Navigating IFR Clearance at Non-Towered Airports: A Step-by-Step Guide

Navigating IFR Clearance at Non-Towered Airports: A Step-by-Step Guide

**Picking Up an IFR Clearance at Non-Towered Airports in the US**

For pilots departing from non-towered airports in the United States, obtaining an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) clearance is a crucial step before taking off. Here's a guide on the preferred methods to ensure a smooth and safe process.

At most non-towered airports, you won't directly contact Approach Control or Clearance Delivery due to the lack of dedicated frequencies. Instead, the standard procedure involves the following steps:

1. **Contacting Flight Service Station (FSS)**: By tuning into the appropriate frequency or calling the FSS on the phone, you can receive your IFR clearance before taxi or departure. FSS acts as the clearance delivery agent for many non-towered airports without a dedicated clearance delivery frequency.

2. **Using a Clearance Delivery Phone Number**: If an ATC clearance delivery phone number is listed for the airport, you may use it to obtain your clearance by telephone prior to departure. This phone number is often published in airport/facility directories or the Chart Supplement.

In some cases, if the non-towered airport is near a controlled airport, you may be able to contact the ARTCC (Center) or Approach Control facility that has jurisdiction over the airspace to obtain your clearance, but this is less common and usually only applies if coordinated.

It's important to note that you should not attempt to pick up an IFR clearance by calling the Approach Control frequency directly at a non-towered airport unless specifically instructed, as they usually do not provide clearance delivery services there.

Your third option, which was not detailed in the provided text, is to use a clearance delivery phone number if it's available at your airport.

The IFR clearances always follow the same format, and the acronym used for it is CRAFT. Communication over the phone is often clearer and easier to understand than radio communication.

When the controller is ready to give you your IFR clearance, they inform the flight service briefer, who then relays the clearance back to you. The altitude, initial and any subsequent altitudes, will be included in your clearance.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has started assigning clearance delivery phone numbers to select airports across the US. However, there can be drawbacks to contacting Center/Approach directly as you're using the same frequency that the controller uses to talk to other aircraft in their sector.

In summary, to pick up an IFR clearance at a non-towered airport, the preferred methods are to contact Flight Service or use a clearance delivery phone number if available. This ensures you receive your clearance safely and in compliance with FAA procedures before you depart under IFR. Once airborne, you will be handed off to the appropriate ATC facility for radar services and further instructions.

1. At non-towered airports in the US, pilots need to contact the Flight Service Station (FSS) to receive an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) clearance before takeoff.
2. FSS acts as the clearance delivery agent for many non-towered airports without a dedicated clearance delivery frequency.
3. If an ATC clearance delivery phone number is listed for the airport, pilots can use it to obtain their clearance by telephone prior to departure.
4. In some cases, pilots may contact the ARTCC (Center) or Approach Control facility that has jurisdiction over the airspace to obtain their clearance, but this is less common.
5. Pilots should not attempt to pick up an IFR clearance by calling the Approach Control frequency directly at a non-towered airport.
6. The IFR clearances always follow the same format, and the acronym used for it is CRAFT.
7. Communication over the phone is often clearer and easier to understand than radio communication.
8. When the controller is ready to give you your IFR clearance, they inform the flight service briefer, who then relays the clearance back to you.
9. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has started assigning clearance delivery phone numbers to select airports across the US.
10. When airborne, pilots will be handed off to the appropriate ATC facility for radar services and further instructions, and they should be familiar with data-and-cloud-computing technology for improved flight planning, procedures, and IFR flying in the aerospace industry, including finance aspects.

Read also: