Instrument Pilot Departure Procedures

1. IFH Chapter 10
Flight Plan
IFR Clearances
Departure Procedures

2. Flight Information Publications
IFR En route Charts
Scales Vary
Revised 56 day cycle
U.S. Terminal Procedures
Publication
Revised 56 day cycle

3. Flight Information Publications
Airport Facility Directory
Aeronautical Information Manual
Notices to Airman
D, FDC, published 28 day cycle
Advisory Circulars
Information and procedures
www.faa.gov

4. IFR Flight Plan
• FAR 91.173
– Required for IFR
• 1-800-WX-BRIEF
• DUATS
• Radio FSS
• File 30 minutes
IFR flight plan cancelled by:
prior to ETD
ATCT when landing at controlled airport.
Pilot when landing at uncontrolled airport
VFR flight plan must be cancelled by pilot

5. Elements of IFR Clearance
Restrictions to IFR Clearance
Composite Flight Plan-Pilot files both IFR and VFR
VFR-IFR
Activate VFR with FSS
Close VFR with FSS
Request IFR portion with FSS
IFR-VFR
ATC clearance for IFR
When VFR, cancel IFR with ATC
Request VFR portion with FSS

6. Elements of IFR Clearance
Tower En route Clearance (TEC)
Published in A/FD and Jeppessen Manual
Intended for < 2 hour flights, non-jet and below
10,000 MSL.
Route links adjacent approach control facilities
“TEC” in remarks section of Flight Plan

7. Elements of IFR Clearance

8. Elements of IFR Clearance
Clearance Limit
Usually flight planned destination
Short Range Clearance
Cleared to a fix until radar contact is made
Departing non-radar
EFC – Expect Further Clearance time
often issued in conjunction with Holding

9. Elements of IFR Clearance
Departure Procedure- DP
Headings, Courses and Altitudes to maintain
SID, DP, ODP-Pilot must have at least textual description
“NO DP” in remarks of Flight Plan
Route of Flight
“Cleared as Filed” aka abbreviated clearance, as filed by pilot
ATC Preferred Route

10. Elements of IFR Clearances
Altitude Data
ATC will advise “maintain” a given
altitude “Maintain 5,000”
ATC will advise “expect” when higher is
available “Maintain 5,000, expect 7,000, 10
minutes after departure”
ATC could advise “cruise” on short or
uncongested routes

11. ATC Clearances
Cruise Clearance:
“Cessna 1230 Alpha, Cleared to Doeville airport,
Direct, Cruise 5000”
•“Cruise” authorizes pilot to fly any altitude in block
of airspace from MIA up to 5,000 MSL
•Climb or descent in block is at pilot discretion
•Once pilot reports vacating an altitude, may not
return without ATC clearance
•Cruise clearance authorizes IAP at destination
•Short distance, Low Density Traffic, Low Altitude

12. Elements of IFR Clearance
Holding Clearances:
Published or Charted:
Direction FROM fix
Fix Name
EFC
Un-Published or un Charted includes above and:
Holding Course –Radial, Bearing, Airway
Outbound time or DME legs
Non standard pattern if used

13. Elements of IFR Clearance
Departure Restrictions
Release Time:
Specifies earliest time to depart
Due to traffic saturation, weather
Hold for Release:
May not depart until after release time
Due to local conditions
Clearance Void Time:
Issued at uncontrolled airports
Must depart at specified time or update FSS

14. ATC Clearances
VFR on Top
Prohibited in Class A
ATC Cannot Initiate-Pilot Requested Only
ATC informs pilot of reported Tops
Pilot Advises of altitude changes
Pilot complies with:
VFR cruising altitudes
Basic VFR Weather Minimums
Applicable IFR rules pertaining to:
MIA, Position Reports, Communications, Navigation
Pilot must obtain amended clearance if unable VFR
Pilot must See and Avoid (ATC advisories ONLY)

15. ATC Clearances
Climb to VFR on Top
Used to climb from IMC to VMC
Can be filed or requested by pilot
Request made with Ground Control or CLNC Delivery
Pilot maintains responsibility for See and Avoid

16. Departure Procedures
Preplanned Departure Procedures
Graphical
•Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP)
– Provide obstacle clearance to en route structure
– ATC clearance not required
– Pilot flies ODP unless SID is assigned
– Found in IFR Takeoff Minimums section of TPP
•Standard Instrument Departure (SID)
– Provide obstacle clearance and route transition
– Reduce pilot/controller work load
– ATC clearance required
– Found with IAPs

17. Departure Procedures
• Use of DP requires possession of at least
textual description of the procedure
• If DP not desired or in possession pilot may
file “NO DP” in remarks of flight plan
• If DP is accepted in clearance, compliance is
required
• DPs may be Pilot Nav or Radar Vector

18. Radar Controlled Departure
• Departures from congested
areas
• ATCT advises initial heading
to fly
• TRACON advises radar
contact and provides
headings, altitudes, climb
instructions
• TRACON advises
“resume own navigation”