IFR Clearance (With ATC Audio) - Tips for Speed and Confidence

Copying down an IFR clearance can be intimidating at first because there is a lot of information being sent your way, sometimes very quickly. There are a couple of tips I've learned over the years that can simplify the process of copying these clearances down, and these will help both your speed and your confidence.

[GrummanTiger]

Regarding Tip #1: The PDC (Pre-Departure Clearance) email from ForeFlight only applies at certain (typically larger/busier) airports and you must be a Performance Plus or Business Performance subscriber.

[wildzach]

I can’t believe i received those expected routing emails and never read them LOL. Thank you so much.

[danholmes]

Great tip! Flew a SID out of Santa Fe and underlining the expected clearance items made things go much easier!

[ElGringoMID]

GREAT info that many are already using, but EVOLUTIONARY to those new to IFR flight. I would add that per my routine and personal customization over the past 30+ years of flying that on my "A" I would have written it 2K x6 +10 instead. And I use CHART for my outline that you use CRAFT for - similar and perhaps CRAFT is slightly more efficient than (Cleared to, Heading, Altitude, Radio, Transponder), but we typically fly the way we were originally trained. I still can't recall what the THROTTLE acronym meant - I remember Time, Twist, etc. but that was back before the new glass avionics...

[paulbrunner]

I just got my IFR ticket and these tips really help with writing down clearances. I use Foreflight, so the expected route is (as you stated) 90% accurate. Thanks!

[timhoke]

Well, that sure takes some of the bite out of the fear factor in dealing with ATC. When you put together your "Communicating with ATC" tutorial, stuff like this will be quite helpful. Really appreciate you, Charlie.

[Springkid]

Greetings Sir,

Great article and video! I just have a couple of questions, I know that there are several IFR departure procedures including ODP, SID, Climb via, radar departure..etc

1. The ifr clearance/CRAFT mentioned including the craft at a non controlled airport, is the CRAFT part of the odp, Sid, or other ifr departure procedures? Or is it simply just a clearance or a “permission” from act to get into the skys from ATC.

2. Let’s just say I’m at a major busy controlled airport KLAX for example, and I’m using the SID or ODP for my departure, will I need to copy down the a whole bunch of stuff from ATC for the CRAFT as well for my clearance or “permission” to get into the skies from ATC? I assume flying the airlines have a much more easier way like just inputing down all the information in the flight computer system right? And only for general aviation like if I’m flying Cessna 172 part 91 where I have to write down all the bunch of stuff for the CRAFT info? Thank you! Meaning do I need to get an IFR clearance from either a controlled airport and a non-control airport as well?

3. I have heard from different sources including flight insight about the number of flight IFR departure procedures, I’m not sure if this is correct but I will just name the ones that I know below, Please correct me if there any mistakes or any overlaps, thank you.

IFR departure procedures

1. SID (3 kinds of SIDs including 1. Pilot-nav SIDs 2. Radar Vector SIDs 3. Hybrid SIDs)

2. OPD

3. CLIMB VIA…SID or ODP

4. Visual Climb over airport, (Not sure if it is the same as number three Climb via…)

5. Vectors Dep

6. Diverse Dep

7. Radar Dep

Thank you so much for your help!

[AVR_]

“In the box” 😆 Controllers love that!

[philSk]

Damn. You will never understand how helpful this video was

[michaeldempsey]

Great video. Thanks! Question, what size is the iPad you use and what mount? Thanks!

[Bulldog]

I love the video. That comes in extremely handy for practicing ATC

[Lane]

I've always been intimidated by ATC communications. That's probably the biggest reason why I've never gone beyond obtaining my private pilot's license and also no longer fly as a private pilot.

[douglasmcintyre]

Thanks. That's a very useful acronym very well presented. Far and above he utsual drivel or self indugent crap i se every day on YT.

[HolladayAviation]

Nice video, I'm sharing this with my students this morning.

[BumAviator]

Good tips. Thanks for sharing your personal shorthand and thoughts.

[jfig]

hey man, been a while since ifr life, what is it exactly when she says Wako transition then direct? I understand the direct but not wako transiiton.

[edelsim]

Great trick!! I will use it at IVAO and VATSIM : ) ... Great Channel mate!!

[dr.chrisketo]

Great! And great Cessna tale dragger 185?

[Kujjiman]

Do you have a video like this for approaches? I'm having the toughest time not only recalling what's being told to me, but repeating it is impossible for me at the moment as I learn how to actually fly the approach. Task Saturation is very high

[joshuahunter]

"On the box" is appropriate for squawk ?