Air Traffic Control and Clearances

ATC Overview and components

• ATIS
• Clearance Delivery
• Ground Control
• Approach/Departure Control
• ARTCC
Enroute IFR ATC Services
Terminal Services
ATC Clearances
• Clearance Overview
• IFR Flight Plan
• Initial IFR Clearance
• Types of IFR Clearances
• Clearance Limits

Instrument Ground School 2015

Created by Steve Reisser
 The ATC System

Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) Airspace

(many sectors)

Approach Control 1
Sector 3
Sector 1 Approach control 2
Sector 2

Clearance Delivery -> Ground <-> Tower <-> Approach <-> Center

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 Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs)

Each ARTCC is
divided into areas,
then each area is
divided into sectors.
Sector boundaries
may be based on
lateral boundaries,
vertical boundaries,
or both.

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 BDL Approach Control Airspace

West Departure (WD) Worcester Radar (OR)

BDL

Hartford Radar
(HR)
Bristol Radar Hartford Radar and Bristol
(BR) Radar overlap South of
Bradley. Final Vector is
within 10 Miles of BDL
below 5,000

With permission: Courtesy of FAA, BDL Approach Control

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 BDL Approach Control
Bristol (BR) 123.95
Hartford (HR) 127.8
N90 - New York Tracon

HR SFC-025
BR 035-100

HR SFC-100
BR SFC-
100
N90 SFC-060
HFD - 70 HR SFC-090
BR 080-100 BR 100

HR SFC-
HR SFC-070
080
BR 080-100 N90 SFC-090 BR 090-100
BR 100

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 ARTCC Traffic Separation
• Air traffic controllers maintain separation of
aircraft in accordance with the standards set
forth in FAA Handbook 7110.65
– Radar separation minima (ARTCC)
• 5 miles laterally
• 1,000 ft. vertically (below FL 290), 2000 ft. vertically at and
above FL 290
– Non-radar minima
• Based upon aircraft reports
• aircraft speeds
• and time
– You must maintain your speed within 10 kts of the
speed requested by ATC

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 Processing IFR Flight Plans

• Steps in generating an ATC clearance

based on your filed flight plan
– Initial filing with FSS, DUAT, or ATC (in air)
– Generation of flight strip to controlling ARTCC
– Routing verification (preferred routes)
– Revision of flight planned route, if necessary
• Throughout your flight, a new flight strip is
generated automatically for each facility’s
airspace you will enter

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 Flight Progress Strips

*
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 Runway Incursion

Aircraft
stopped here.

Taxi route given in ATC clearance

Taxi route executed by aircraft

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 ATC’s Priority List...

• General mandate - provide for the safe,

orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic
• In particular…
– Separation of aircraft and issuance of safety
alerts (in that order)
– Additional services, e.g., traffic advisories,
weather information, to the extent possible
• Be aware that radar limitations and frequency
congestion may limit ATC’s ability to provide wx
avoidance
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 “Traffic, 2 O’clock”

So, you must adjust traffic reports for any wind correction you are holding.

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 ATIS
• Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS)
– Continuous broadcast of non-control information
– Reduces freq. congestion and improves controller
efficiency
– Each version of ATIS is given a new, sequential letter of
the alphabet
– Remember that if the sky condition and visibility are not
given in the ATIS, this implies that
• the ceiling is more than 5,000 ft. AGL
• the vsby is greater than 5 SM

– Regardless of content change, the ATIS

recording is updated upon receipt of any official
weather.
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 Control Towers
• Responsible for traffic that is landing, taking off,
or operating in the vicinity of an airport
– Normally 4 control functions in a tower
• Clearance delivery
• Ground control
• Local control (Tower)
• Flight Data Controller-recv’s/relays departure clearances,
relays NOTAM info, flight data processing equip. ops
– Must obtain permission from ground control prior to
operating on a movement area
• Movement areas - usable surfaces on an airport except
for loading ramps and parking areas
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 Control Towers (cont’d)

