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Clearance

When obtaining an IFR clearance (Instrument Flight Rules), the pilot must prepare for several important pieces of information. Here is a minimal summary:

Preparation

  • Jeppesen or Navigraph Charts – for SIDs, waypoints and frequencies.
  • FMS and navigation databases – for flight route validation and entries.
  • Flight plan (created with e.g. Simbrief) is then available as PDF
  • ATIS frequency or digital request (e.g. via Hoppie network) for current weather information and active runway
  • FMGS/MCDU program according to flight plan

Phraseology

Pilot: "Frankfurt Delivery, Lufthansa 123, IFR to Munich, stand A16, information Alpha, request clearance."

ATC: "Lufthansa 123, cleared to Munich via MARUN 3F departure, initial climb 5000 feet, squawk 4712, contact departure on 119.9."

Where to find the necessary information

  1. Clearance-Delivery Frequency - to request clearance, found on airport chart (10-9)
  2. Flight number and aircraft identification - flight plan or programmed FMGS/MCDU
  3. Departure and destination airport - flight plan or programmed FMGS/MCDU
  4. Planned flight path, Departure – flight plan or programmed FMGS/MCDU, possibly adapted according to changed runway (see ATIS)
  5. Target altitude (initial climb altitude) – often given on the departure (SID) chart
  6. Radio frequency for departure - often given on the departure (SID) chart.
  7. Squawk - is individual, listen carefully!

Digital clearance retrieval

  • AOC Menu in MCDU (if available) allows e.g. obtaining a Predeparture Clearance (PDC) digitally.

ToLiss Airbus – Request Departure Clearance via CPDLC

  1. Access MCDU Menu:

    • Press <MCDU MENU>, then <ATSU>, followed by <AOC MENU>, and finally <DEPARTURE CLEARANCE>.

  2. Fields that need to be filled:

    • Flight Number: Automatically taken from the INIT page, but can be manually changed.
    • Departure Airport: Also automatically filled, can be adjusted if needed.
    • Arrival Airport: Taken from the FMGS.
    • Gate Number: Enter manually (e.g., A14).
    • ATIS ID: Enter the current ATIS ID (e.g., D).
    • Station ID (bottom right): Enter the Hoppie ID of the ATC controller, for VATSIM e.g., EDDH. You can also check the airport ATIS for information about it or Hoppie.

  3. Send request:

    • Once all fields are correctly filled and a valid Hoppie login is entered in the ISCS, an * appears next to .
    • Press <REQUEST SEND> to send the clearance request via telex.

  4. Receive and confirm message:

    • The Pre-Departure Clearance appears on the Received Messages page.
    • There you can read it and confirm/accept it with LSK.

Note: Without a valid Hoppie code or if required fields are missing, sending the request is not possible.

What's next?

Once the clearance has been correctly read back, continue with:

Further Reading

Topic Page Focus
Weather Briefing Weather Briefing ATIS and weather preparation before requesting clearance
VATSIM VATSIM Online ATC clearance on the VATSIM network
Approach Approach Approach clearance and STAR procedures
Landing & Taxi In Landing & Taxi In Complete gate-to-gate ATC overview