Section 3. Departure Procedures

4-3-1. DEPARTURE TERMINOLOGY

Avoid using the term “takeoff” except to actually clear an aircraft for takeoff or to cancel a takeoff clearance. Use such terms as “depart,” “departure,” or “fly” in clearances when necessary.

4-3-2. DEPARTURE CLEARANCES

Include the following items in IFR departure clearances:

  1. Always include the airport of departure when issuing a departure clearance for relay to an aircraft by an FSS, dispatcher, etc.
  2. Clearance Limit. 
    1. Specify the destination airport when practicable, even though it is outside controlled airspace. Issue short range clearances as provided for in any procedures established for their use.
      1. When the clearance limit is an airport, the word “airport” must follow the airport name.
      2. When the clearance limit is a NAVAID and the NAVAID type is known, the type of NAVAID must follow the NAVAID name.
      3. When the clearance limit is an intersection or waypoint and the type is known, the type must follow the intersection or waypoint name.
    2. For Air Force One (AF1) operations, do not specify the destination airport.
  3. Departure Procedures.
    1. Specify direction of takeoff/turn or initial heading to be flown after takeoff as follows:
      1. Locations with Airport Traffic Control Service-Specify direction of takeoff/turn or initial heading as necessary, consistent with published:
        1. Departure Procedures (DP). If an aircraft is vectored off a published Standard Instrument Departure (SID) or Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP), that vector cancels the DP and ATC becomes responsible for separation from terrain and /or obstructions. IFR aircraft must be assigned an altitude.
        2. Diverse Vector Areas (DVA). The assignment of an initial heading using a DVA can be given to the pilot as part of the initial clearance, but must be given no later than with the takeoff clearance. Once airborne, an aircraft assigned headings within the DVA can be vectored below the MVA/MIA. Controllers cannot interrupt an aircraft's climb in the DVA until the aircraft is at or above the MVA/MIA.
      2. Locations without Airport Traffic Control Service, but within a Class E surface area− specify direction of takeoff/turn or initial heading if necessary. Obtain/solicit the pilot's concurrence concerning a turn or heading before issuing them in a clearance.
      3. At all other airports- Do not specify direction of takeoff/turn after takeoff. If necessary to specify an initial heading to be flown after takeoff, issue the initial heading so as to apply only within controlled airspace.
    2. Where an ODP has been published for a location and pilot compliance is necessary to ensure separation, include the procedure as part of the ATC clearance. Additionally, when an ODP is included in the clearance and the Visual Climb over Airport (VCOA) is requested by the pilot or assigned by ATC when it is the only procedure published in the ODP, include an instruction to remain within the published visibility of the VCOA.
    3. Compatibility with a procedure issued may be verified by asking the pilot if items obtained/ solicited will allow him/her to comply with local traffic pattern, terrain, or obstruction avoidance.
    4. SIDs:
      1. Assign a SID (including transition if necessary). Assign an ADR/ADAR, when applicable or the route filed by the pilot, when a SID is not established for the departure route to be flown, or the pilot has indicated that he/she does not wish to use a SID.
      2. If it is necessary to assign a crossing altitude which differs from the SID altitude emphasize the change to the pilot.
      3. Specify altitudes when they are not included in the SID.
  4. Route of flight. Specify one or more of the following:
    1. Airway, route, course, heading, azimuth, arc, or vector.
    2. The routing a pilot can expect if any part of the route beyond a short range clearance limit differs from that filed.
  5. Altitude. Use one of the following in the order of preference listed.
    1. To the maximum extent possible, Air Force One will be cleared unrestricted climb to:
      1. 9,000' AGL or higher.
      2. If unable 9,000' AGL or higher, then the highest available altitude below 9,000' AGL.
    2. Assign the altitude requested by the pilot.
    3. Assign an altitude, as near as possible to the altitude requested by the pilot, and
      1. Inform the pilot when to expect clearance to the requested altitude unless instructions are contained in the specified SID, or
      2. If the requested altitude is not expected to be available, inform the pilot what altitude can be expected and when/where to expect it.
    4. Use one of the following when the SID contains published crossing restrictions:
      1. Instruct aircraft to “Climb via SID.”
      2. Instruct the aircraft to “Climb via SID except maintain (altitude)” when a top altitude is not published or when it is necessary to issue an interim altitude.
    5. When a SID does not contain published crossing restrictions and/or is a SID with a Radar Vector segment or a Radar Vector SID; or a SID is constructed with a Radar Vector segment and contains published crossing restrictions after the vector segment, instruct aircraft to “MAINTAIN (altitude).”

