IFR departure

What to say and what to expect from filing to the first departure-control check-in, at towered and untowered airports, in US FAA phraseology. The alphabet, readback rules and phrase dictionary are in fundamentals; the same flight continues in IFR en route & arrival; failures are in emergencies & lost comms. VFR calls are in VFR towered and VFR untowered.

Terms

The example flight

The same flight runs through this sheet and IFR en route & arrival.

Filing and ATIS

Clearance delivery (CRAFT)

CRAFT is an instructor's memory aid, not an FAA term. It follows the order controllers issue clearance items in (7110.65 4-2-1), so a pad with five lines catches everything:

The call, the clearance, the readback

YOU    "San Jose Clearance, Cirrus four five charlie delta, IFR to Sacramento Executive, with information Kilo."
ATC    "Cirrus four five charlie delta, cleared to Sacramento Executive airport, SUNOL One departure, Sacramento
        transition, then as filed. Climb via SID except maintain five thousand. Expect six thousand one zero
        minutes after departure. Departure frequency one two one point three, squawk four two one three."
YOU    "Cleared to Sacramento Executive, SUNOL One departure, Sacramento transition, then as filed. Climb via SID
        except maintain five thousand, expect six thousand one zero minutes after departure. One two one point
        three, squawk four two one three, Cirrus four five charlie delta."
ATC    "Cirrus four five charlie delta, readback correct." (or it corrects the item you missed)

• Initial call: facility, full call sign, "IFR to" destination; the AIM example adds your position on the field.
• If you changed the route after filing, say so and ask for the whole thing: "my route has been amended, request full route clearance" (AIM 5-2-6).
• Altitudes printed on the chart are not read back unless the controller said them (AIM 4-4-7).

Clearance wording

Climb via SID or climb and maintain

If ATC says…

• "Cirrus four five charlie delta, advise ready to copy." Pencil ready, then "Ready to copy, Cirrus four five charlie delta."
• "Cleared as filed" with no altitude. Ask: "Say altitude for Cirrus four five charlie delta." "As filed" never includes the altitude.
• A SID you don't have or can't fly (for example an RNAV SID without the equipment): "Unable the (name) departure, Cirrus four five charlie delta" (AIM, 7110.65 4-3-2). Next time put "NO SID" in the flight plan remarks.
• "Readback incorrect" or silence after your readback. The controller repeats the item; read back that item only.

Ground and tower

• LUAW is not a takeoff clearance (AIM 5-2-5). Pilots have read LUAW back correctly and then departed. With two runways or intersection departures, make sure the runway in the clearance is yours.
• Tower can give a heading with the takeoff clearance ("fly runway heading", "turn left heading 270, runway 30L, cleared for takeoff"). A vector off a SID or ODP cancels that procedure; ATC then owns terrain clearance and must give you an altitude (7110.65 4-3-2).
• For an RNAV SID tower may add the first waypoint: "RNAV to (waypoint), runway …, cleared for takeoff". Check it matches what is loaded; say so at once if it doesn't (AIM 5-2-8).

If ATC says…

• "Line up and wait" and the takeoff clearance never comes. Ask; don't roll. A landing aircraft may be on short final.
• "Cirrus five charlie delta, turn left heading two seven zero, maintain three thousand." You are off the SID: fly the heading and altitude only, and expect "resume the SUNOL One" or "proceed direct SUNOL" later.
• "Change to departure" before the runway end. Fly the airplane first; switch once climbing and stable.
• "Contact departure" is not given by about 1,000 ft. Check you are still on the tower frequency and ask.

Departure check-in

The first call to departure confirms your altitude so the controller can trust your Mode C readout (7110.65 5-2-15).

If ATC says…

• "Say altitude." Your indicated altitude to the nearest 100 ft: "Cirrus five charlie delta, four thousand three hundred, climbing to five thousand." If it differs from your readout, ATC gives the altimeter and says "verify altitude".
• "Verify assigned altitude five thousand." Confirm or correct: "Affirmative, five thousand" or "Negative, assigned six thousand." Don't change altitude to match the question (AIM 5-3-1).
• "Stop altitude squawk, altitude differs by three hundred feet." Turn Mode C off (or leave it on and ask how they want it); your reported altitude is now used instead.
• "Squawk four two one three" after you already set it. Check the code: you likely have a typo.
• "Radar contact lost." Resume position reports over compulsory points until "radar contact" again (AIM 5-3-2).

Departure procedures and ODPs

Obstacle protection assumes you cross the runway end at 35 ft or more, reach 400 ft above it before turning, and climb at 200 ft/NM or more unless the chart asks for more (AIM 5-2-9). SEEMS ONE asks for 500 ft/NM to 566 ft: at 90 kt ground speed that's 750 fpm.

Untowered IFR departures

No tower means no one watches the runway for you, so ATC issues a release with a void time and holds other IFR traffic until you call or the time runs out (AIM 5-2-7, 7110.65 4-3-4).