• When departing from a runway intersection,

always state your position when calling the
tower for takeoff
Example: “Providence
tower, Cessna 12345 ready
for takeoff runway 23L,
intersection November”

• During takeoff in IFR conditions, contact departure

control only after you are advised to do so by the tower

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 Radar Service for VFR Aircraft
• Basic radar service…
– provides safety alerts
– traffic advisories
– limited vectoring
– sequencing
• Contact approach control about 25 mi from
airport
– If available listen to the ATIS
• Upon initial call up, state “information <code>”
– If ATIS is unavailable, but you have listened to the
wind, altimeter, and runway in use
• State “Have numbers”

Instrument Ground School 2015

 Radar Service for VFR Aircraft

Terminal Radar Service Area (TRSA)

– radar vectoring

– sequencing

– separation of all IFR and participating VFR a/c

– participation is voluntary, but urged

– it is your responsibility to remain VFR

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 Terms Used by ATC for Radar Service

• Radar Contact
– aircraft has been identified on radar and radar
flight following will be provided until...
• Radar Service Terminated
– you are no longer under ATC radar
surveillance and must resume normal IFR
position reporting
• Resume Own Navigation
– you are responsible for your own navigation,
but you are still in radar contact and need not
resume IFR non-radar position reporting.

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 Class C Service Areas

• You must establish radio communications

prior to entering the airspace and maintain
it thereafter
• You must have a Mode C transponder
• ATC will provide sequencing to all a/c
arriving at the primary airport
• Departure control in Class C area will
separate all IFR aircraft from all other IFR
aircraft and participating VFR aircraft in
outer area
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Instrument Ground School 2015
 Pilot Responsibilities and ATC Clearances

• While operating VFR...

– You are expected to maintain VFR conditions
– You must advise ATC that a clearance will not allow you
to maintain VFR
– You must advise ATC that you cannot comply with a
clearance that you think is unsafe

• Whether you are on a VFR or IFR flight plan…

– Whenever possible, you are responsible for seeing and
avoiding other aircraft

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 Pilot Responsibilities and ATC Clearances
• You may not deviate from an ATC clearance…
– Except in an emergency or in response to a TCAS
advisory
– But if you do, ATC can request a written report (48 hrs)

• While climbing on an IFR flight plan…

– ATC expects you to maintain at least a 500 fpm climb
rate
– Ideally,
• maintain an optimum rate to within 1,000 ft of your altitude
• then climb at between 500 fpm and 1,500 fpm when cleared
for a higher altitude.
– You are required to maintain the centerline of an
airway…
• except when maneuvering in VFR
• to detect and avoid other traffic
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 IFR Flight Plans
Composite flight
plan - check both
VFR and IFR in
 OXC
block 1  PA28/A 60
A/C type and
RACEY V3 CMK V188 SAX
special equipment
in block 3
Block 7 altitude is The ink hasn’t dried yet on my
for first leg only CDW instrument rating. Please be gentle
30 with me.
Block 10 is ETE
to first intended
arrival point 04 00
Block 12 should
indicate total
usable fuel on
board
When does block 13 not need to be filled in?

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 IFR Flight Plans
• Remember, to operate under IFR in
controlled airspace you are required...
– to file an IFR flight plan
– and receive an ATC clearance
• When transitioning from VFR to IFR on a
composite flight plan…
– contact the nearest FSS to close the VFR
portion
– request an IFR clearance
– remember - you must remain VFR until you
have received an IFR clearance
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 IFR Flight Plans

• You may cancel an IFR flight plan…

– only if you are in VFR conditions, and
– outside Class A airspace
• When operating under IFR and landing at an
uncontrolled airport…
– the pilot must initiate IFR cancellation
– by radio in the air if in VFR conditions
– by radio or telephone as soon as on the
ground
• At an airport with a tower, the tower will cancel
your IFR flight plan after your arrival
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 Area Navigation and Flight Planning

• A waypoint on an IFR flight is…

– a predetermined geographical position
– used for an RNAV route
– or RNAV instrument approach identification
– or progress reporting
• A waypoint is defined…
– relative to a VORTAC position, OR
– by latitude and longitude

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 ATC Clearances
ATC clearances will the contain the following items, in order..

