Clearances

Question 1

What is Craft?

Answer 1

Clearance
Route
Altitude
Frequency
Transponder

Question 2

What is a clearance?

99% of the time your clearance limit is_______
Can your clearance be ammended?

Answer 2

Authorization to proceed to a certain point.
‘Cleared to’

99% - Your Destination

Yes, your clearance can be amended to a new clearance limit (ex. Holding Pattern)

Question 3

What is the purpose of an IFR clearance?

Answer 3

To prevent collisions between known aircraft.

Question 4

When En Route what separation do you have?

When in Class B/C Airspace what seperation do you have?

Answer 4

En Route: Only IFR Traffic

B/C: VFR & IFR Traffic

Question 5

Where are IFR clearances required?

Answer 5

Class A Airspace (91.135)

Before operating in IFR controlled airspace you must be ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN and RECEIVE A CLEARANCE.

Question 6

Why do we use 29.92 above FL 180?

Answer 6

There is no more terrain to worry about, only other aircraft.

It’s much easier for all aircraft to know a standard altitude, than worry about terrain when there is none.

Question 7

Can you operate VFR to take off?

Answer 7

Yes, but to operate IFR you must obtain your clearance.

Question 8

Do you have to accept a clearance? (91.123)

Answer 8

No, you do not have to accept an IFR clearance.

Question 9

If ATC issues a clearance that woudl otherwise cause a pilot to deviate from a rule or regulation, or PIC opinion would place aircraft jeopardy what must you do.

Answer 9

You MUST amend the clearance by stating “UNABLE”

Question 10

When are clearances amended?

Answer 10

Deviations due to an emergency

Question 11

When given priority you may asked to submit a report within how long?

Answer 11

48 hours

Question 12

What should you use to get ready for an IFR flight. (6)

Answer 12

• Any and all info (runway lengths, TO/LD info)
• Weather reports and Forecasts
• Fuel Requirements (45 min plus fuel for alternate)
• Alternates available if flight cannot be completed
• Any known Track Delays
• IFR Flight Plan (91.173) - must file at least 30 min before dep.

Question 13

Where can you file an IFR flight plan?

Answer 13

• File VIA FS (1800wxbrief)

* Any ATC Facility (ground, tower, TRACON, CENTER)

Question 14

What is a ‘pop-up’ flight plan?

Answer 14

A VFR aircraft calls ATC and requests an instrument clearance without having previously filed an IFR flight plan

Question 15

What is the 1-2-3 rule?

Answer 15

You must include an alternate airport for IFR IF:

1 - During the time 1 hour before to 1 hour after the estimated arrival time

2 - Ceiling less than 2,000 feet

3 - Visibility less than 3 miles

Question 16

How do you get clearance?

Where do you find controlling agency?
Controlled Airports:
Non-Towered Airports:

Answer 16

A/FD will have frequencies for clearance.

Controlled airports:
•Clearance Delivery
•Ground Control
•Control Tower

Non-Towered Airports:
• Controlling Agency, RCO, GCO, or phone
• FSS (radio)
• National Clearance Delivery (888-766-8267)
• Relay from other aircraft (last resort, usually due to terrain)

Question 17

Pre-Taxi Clearance Procedure

1. According to AIM when can you call clearance or ground up.
2. IFR clearance is available ______ min prior to proposed departure time and cane be made up to ________ before.
3. IFR flight plan is good for at least _________ past proposed time, then it expires. Sometimes they are good up to ________ .
4. Upon initial cal to ground you should advise them

Answer 17

1. 10 Minutes before proposed taxi time.
2. IFR clearance is available 30 min prior to proposed departure time and cane be made up to 2 hours before.
3. IFR flight plan is good for at least 1 hour past proposed time, then it expires. Sometimes they are good up to 2 hours.
4. Advise ground you have PDC and squawk code.

Question 18

You say READY TO COPY when?

Answer 18

Only when airborne, never when on the ground.

Question 19

Pilot is responsible only for writing clearance. T/F?

Answer 19

False, pilot is responsible for write down and readback.

Question 20

Clearance Void Time:

When must you be airborne?
If you are not off by then what do you need to do?
If you fail to do that, what will happen?

Answer 20

You must be off by Clearance Void Time

If not, notify ATC that you are no going to depart by then.

If you fail to, search & rescue will be activated

Question 21

You get the plane pre-flighted, taxi, and run-up done and then call for clearance. When you call FSS they will ask for _____- (2)

Answer 21

Runway you wish

How soon before you will be ready to depart.

Question 22

When is Hold For Release given?
When do you call back?
Can you depart?

If you’re not released how can you still depart?

Answer 22

Given for spacing, or flow issues and you call back when #1 for the runway and you will be given release and void time. You can not depart until you are released.

You can still depart VFR but maintain VFR and may not be given your IFR clearance immediately.

Question 23

Pilot Discretion Means:

Answer 23

You can begin descending now, or at your discretion but all climbs and descents should be made at optimum consistent with aircraft.

NOT LESS THAN 500fpm

Question 24

IFR Clearance when airborne in VFR:

What should you do first?
If you did not file a flight plan who can help you?
When you contact ATC facility with jurisdiction for IFR what do you tell them?

Answer 24

File flight plan with FSS if you haven’t yet.

ATC can create a flight plan for you if you do not have one, workload permitting.

Tell them who you are, where you are, and what you want.

Question 25

Expect Departure Clearance Time (EDCT)

When will you be notified?
What may you be asked?
ATC will assign what?

How long o you have to depart after your runway release time?

Answer 25

You will be notified ATIS or upon initial climb for clearance

You may be asked how soon you will be ready.

ATC will assign a runway release time, and you must depart no earlier than 5 minutes before and no more than 5 minutes later.

Question 26

Through Clearance (define)

Answer 26

Clearance that allows a pilot to stop at an intermediate airport while on a single IFR clearance.

Question 27

Short Range Clearance:

What is it?
Why is it done?
Where is it usually used?

Answer 27

Clearance that is issued to a departing IFR flight, allowing flight to a short destination.

ATC does this to coordinate and obtain clearance from another ATC facility.

Usually used in non-radar areas.

Question 28

Cruise Clearance:

What is it?

When is it issued?

What restriction is there?
On approach what does it authorize you to do?

Answer 28

It is issued on short route segments where track congestion is not an issue, where altitude operations are at the discretion of the pilot from CLEARANCE ALTITUDE to the MINIMUM IFR ALTITUDE.

If you report leaving an altitude you must have clearance to go back to that altitude.

Authorizes you to do any approach at the destination that you choose.

Question 29

VFR on Top:

When can pilots request? 
What rules have to be followed? 
What altitude rules do you maintain?
When is it usually used? 
What happens when requesting VFR on TOP?

Answer 29

Pilots may request VFR on top if they’re in VMC

Must follow both VFR and IFR

Must maintain VMC and fly VFR altitudes

Generally used for IFR-rated climb through clouds and then cancel IFR once up top.

You will be cleared to climb to an altitude and asked to report VFR on top.