain, assigns a block of airspace from min IFR altitude to the cruise
altitude
 Within this block climb, descent and level-off are at pilot's discretion
 Once pilot begins descent and verbally reports leaving an altitude, he may not climb back to
that altitude w/o further clearance
iv. Frequency, for departure control
v. Transponder Code
vi. Often you will know most of these before copying
a. Clearance limit is usually the destination; Route is often what you provided; DPs/Initial
Altitude/Frequency can be heard as other aircraft are given clearances
C. Read Back
i. Promptly read back the clearance you just copied
ii. Inform ATC of any items you missed; correct any errors and read back those items again for
confirmation
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V.A. Air Traffic Control Clearances
iii. Note "read back correct" from controller confirming correctness
iv. Reading back of initial clearance does not imply acceptance
v. Ensure appropriate phraseology is used
a. AIM Pilot Controller Glossary
4. Interpretation, Clarification, Change of an ATC clearance
A. Interpretation
i. Know what to expect from the controller
a. Pilot Controller Glossary
b. Enroute locations of nav facilities, waypoints, etc.
c. CRAFT
d. DPs
B. Clarification and Change
i. Once the clearance is accepted, you are required to comply with ATC instructions
a. You may request a clearance different from what was received
b. Request clarification/amendment as appropriate anytime a clearance is not fully understood or
unsafe
 The pilot is responsible for requesting an amended clearance if the aircraft will be put in
jeopardy
5. Setting Com and Nav Frequencies
A. Setup of all com/nav info according to the clearance received creates a much smoother flight
i. Com Setup:
a. Com 1: Departure Frequencies
 Tower in the active frequency and Departure in standby
b. Com 2: Arrival Frequencies
B. Set HI bug on initial assigned departure heading
C. Bug the initial altitude
D. Enter and check assigned route, all waypoints, including DP, in GPS and activate flight plan
E. Using primary navigation system (GPS): enter, check frequency/ID of first 1st station,
i. Set OBS to initial assigned course
F. Set secondary NAV radio to the frequency of the approach facility (e.g., ILS) that would be used in case
of emergency return to departure airport in IMC
G. Check transponder set to assigned code and on standby until ready for T/O, then switch to ALT mode
Conclusion:
Brief review of the main points
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