22
votes
Accepted
Do seaplanes need to get clearance for takeoff?
If the seaplane is operating from a land airport with a control tower AND a water runway, yes. Or, if the seaplane is operating from a Tower controlled water-only aerodrome, such as the one along ...
- 126k
18
votes
Do military aircraft overflying other countries' airspace require special clearance?
In general, a diplomatic clearance is required for overflight of military aircraft over other countries. The aircraft are considered state aircraft and prior clearance has to be obtained through ...
- 100k
18
votes
Accepted
What is the correct phraseology for changing the runway of a landing clearance?
The phraseology in the video was slightly incorrect at the time it was issued. Due to further clarifications, that phraseology is now even more of a departure from the current guidance.
When that ...
- 71.6k
17
votes
Accepted
When is the descent clearance requested from ATC?
Whether there are any formal policies for when to request descent will depend on the airline. However, I doubt formal procedures are established, since it should be pretty obvious to pilots when to ...
- 36.2k
16
votes
Does "Cross [FIX] at 250 knots" mean I have to maintain 250 knots after the fix?
If I, as the ATC, give the instruction Cross [FIX] at 250 knots the expectation is that you will:
At a distance from the fix adjust your speed to be at 250 knots ...
- 1,293
15
votes
What does “to the numbers” mean in landing clearance?
Typically it's phrased as "direct to the numbers" and means you should proceed in a straight line from your present position to where the runway numbers are painted on the pavement. This instruction ...
- 4,640
14
votes
Do seaplanes need to get clearance for takeoff?
No, seaplanes generally don't need clearance to take off unless they are operating from a controlled seaplane base. There are two types of airports controlled (towered) and uncontrolled (self announce)...
- 100k
13
votes
Accepted
Why wasn't Solar Impulse 2 cleared for takeoff?
Interesting question. The ATC orders mention only two reasons that controllers have to say "at your own risk":
The pilot "insists" on using a closed or unsafe runway (3-3-2)
A helicopter takeoff or ...
- 71.6k
12
votes
Is it bad form to call "ready to depart" when you know you won't be cleared yet?
Informing the controller that you are ready to depart and requesting a takeoff clearance aren't the same thing.
It isn't bad form to inform the controller when you're ready for the next phase; if the ...
- 8,761
11
votes
Accepted
Does a request for a Pop-Up IFR clearance constitute filing a flight plan?
I think Porcupine911 nailed the first question perfectly with the reference to JO 7110.65W: A "pop-up" IFR clearance counts as filing an IFR flight plan.
ATC considers it an "airfiled" flight plan (...
- 68.3k
11
votes
Accepted
Can we infer whether a given approach is visual only from the track data and the meteorological conditions?
According to faa-regulations,1 for an instrument approach there is the concept of an approach gate, an imaginary point in space which is along the final approach course and is the farther of:
1NM ...
- 13.5k
9
votes
Accepted
How do I know if an arrival procedure (STAR) clearance includes altitudes?
In the U.S., the phrase "Descend via the (arrival)" means that you are cleared to the altitudes as published. Without that phrase, simply cleared for the ___ arrival, then your clearance is the fixes,...
- 49.8k
8
votes
Accepted
Which clearances are issued by ATC without the pilot requesting them?
No clearance is issued without the pilot requesting it. But a request is not just something you do on the radio. The interesting questions here is: how do pilots request something?
The most common ...
- 36.2k
7
votes
Is it bad form to call "ready to depart" when you know you won't be cleared yet?
From an ATC perspective - no, reporting ready for departure is not bad form, quite the opposite!
The sooner we know you are ready, the sooner we can start planning other traffic to accommodate your ...
- 36.2k
7
votes
Accepted
Can a non-IFR rated pilot accept an IFR clearance, provided the operation occurs in VMC only?
Operating as PIC under IFR always requires an instrument rating and currency, regardless of flight conditions.
14 CFR 61.3(e) requires the rating, and there's no exception for VFR conditions:
(e) ...
- 71.6k
7
votes
When can I proceed inbound in a hold in lieu of a procedure turn when cleared for the approach?
You don't need to do a full turn around the holding pattern, you can just cross the IAF and proceed inbound. This is from the AIM 5-4-9(a)(5):
The holding pattern maneuver is completed when the ...
- 71.6k
6
votes
Accepted
When has a pilot legally accepted an ATC clearance or instruction?
I would try to not over complicate this issue. There are three conditions a clearance/instruction can have:
Transmitted/Received
Accepted
Rejected
If ATC provides a clearance/instruction, but has ...
- 8,761
6
votes
Is it bad form to call "ready to depart" when you know you won't be cleared yet?
I see a contradiction in your question.
In my experience, you do not receive an instruction to "Line Up and Wait" until after you call "Ready to Go". Once lined up and waiting, you should be doing ...
- 30.4k
6
votes
Do military aircraft overflying other countries' airspace require special clearance?
In Switzerland, every aircraft is monitored by the air traffic control (ATC). However, if the plane flies without a transponder, it's an unknown aircraft for the ATC-Radar and the military will take ...
- 3,787
6
votes
Which clearances are issued by ATC without the pilot requesting them?
ATC "clearance" is only used in specific situations:
A route clearance - pilots request this when ready
Takeoff clearance - pilots assumed to be ready unless they say otherwise
Approach clearance - ...
- 71.8k
6
votes
Accepted
What is the 'Downstream Clearance?'
The definition you quote is pretty clear to me. But let me try to explain some of the background to help you understand it.
An ATC clearance always contains a clearance limit, which is the point to ...
- 36.2k
5
votes
What is the correct phraseology for changing the runway of a landing clearance?
Was the phraseology correct for this change of the clearance?
Probably not. It was possibly missing an important standard phrase, and almost certainly missing the clarity that such a change should ...
- 31.8k
5
votes
Accepted
What are ATC's considerations when they instruct to intercept final approach course instead of simply clearing for approach?
The main reasons I will instruct a pilot to intercept and follow the localiser instead of clearing him for the ILS are separation and minimum safe altitudes.
In a busy approach environment, it is ...
- 36.2k
5
votes
If cleared to cross a runway and expedite but are slow to get away, are you obliged to stop?
If you feel you cannot safely comply with any ATC instruction, you can simply reply “Unable” and the controllers will amend your clearance. Remember: you are pilot in command; you are the final ...
- 72.8k
5
votes
Accepted
Is it possible to fly VFR above the IMC floor or VFR-On-Top without a specifically filed route, both using an IFR flight plan to go through IMC?
This question probably covers some of your points but here's some more information. See the AIM 5-5-13 and ATC Orders 7-3-1 for more details.
Can I get an IFR clearance for an area and operate there ...
- 71.6k
5
votes
Accepted
How do you write 'to', 'then', or 'via' in IFR clearances shorthand symbols?
Do what works for you, and omit what you can. For example, "N123 is cleared to KABC" can be condensed to "ABC"... assuming the clearance is for you, why copy your own tail #? You're copying a ...
- 49.8k
4
votes
Accepted
What is meant by the term "Code on request"?
Yes, I think you're correct although the phrasing is unusual. The usual phrase is "clearance on request", which is used for IFR departures as explained nicely in this AOPA article:
Experienced ...
- 71.6k
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