CLEARANCE DELIVERY
A.
Dialogue
Instructor:
A release time is included in a clearance. It’s the time when a flight can be
accepted into the air traffic system. It could be the time requested in the
flight plan, or there might be a delay due to air traffic. Once a flight is
cleared and under way, the pilot adheres to the specified conditions of the
clearance.
Student:
Why is a clearance required?
Instructor:
A clearance provides traffic separation as well as terrain and obstruction
clearance. In addition, the information provided by the flight plan makes it
easier to find a plane that is missing or has crashed.
Student:
How does a pilot receive clearance? By radio?
Instructor:
For the most part, yes. At larger airports, there may be a separate radio
frequency used only for clearance delivery.
Student:
what happens when there is no clearance delivery frequency at the airport?
Instructor:
An FSS may issue the clearance. If no radio communication is available,
ATC will use the telephone to contact the pilot.
Student:
Does a pilot write down a clearance when it is received?
Instructor:
Yes. There are several systems of shorthand that make it easier to write a
clearance quickly and accurately.
Student:
Does ATC always issue a clearance for the entire flight plan?
Instructor:
Sometimes ATC may issue a clearance to a fix. This happens when the
airway is congested. An expect further clearance time (EFC) will also be
included.
Student:
What happens if the plane reaches the fix before receiving a clearance to
proceed?
Instructor:
The pilot flies in a holding pattern until clearance is received.
Student:
Can a clearance be changed once the plane is airborne?
Instructor:
Yes, that procedure is similar to filing a flight plan in the air.
B
Clearance Shorthand
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Above
After
Airport
Alternate instructions
Before
Below
Clearance void after
Climb and maintain
Cross
Cross airways
Cruise
Descend and maintain
Expect approach clearance at...
Expect further clearance
Hold (direction)
Join or intercept airway
Left turn
Maintain
Range
Remain at or above
restriction
Remain at or below
restriction
+
<
A
(
>
)
+
V<
↑
X
≠
→
↓
EAC (time)
EFC
H (direction)
=
LT
M
R
altitude
_______
altitude








C.
Report leaving
Report passing
Report reaching
Right turn
Takeoff direction
Air Traffic control clears
Until
While on airway
RL
RP
RR
RT
T → (direction)
C
/
=
Terminology Practice
clearance delivery: an ATC service that transmits flight clearances
- the IFR clearance is transmitted by clearance delivery.
- the co-pilot contacted clearance delivery.
- does this airport have a special frequency assigned to
clearance delivery?
expect further clearance (EFC): the time when an additional clearance will be issued
- the aircraft is in a holding pattern with an EFC of
2143 GMT.
- When do you estimate our EFC?
- Our EFC is 1654 GMT.
fix:
a geographical position determined by reference to one or more navigational aids.
- notify ATC when we pass the next fix.
- what time did we pass the last fix?
- we must enter a holding pattern at the next fix.
holding pattern:
the oval course flown by an aircraft awaiting clearance to land
- how long will we remain in the holding pattern?
- we can expect to leave the holding pattern in ten minutes.
- the airport is very busy, so we’ll have to fly in a holding pattern.
release time: the departure time issued by the ATC
- how long do we have to wait for the release time?
- when the release time arrives, ATC will clear the aircraft for takeoff.
- your release time is 2134Z.
D.
CHECK-UP
Match the terms on the left with the abbreviations on the right.
1.
after
a.
LT
2.
below
b.
≠
3.
climb and maintain
c.
RR
4.
cross airways
d.
M
5.
expect further clearance time
e.
+
6.
left turn
f.
RL
7.
maintain
g.
<
8.
report leaving
h.
/
9.
report reaching
i.
EFC
10.
until
j.
↑
*********