4-3-3. ABBREVIATED DEPARTURE CLEARANCE

  1. Issue an abbreviated departure clearance if its use reduces verbiage and the following conditions are met:
    1. The route of flight filed with ATC has not been changed by the pilot, company, operations officer, input operator, or in the stored flight plan program prior to departure.
    2. All ATC facilities concerned have sufficient route of flight information to exercise their control responsibilities.
    3. When the flight will depart IFR, destination airport information is relayed between the facilities concerned prior to departure.
    4. The assigned altitude, according to the provisions in paragraph 4-3-2, Departure Clearances, subparagraph e, is stated in the clearance.
  2. If it is necessary to modify a filed route of flight in order to achieve computer acceptance due, for example, to incorrect fix or airway identification, the contraction “FRC,” meaning “Full Route Clearance Necessary,” or “FRC/(fix),” will be added to the remarks. “FRC” or “FRC/(fix)” must always be the first item of intra‐center remarks. When “FRC” or “FRC/(fix)” appears on a flight progress strip, the controller issuing the ATC clearance to the aircraft must issue a full route clearance to the specified fix, or, if no fix is specified, for the entire route.
  3. Specify the destination airport in the clearance.
  4. When no changes are required in the filed route, state the phrase: “Cleared to (destination) airport, ([SIDname and number] and SID transition, as appropriate); then, as filed.” If a SID is not assigned, follow with “As filed.” If required, add any additional instructions or information, including requested altitude if different than assigned.
  5. Use one of the following when the SID contains published crossing restrictions:
    1. Instruct aircraft to “Climb via SID.”
    2. Instruct aircraft to “Climb via SID except maintain (altitude)” when a top altitude is not published or when it is necessary to issue an interim altitude.
  6. Instruct aircraft to MAINTAIN (altitude) when:
    1. No SID is assigned.
    2. A SID does not contain published crossing restrictions and/or is a SID with a Radar Vector segment or is a Radar Vector SID.
    3. A SID is constructed with a Radar Vector segment and contains published crossing restrictions after the vector segment.
  7. When a filed route will require revisions, the controller responsible for initiating the clearance to the aircraft must either:
    1. Issue a FRC/FRC until a fix.
    2. Specify the assigned altitude to maintain, or Climb Via SID, or Climb Via SID except maintain (altitude), as appropriate.
  8. In a nonradar environment specify one, two, or more fixes, as necessary, to identify the initial route of flight.
    1. Specify the destination airport, when practicable, followed by the word “airport” even though it is outside controlled airspace.
    2. When the clearance limit is a NAVAID, the type of NAVAID must follow the NAVAID name.
    3. When the clearance limit is an intersection or waypoint and the type is known, the type must follow the intersection or waypoint name.
  9. Do not apply these procedures when a pilot requests a detailed clearance or to military operations conducted within ALTRV, stereo routes, operations above FL 600, and other military operations requiring special handling.

4-3-4. DEPARTURE RELEASE, HOLD FOR RELEASE, RELEASE TIMES, DEPARTURE RESTRICTIONS, AND CLEARANCE VOID TIMES

Assign departure restrictions, clearance void times, or release times to separate departures from other traffic or to restrict or regulate the departure flow. Departures from an airport without an operating control tower must be issued either a departure release, a hold for release, or a release time.