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 ATC Clearances

• The main portions of the clearance can be

remembered using the word, CRAFT..
– Clearance limit
– Route of flight
– Altitudes
– Frequencies
– Transponder code

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 ATC Clearances - CRAFT

Clearance limit
– will normally be your destination airport
– but you may be cleared to a fix prior to you destination if
• known delays at your destination
• ATC will gain an operational advantage
• If you are given a clearance limit other than your destination
airport, you should be given
– holding instructions, if not published, for the fix to which you are
cleared and an Expect Further Clearance (EFC) time, or
– a statement that no delay is expected

• Short-Range Clearance -- Issued to a fix within or just outside the

departure terminal. It contains the frequency of ARTCC which will issue your
long range clearance. It is often used in non-radar environments.

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 ATC Clearances - CRAFT

• Route of Flight
– Departure Procedure (DP) [formerly called a SID]
• Published in U.S. Terminal Procedures
• When a route, e.g., preferred route, begins with a fix,
departures will normally be routed to the fix by a DP or radar
vectors
• ATC will assume you have at least a textual description and
may automatically assign a DP. If you don’t want to use a
DP...
– indicate “No DP/STARs”
– in the remarks section of your flight plan
– Remainder of route of flight
• Preferred routes, TEC (Tower Enroute Clearances… later…)
• Published in AFD

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 ATC Clearances

• Holding Instructions (IF given)

– detailed instructions will be given only if
• holding pattern is non-standard, e.g., left hand non-
standard turns
• holding pattern is not the same as published
• ATC feels it is necessary
– e.g., “…cleared to CMK, hold Northeast on V3,
left turns, maintain 6 thousand, EFC @ 2145Z”
– e.g., “… cleared to CMK, hold North as
published, maintain 6 thousand, EFC @
2145Z”
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 Published Holding Pattern

“… cleared to CMK
VOR, hold North as
published, maintain
60, expect further
clearance @
2145Z”

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 ATC Clearances - CRAFT

• Altitude(s)
– Given in order flown
• e.g., “…cross Racey at 40, cross CMK at or below 60,
maintain 80”
– If initial altitude is different than that filed (or final)
• you should be given a time or point at which you can expect
clearance to your final altitude e.g., “expect FL190 ,
10 minutes after departure”
– If not at your desired altitude after a reasonable
amount of time, request it

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 ATC Clearances - CRAFT

• Altitude(s) - continued
– Cruise clearance is an authorization to…
• fly at any altitude from the minimum IFR altitude
• up to and including the altitude specified in the clearance
• and make an approach of your choice at your destination
• all without making any reports to ATC
• However, once you do make a report to ATC that you’ve
vacated an altitude for your descent
– you may not return to that altitude without an additional
clearance
• e.g., “…cleared to Meriden airport, cruise 40”

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 ATC Clearances - CRAFT

• Frequencies
– Departure control frequency
– Possibly ground or tower frequency (if initial
frequency is clearance delivery)
• Transponder Code
– 4-digit code to put in your transponder
– usually keep the same ‘squawk’ for entire flight

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 Abbreviated Clearances
– Used to decrease controller workload
– Will use the phrase, “cleared to LAX as filed” (CAF)
• used in place of a detailed route only if route is same as that
filed
– Departure Procedures are stated explicitly, even
though they may be the same as filed
– At a minimum, the abbreviated clearance will
contain…
• Name of destination airport or clearance limit (if other than
dest)
• Initial altitude
• Departure Procedure name, number, and/or transition, if
appropriate

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 VFR On Top Clearance

• Allows flight in VFR conditions on an IFR flight

plan
– at appropriate VFR altitudes
• at or above the minimum IFR altitude
• you may change altitude after advising ATC
– When below 18,000 ft (Class A)
– as long as you are in VFR conditions
• Can only be assigned by ATC
– when requested by the pilot
– and conditions are expected to be suitable
• Remember - both VFR and IFR rules apply!