Ways to get the clearance

If ATC says…

• "Hold for release, expect a one five minute departure delay." You can't take off IFR until released. You may still go VFR if weather allows: cancel the IFR plan first and squawk VFR, knowing an IFR clearance may not be available later (AIM 5-2-7).
• "Released for departure at (time)." That's the earliest you may go, not the latest.
• "Say how soon you can be off." Give an honest figure including taxi and run-up; the void time is built from it.
• "Verify right turn after departure will allow compliance with terrain." Only answer yes if it does; at a Class E surface area ATC asks your intended turn before issuing it.

Missing the void time

• Call ATC as soon as you know you won't make it, and no later than the "advise … not later than" time. That time is never more than 30 minutes after the void time (AIM 5-2-7).
• An expired void time doesn't cancel the clearance or the flight plan. It only removes your permission to take off IFR until ATC issues a new release.
• If you don't call within 30 minutes, ATC treats you as overdue and starts search and rescue (7110.65 10-3-1).
• Departing at or after the void time gets you no IFR separation and may break 14 CFR 91.173.
• If you go VFR instead, don't use the IFR squawk code.

VMC climb: picking up the clearance in the air

• Legal and common when the weather is VFR to the minimum IFR altitude. File the plan first so the controller has it, then call early.
• Call: "NorCal Approach, Cirrus four five charlie delta, VFR departed Half Moon Bay, two thousand five hundred climbing, request IFR clearance to Sacramento Executive" (AIM 5-2-6 format).
• Below the minimum IFR altitude ATC asks: "Are you able to maintain your own terrain and obstruction clearance until reaching four thousand?" Answer yes only if you are VMC and sure (7110.65 4-2-8). If not, "unable" and stay VFR.
• Stay VFR, clear of clouds and outside airspace you aren't cleared into, until you have read back the clearance.

Recipes

Full script: towered departure (KSJC)

Clearance to first altitude change. The call sign is abbreviated once departure shortens it.

[D-ATIS 126.95] "San Jose information Kilo ... departing runways three zero left and right ... altimeter three zero zero two."
 
[CLNC DEL 118.0]
YOU  "San Jose Clearance, Cirrus four five charlie delta, IFR to Sacramento Executive, with information Kilo."
ATC  "Cirrus four five charlie delta, cleared to Sacramento Executive airport, SUNOL One departure, Sacramento transition,
      then as filed. Climb via SID except maintain five thousand. Expect six thousand one zero minutes after departure.
      Departure frequency one two one point three, squawk four two one three."
YOU  "Cleared to Sacramento Executive, SUNOL One departure, Sacramento transition, then as filed, climb via SID except
      maintain five thousand, expect six thousand one zero minutes after departure, one two one point three, squawk four
      two one three, Cirrus four five charlie delta."
ATC  "Cirrus four five charlie delta, readback correct, contact Ground one two one point seven when ready to taxi."
 
[GND 121.7]
YOU  "San Jose Ground, Cirrus four five charlie delta, west ramp, IFR Sacramento Executive, with Kilo, ready to taxi."
ATC  "Cirrus four five charlie delta, runway three zero left, taxi via Whiskey."
YOU  "Runway three zero left, taxi via Whiskey, Cirrus four five charlie delta."
     ... run-up, set 4213, brief: heading 306 to 1.8 DME, right 043, cross SUNOL at 5000 ...
ATC  "Cirrus four five charlie delta, monitor Tower one two four point zero."
YOU  "Monitor Tower, Cirrus four five charlie delta."
 
[TWR 124.0]
YOU  "San Jose Tower, Cirrus four five charlie delta, holding short three zero left, ready for departure."
ATC  "Cirrus four five charlie delta, runway three zero left, line up and wait, traffic an Airbus on the right runway departing."
YOU  "Runway three zero left, line up and wait, Cirrus four five charlie delta."     (line up; do NOT take off)
ATC  "Cirrus four five charlie delta, runway three zero left, cleared for takeoff."
YOU  "Runway three zero left, cleared for takeoff, Cirrus four five charlie delta."
ATC  "Cirrus four five charlie delta, contact NorCal Departure."
YOU  "Departure, Cirrus four five charlie delta."
 
[NORCAL DEP 121.3]
YOU  "NorCal Departure, Cirrus four five charlie delta, one thousand two hundred for five thousand, climbing via the SUNOL
      One departure."
ATC  "Cirrus four five charlie delta, NorCal Departure, radar contact."
     ... cross SUNOL at 5000 ...
ATC  "Cirrus five charlie delta, climb and maintain six thousand."
YOU  "Climb and maintain six thousand, Cirrus five charlie delta."
     → continues in IFR en route & arrival

Full script: untowered departure by phone (KHAF)

Engine running at the runway end, phone on speaker or headset adapter, pad ready. Times are UTC.