  1. Departure Release. When conditions allow, release the aircraft as soon as possible.
  2. Hold For Release (HFR).
    1. “Hold for release” instructions must be used to inform a pilot or a controller that a departure clearance is not valid until additional instructions are received.
    2. When issuing hold for release instructions, include departure delay information.
  3. Release Times.
    1. Release times must be issued to pilots when necessary to specify the earliest time an aircraft may depart.
    2. The facility issuing a release time to a pilot must issue a time check. A release time using a specified number of minutes does not require a time check.
  4. When expect departure clearance times (EDCT) are assigned through traffic management programs, excluding overriding call for release (CFR) operations as described in subparagraph e, the departure terminal must, to the extent possible, plan ground movement of aircraft destined to the affected airport(s) so that flights are sequencedto depart no earlier than 5 minutes before, and no later than 5 minutes after the EDCT. Do not release aircraft on their assigned EDCT if a ground stop (GS) applicable to that aircraft is in effect, unless approval has been received from the originator of the GS.
    1. If an aircraft has begun to taxi or requests taxi in a manner consistent with meeting the EDCT, the aircraft must be released. Additional coordination is not required.
    2. If an aircraft requests taxi or clearance for departure inconsistent with meeting the EDCT window, ask the pilot to verify the EDCT.
      1. If the pilot's EDCT is the same as the FAA EDCT, the aircraft is released consistent with the EDCT.
      2. If the pilot's EDCT is not the same as the FAA EDCT, refer to Trust and Verify note below.
    3. If an aircraft requests taxi too late to meet the EDCT, contact the ATCSCC through the appropriate TMU.
  5. Call for Release (CFR). When CFR is in effect, release aircraft so they are airborne within a window that extends from 2 minutes prior and ends 1 minute after the assigned time, unless otherwise coordinated.
  6. Clearance Void Times.
    1. When issuing clearance void times at airports without an operating control tower, provide alternative instructions requiring the pilots to advise ATC of their intentions no later than 30 minutes after the clearance void time if not airborne.
    2. The facility delivering a clearance void time to a pilot must issue a time check. A void time issued using a specified number of minutes does not require a time check.

4-3-5. GROUND STOP

Do not release an aircraft if a ground stop (GS) applicable to that aircraft is in effect, without the approval of the originator of the GS.

4-3-6. DELAY SEQUENCING

When aircraft elect to take delay on the ground before departure, issue departure clearances to them in the order in which the requests for clearance were originally made if practicable.

4-3-7. FORWARD DEPARTURE DELAY INFORMATION

Inform approach control facilities and/or towers of anticipated departure delays.

4-3-8. COORDINATION WITH RECEIVING FACILITY

  1. Coordinate with the receiving facility before the departure of an aircraft if the departure point is less than 15 minutes flying time from the transferring facility's boundary unless an automatic transfer of data between automated systems will occur, in which case, the flying time requirement may be reduced to 5 minutes or replaced with a mileage from the boundary parameter when mutually agreeable to both facilities.
  2. The actual departure time or a subsequent strip posting time must be forwarded to the receiving facility unless assumed departure times are agreed upon and that time is within 3 minutes of the actual departure time.

4-3-9. VFR RELEASE OF IFR DEPARTURE

When an aircraft which has filed an IFR flight plan requests a VFR departure through a terminal facility, FSS, ARTCC Flight Data Unit, or air/ground communications station:

  1. After obtaining, if necessary, approval from the facility/sector responsible for issuing the IFR clearance, you may authorize an IFR flight planned aircraft to depart VFR. Inform the pilot of the proper frequency and, if appropriate, where or when to contact the facility responsible for issuing the clearance.
  2. If the facility/sector responsible for issuing the clearance is unable to issue a clearance, inform the pilot, and suggest that the delay be taken on the ground. If the pilot insists upon taking off VFR and obtaining an IFR clearance in the air, inform the facility/sector holding the flight plan of the pilot's intentions and, if possible, the VFR departure time.

4-3-10. FORWARDING DEPARTURE TIMES

TERMINAL

Unless alternate procedures are prescribed in a letter of agreement or automatic departure messages are being transmitted between automated facilities, forward departure times to the facility from which you received the clearance and also to the terminal departure controller when that position is involved in the departure sequence.