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 Climb to VFR On Top

• Allows a VFR flight

– to request a climb through an area of restricted
visibility, haze, fog, or clouds
– without filing an IFR flight plan
– and continue the flight under VFR once you are
above the restriction to visibility or clouds
• ATC will always give you an alternative if you
have not reached VFR conditions by a certain
altitude
– e.g., “…climb to and report reaching VFR on top, no
tops reported. If not on top at 50, maintain 50 and
advise.”

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 Approach Clearances

• The phrase, “...cleared for approach” may be

used if…
– there is only one approach at your destination
– ATC allows you to make the approach of your choice
• If more than one approach is available
– ATC will always specify the name of the approach
– e.g., “…cleared for the NDB runway 36 approach…”
• When the approach is not aligned with the
landing runway, you may be cleared for a
circling approach
– e.g., “…cleared for the VOR runway 17 approach,
circle to land runway 23”
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 Approach Clearances
• Contact approaches
– may be used in lieu of conduction a standard
instrument approach when
• YOU have requested the approach (ATC cannot initiate it)
• the reported ground vsby is at least one mile
• you have at least 1 SM flight vsby
• you can remain clear of clouds
– You are still operating under IFR on a contact
approach
• obstruction clearance and avoidance of VFR traffic
• is your responsibility
– e.g, “… cleared for contact approach at or below 30. If
not possible, <alternate procedure>, and advise.”

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 Approach Clearances
• Visual approaches may be used when
– it is operationally advantageous to ATC
• thus, it can be initiated by the controller
– the ceiling is reported or expected to be at or above
1,000 ft AGL
– the visibility is at least 3 SM
– you have the airport or a preceding aircraft in sight
• Radar service is automatically terminated when
you are told to contact the tower and you are on
a visual approach

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 VFR Restrictions to an IFR Clearance
Clearances issue with “maintain VFR conditions”
Issued if requested by pilot (i.e., climbing or descending VFR to avoid complex
arrival or departure procedures). You MUST remain in VFR conditions and you
are responsible for separation.

Composite Flight Plan

One portion is IFR and the other is VFR. ROUTE segment and clearance
limit fix where IFR is to terminate should be under normal IFR.

First part VFR: File and activate a VFR Flight plan

Approaching IFR Route: Contact FSS, Close VFR flight plan, request IFR clearance.
Last part VFR: Contact FSS, Cancel IFR plan, Activate your VFR flight plan
If you want to continue last portion on IFR, contact ATC 5 minutes before reaching
limit and request clearance to continue. You will likely get a “holding” pattern

Tower Enroute Control Clearance (TEC)

Clearance given to non-turbojet operations below 10,000 MSL with flight duration
less than 2 hours. Flights given between terminal areas are published in A/FD.
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 ATC Clearances
• Departure Restrictions may be issued…
– to separate departures from other IFR traffic
– to restrict or regulate the departure flow of traffic
– three types of departure restrictions
• release time - the earliest you may depart
– e.g., “… released for departure at 2100Z, time 1945 and one
half” or “…released for departure”
• hold for release
– e.g., “…hold for release”
• clearance void time - the latest you may depart
– e.g., “…clearance void if not off by 0304Z, time 0254 and one
quarter”
– you must advise ATC ASAP, but not later than 30 minutes,
of your intentions is not off by your clearance void time
– “Cleared As Filed” (contains destination, limits,
DP[name, #, transition], enroute altitude, frequencies,
transponder codes {DOES NOT DETAIL ROUTING}
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 Cruise Clearances

When ATC issues a cruise clearance in conjunction

with an unpublished route, an appropriate crossing
altitude will be specified to ensure terrain clearance
until the aircraft reaches a fix, point, or route where
the altitude information is available.