[AWOS 127.275] wind, ceiling, altimeter. Brief SEEMS ONE: heading 302 to 566 ft (500 ft/NM), climbing left turn direct
SEEMS, climb in the SEEMS hold to at or above 3500, then on course.
 
[PHONE 916-361-0519, NorCal Approach]
YOU  "Hi, this is Cirrus four five charlie delta, IFR from Half Moon Bay to Sacramento Executive, at the end of runway
      three zero, ready to copy."
ATC  "Cirrus four five charlie delta is cleared to Sacramento Executive airport, depart via the SEEMS One obstacle
      departure procedure, then as filed. Maintain four thousand, expect six thousand one zero minutes after departure.
      Departure frequency one three five point one, squawk four two five one."
YOU  (read it all back)
ATC  "Readback correct. Cirrus four five charlie delta released for departure. Clearance void if not off by one eight
      three zero. If not off by one eight three zero, advise NorCal not later than one eight four five of intentions.
      Time one eight one two and one quarter."
YOU  "Released, void at one eight three zero, advise NorCal not later than one eight four five if not off, time one
      eight one two and one quarter, Cirrus four five charlie delta."
 
[CTAF 122.8]
YOU  "Half Moon Bay traffic, Cirrus four five charlie delta departing runway three zero, IFR, Half Moon Bay."
 
[NORCAL 135.1, airborne before 1830]
YOU  "NorCal Departure, Cirrus four five charlie delta, one thousand one hundred, climbing to four thousand, on the SEEMS One."
ATC  "Cirrus four five charlie delta, NorCal Departure, radar contact one mile northwest of Half Moon Bay."

Void time about to expire

Say it before the time, not after.

[PHONE or radio, before 1845]
YOU  "NorCal, Cirrus four five charlie delta at Half Moon Bay, I did not depart before one eight three zero.
      Request a new release."          (or: "cancel my IFR, I'll stay on the ground")
ATC  "Cirrus four five charlie delta, released for departure, clearance void if not off by one eight five zero, time one
      eight three six."

Hold for release

Park clear of the runway, engine running if the wait is short.

ATC  "... squawk four two five one. Hold for release, expect a one five minute departure delay. Call back at one eight
      three zero."
YOU  "Hold for release, call back at one eight three zero, Cirrus four five charlie delta."
     (no IFR takeoff until you hear "released for departure")

VFR departure, clearance in the air

Weather VFR to at least the minimum IFR altitude; flight plan already filed.

[CTAF 122.8] normal VFR departure calls, squawk 1200.
[NORCAL 135.1]
YOU  "NorCal Approach, Cirrus four five charlie delta, VFR departed Half Moon Bay, two thousand five hundred climbing,
      request IFR clearance to Sacramento Executive."
ATC  "Cirrus four five charlie delta, squawk four two five one, ident."
ATC  "Cirrus four five charlie delta, radar contact three miles east of Half Moon Bay. Are you able to maintain your own
      terrain and obstruction clearance until reaching four thousand?"
YOU  "Affirmative, Cirrus four five charlie delta."
ATC  "Cirrus four five charlie delta, cleared to Sacramento Executive airport via direct SEEMS, then as filed.
      Climb and maintain four thousand."
YOU  (read back; you are IFR from now on)

Amended route at clearance

When the clearance doesn't match your plan, don't guess.

ATC  "... then as filed, except change route to read SUNOL, Victor three three four, Sacramento."
YOU  "Say again the route after SUNOL, Cirrus four five charlie delta."
     (copy it, read it back, re-load the flight plan before taxi, and re-brief)

References

• AIM chapter 5, section 2: Departure procedures (opens in a new tab): pre-taxi clearance, PDC/CPDLC-DCL, clearances at uncontrolled airports, LUAW, "as filed", void times, climb-via check-in (5-2-1 to 5-2-9)
• AIM 4-4: ATC clearances (opens in a new tab): clearance items, readback (4-4-7), adherence and climb rates (4-4-10)
• AIM 5-3-1: ARTCC communications (opens in a new tab): check-in format in a radar environment
• FAA Order JO 7110.65BB (opens in a new tab): 4-2-1 clearance items, 4-2-8 VFR-to-IFR, 4-3-2 to 4-3-4 departure clearances, releases and void times, 3-9 takeoff and LUAW, 4-5-7 climb via, 5-2-15 Mode C validation
• Pilot/Controller Glossary (opens in a new tab): cleared as filed, climb via, top altitude, hold for release, GCO, ODP
• FAA d-TPP (opens in a new tab): SUNOL ONE departure (KSJC), SEEMS ONE departure (KHAF), KSJC airport diagram
• FAA Chart Supplement (opens in a new tab): KSJC, KSAC and KHAF frequencies, tower hours and clearance phone numbers
• 14 CFR 91.173 (opens in a new tab): ATC clearance and flight plan required
• FAA Instrument Procedures Handbook, chapter 2 (opens in a new tab): departure procedures in depth