Skip to main content

Clearance

Initial IFR Departure Clearance

Every flight that is intended to be operated under Instrument Flight Rules has to receive an initial IFR clearance. When receiving your initial clearance, your flight plan is approved and you can perform your flight.

Clearance Components

Clearances shall contain the following in the order listed:

  • Aircraft identification
  • Clearance limit
  • Designator of the assigned SID, if applicable
  • Cleared level(s)
  • Allocated SSR code (squawk/transponder code)
  • Any other necessary instructions or information not contained in the SID description (e.g., non-standard departure route, instructions relating to change of frequency)
Construction of the Initial Clearance

CLEARED TO (destination airfield)
[VIA (departure SID identifier) DEPARTURE], [RUNWAY (departure runway)],
CLIMB (initial level),
SQUAWK (squawk number)
[AFTER DEPARTURE, (description of the non-standard departure clearance maneuvers, and/or change frequency)]

Example Full Clearance:

📡 Scandinavian 845, CLEARED TO Stockholm-Arlanda VIA ROC1H departure, RUNWAY 14, CLIMB 4000 feet, SQUAWK 3456

Example of a Vectored Departure:

📡 Scandinavian 509, CLEARED to Stockholm Arlanda, CLIMB altitude 4000 feet, SQUAWK 3737, AFTER DEPARTURE maintain runway track, when passing 3000ft turn left direct Nicky VOR.

If the clearance for the levels covers only part of the route, it is important for the air traffic control unit to specify a point to which the part of the clearance regarding levels applies.

Type of Departure and Selection

As a controller, you may assign a departure based on operational needs. There are several types of departures:

  • Standard departure
  • Omnidirectional departure
  • Non-standard departure

Types of IFR Flight Plans

There are different types of IFR-related flight plans that impact how clearances are issued:

  • IFR Flight Plan (I): The entire flight is conducted under IFR.
  • VFR Flight Plan (V): The entire flight is conducted under VFR, requiring only startup clearance if necessary.
  • Zulu Flight Plan (Z): The flight departs under VFR and transitions to IFR at a specified waypoint.
  • Yankee Flight Plan (Y): The flight departs IFR and transitions to VFR at a specified waypoint.

For IFR and Yankee flight plans, controllers must issue an IFR enroute clearance. For VFR and Zulu flight plans, startup clearance is issued per airport procedures.

Standard Departure Definition

A Standard Instrument Departure (SID) is a designated instrument flight rule (IFR) departure route linking the aerodrome or a specified runway of the aerodrome with a specified significant point, normally on a designated ATS route, at which the en-route phase of a flight commences.

This SID route is published on charts using graphical and/or text descriptions.

The SID terminates at the first fix/facility/waypoint of the en-route phase following the departure procedure. For standard instrument departures (SIDs), all tracks, points, fixes, and altitudes/heights (including turning altitudes/heights) required in the procedure are published.

In a SID, you do not need to specify the runway if the SID description includes it unambiguously.

Example Full Clearance:

📡 Scandinavian 845, CLEARED TO Stockholm-Arlanda VIA ROC1H departure, RUNWAY 14, CLIMB 4000 feet, SQUAWK 3456

Example Clearance with SID Only (SID description provides runway):

📡 Air France 4422, CLEARED to London-Gatwick VIA ANG1N, CLIMB FL110, SQUAWK 5352

Omnidirectional Departure Definition

Omnidirectional departures normally allow departures in any direction where the aircraft will fly to a fix when passing a defined altitude.

  • No track guidance is provided or no suitable navigation aid is available.
  • The controller must give the departure runway and the initial level/altitude cleared.
  • Departure assumes that a turn at 120m (394 feet) above the aerodrome elevation is not initiated sooner than 600m from the beginning of the runway.
  • Restrictions can be expressed as sectors to be avoided or minimum gradients/altitudes.

Example:

📡 Scandinavian 845, startup approved to Stockholm-Arlanda, omnidirectional departure direct SALVI, runway 14, initial climb 5000 feet, squawk 6521

Non-Standard Departure Definition

Non-standard departures are used mainly for:

  • Separation reasons
  • Time-saving
  • Noise abatement
  • Aircraft unable to fly a SID

Types of non-standard departures:

  • Vectored departure: The controller provides a full trajectory description.
  • Visual departure: The pilot navigates to the initial fix using visual terrain monitoring under VMC conditions.

These must be coordinated with the departure controller before clearance is issued.

Example of a Vectored Departure:

📡 Scandinavian 509, CLEARED to Stockholm Arlanda, CLIMB altitude 4000 feet, AFTER DEPARTURE maintain runway track, when passing 3000ft turn left direct Nicky VOR, SQUAWK 3737

Controller Responsibilities and Considerations

As a controller, you must ensure the selection of the most appropriate departure type based on operational requirements. Before issuing clearance, check the first waypoint of the filed route to select the most suitable departure.

Common Flight Plan Issues:
  • First point is outside any available SIDs.
  • First point is an arrival point instead of a departure point.
  • First point is from outdated charts.
  • First point is missing or incorrect.

If no suitable published departure exists, you may select:

  • An omnidirectional departure
  • A non-standard departure

Approval from approach or area control is required if no approach controller is present.

Controller Decision-Making:
  • Assign a SID if appropriate.
  • If no SID is applicable, determine whether an omnidirectional or vectored departure is necessary.
  • Define vectored departure parameters and ensure coordination with relevant controllers.

Controllers have the authority to impose a departure upon a pilot, though pilots may request alternative clearances where feasible. Negotiation is possible but must align with operational constraints.

Back to top