The crossing altitude ensures IFR obstruction clearance

to the point at which the aircraft enters a segment of a
published route or IAP.

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 Clearance Readbacks
• You must read back that portion of a clearance
containing…
– your entire initial IFR enroute clearance (recommended)
– an altitude assignment
– radar vector instructions
• e.g., “fly heading 150 until receiving HFD, then proceed direct”
– or any instruction requiring clarification
• ATC may request a read back anytime
• When clearances are given by non-ATC facilities, they
will use the phrases, “ATC clears”, “ATC advises” or
“ATC requests”

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 Clearance readbacks

To reduce the risk of communication errors...

Delegate communication responsibility

Readback all Use a headset

clearances

If in doubt,
verify

Never assume
ATC heard Be alert for
your readback similar call signs

Instrument Ground School 2015

 Summary Checklist

• An ATC clearance is an authorization for you to proceed under a specific set of conditions
within controlled airspace.
• You may not deviate from an ATC clearance unless you experience an emergency or the
clearance will cause you to violate a rule or regulation.
• If you deviate from an ATC clearance, you must notify ATC as soon as possible. If you are
given priority over other aircraft you may be requested to submit a written report to the manager
of the ATC facility within 48 hours.
• Anytime you are in VFR conditions, it is your responsibility to see and avoid all other traffic,
regardless of the type of flight plan you are on.
• An IFR flight plan is required before flying into Class A airspace or any other controlled airspace
when weather is below VFR minimums.
• You must receive an ATC clearance before entering Class A or B airspace regardless of the
weather and in Class C, D, and E airspace when the weather is below VFR minimums.
• The elements of an ATC clearance are: Aircraft identification, clearance limit, departure
procedure, route of flight, altitudes/flight levels in the order to be flown, holding instructions, any
special information, and frequency and transponder code information.
• A Cruise Clearance authorizes you to operate at any altitude from the minimum IFR altitude up
to and including the altitude specified in the clearance without reporting the change in altitude to
ATC.

Instrument Ground School 2015

 Summary Checklist
• An Abbreviated Clearance can be issued when your route of flight has not changed
substantially from that tiled in your flight plan. An abbreviated clearance always contains the
words “cleared as filed” as well as the name of the destination airport or clearance limit; any
applicable DP name, number and transition; the assigned enroute altitude; and any additional
instructions such as departure control frequency or transponder code assignment.
• A VFR-On-Top Clearance allows you to fly in VFR conditions and at the appropriate VFR
cruising altitudes of your choice. VFR on to is prohibited in Class A airspace.
• A Contact Approach must be initiated by the pilot. It cannot be initiated by ATC. In order to fly
a contact approach, the reported ground visibility must be at least 1 SM, and you must be able
to remain clear of clouds with at least 1 SM flight visibility.
• A Visual Approach may be initiated by the controller or the pilot when the ceiling is at least
1,000 feet and the visibility is at least 3 SM, and the pilot has the airport or the aircraft to follow
in sight.
• VFR restrictions to an IFR clearance can only be initiated by the pilot.
• A Composite Flight Plan should be filed when you wish to operate IFR on one portion of the
flight and VFR on another portion.
• A Tower Enroute Control Clearance (TEC) is intended to be used by non-turbojet aircraft at
altitudes less than 10,000 MSL where the duration of the flight is less than 2 hours.
• Departure restrictions, such as release time, hold for release time and clearance void time may
be imposed to separate IFR departure traffic from other traffic in the area or regulate IFR traffic
• You should read back those parts of a clearance which contain altitude, radar vectors, and
instructions requiring verification.
• Learn short had for quickly copying IFR clearances.

Instrument Ground School 2015

 PHASE I EXAMINATION
Next time we will have you first of 4 examinations. Phase I will test
on all materials, except Introduction, since the beginning of classes.

Advanced Human Factors

Instrumentation
Attitude Instrument Flying
Airports, Airspace, and Sources of Information
ATC and Clearances

Instrument Ground School 2015