IVAO Kuwait > Controllers > Standard Procedures > Clearance Delivery

Clearance Delivery


Clearance Ground Tower Approach Radar Area FIS

Description

The Clearance delivery controller is responsible for providing departing aircraft with their IFR clearance. It is not something to be taken lightly. The smooth flow of all traffic depends on these clearances. If a clearance is incorrect another controller down the line will have to amend it, and potentially distract the pilot from his flying, while if the error would have been corrected before take-off the pilot would have had all the time to amend his plan, and not have anything to worry about when in the air.

In light of the above respecting the following guidelines is essential.

What you need to know

In addition to the general guidelines a Clearance delivery controller must:

  • Understand the basics of verifying accuracy of flight plans;
  • Be able to issue an IFR clearance with or without SID;
  • Understand the RVSM Altitude assignment system;
  • Understand, and apply minimum routing restrictions whenever published.

Procedures

Firstly you'll need the following information:

  • The sector file for the given airport;
  • As a minimum the SID charts for the given airport, though we recommend you download the complete collection.

In the real world some commercial traffic at large airports receive IFR clearance electronically via ACARS, and rarely exchange more than a few words with the clearance controller. (Gatwick is currently trialing this) On IVAO we can't do it this way, instead we use the following procedures.

Elements of a Clearance:

A Clearance shall include the following items:

  • Aircraft Identification
  • Clearance Limit
  • Route
  • Levels of flight and changes of levels
  • Squawk (If Applicable)

The following items may also be added:

  • ATFM Slots (Air Traffic Flow Management)
  • Communications instructions
  • Any special instructions
Clearance Limit:

    A clearance limit is the point to which an aircraft is granted a clearance. This may be:

    • An aerodrome
    • A reporting Point
    • A Controlled or advisory airspace boundary

    A clearance limit is the point to which an aircraft is granted an air traffic control clearance and shall be specified by naming:

      a) an aerodrome;
      b) a reporting point; or
      c) a controlled or advisory airspace boundary.
Route:

    Controllers should endeavour to clear an aircraft according to the route requested. Sometimes this may not be possible, and the controller should explain the reason why when issuing the clearance. The expression "Cleared flight plan route" is not used in the UK.

Allocation of cruising levels:

    Normally, the cruising level in the Flight plan is to be allocated. If that level is not available, the nearest appropriate level should be allocated.

    Above FL195 in class C airspace (Airways) the semi-circular rule shall apply. Flight levels 200, 220, 240, 260 and 280 shall be westbound; Flight levels 210, 230, 250, and 270 shall be eastbound.

    Cruising levels at or above FL290 up to FL410 within RVSM airspace:

    Westbound Eastbound
    410
    400
    390
    380
    370
    360
    350
    340
    330
    320
    310
    300
    290
Squawk:

    The 4-digit code the pilot sets his transponder to so that controllers can identify him on radar. There are various schemes for allocating squawk codes, some quite complicated using different code ranges depending on outbound track, level, etc and there are ranges in certain countries reserved for military low-level, air ambulance, search and rescue, police operation etc. However, when controlling on IVAO in the UK division, the only requirement is that each aircraft is allocated a unique code (or at least unique in the surrounding airspace) so that it can be positively identified on radar.

    You may find that adjacent controllers always use the same range of codes (as in the real world) - so pick a range you will use and issue the first one to the first aircraft you clear and increment it for each subsequent aircraft. Remember that squawk codes are 4-digit octal numbers, so each digit can only be 0-7. Do not use any of the emergency codes (7500, 7600, 7700).

Example of Departure clearance (SID):

KAC1221 is an KAC Airbus A320, kuwait to Bahrain via airways at FL250.

Remember, his Clearance must contain:

  • Aircraft Identification (KAC1221)
  • Clearance Limit (Bahrain)
  • Route (Standard Departure or SID)
  • Levels of flight and chages of levels (SID)
  • Squawk (assigned code)

"Kuwait Ground, good morning, KAC1221, A 320 with Echo 1017, request clearance to Bahrain"

"KAC1221, Kuwait Ground, good morning, Cleared to Bahrain , VIA DARVA 3F , squawk 0601"

"Cleared to Bahrain, VIA DARVA 3F, squawk 0601, KAC1221"

"KAC1221, Correct, Contact Kuwait Tower 118.3"

"118.3, KAC1221"

Example of Departure clearance (No SID):

KAC1221 is a Dash 8, Kuwait to Bahrain via airways at FL250.

Remember, his Clearance must contain:

  • Aircraft Identification (KAC1221)
  • Clearance Limit (Bahrain)
  • Route
  • Levels of flight and chages of levels
  • Squawk (assigned code)

"Kuwait Ground, good morning, KAC1221, A Dash 8 with Sierra 1004, request clearance to Bahrain"

"KAC1221, Kuwait Ground, good morning, Cleared to Bahrain, Runway heading to 3000ft, then left turn fly direct to DARVA intersection , Climb FL150, squawk 0601"

"Cleared to Bahrain, Runway heading to 3000ft, then left turn fly direct to DARVA intersection, Climb FL150, squawk 0601, KAC1221"

"KAC1221, Correct, Call for startup"

"Wilco, KAC1221"

Example of a VFR Departure Clearance:

KAC1221 is a Cessna 172, Kuwait to Ras Al Mishab, via the FIR, not above 2500ft.

Remember, his Clearance must contain:

  • Aircraft Identification (KAC1221)
  • Clearance Limit
  • Route
  • Levels of flight and chages of levels
  • Squawk (assigned code)

"Kuwait Ground, good morning, KAC1221, A Cessna 172 with Zulu 1004, request taxi for flight to Ras Al Mishab"

"KAC1221, Kuwait Ground, good morning, taxi GB runway 15R via W1, Q1004"

"Taxi GB runway 15R via W1, Q1004, KAC1221"

"KAC1221, Correct, have your clearance"

"Ready to copy, KAC1221"

"KAC1221, Cleared to the Ras Al Mishab zone boundary, Route Great Dunmow, Not above altitude 2,500ft, VFR, squawk 1401"

"Cleared to the southern zone boundary, Route Great Dunmow, not above altitude 2,500ft, VFR, squawk 1401, KAC1221"

"KAC1221, Correct, call ready for departure"

"Wilco, KAC1221"

IvAc settings

Another obligation on IVAO is to update the cleared waypoint and cleared altitude of the aircraft. The format to be used is as follows:

    In Cleared Altitude/FL (F8) enter the initial altitude assigned in the clearance/SID;

    In Cleared Waypoint (F5) enter the first 3 letters, number and last letter of the SID (BPK6G). If the aircraft is assigned a heading enter Hxxx where xxx is the heading (e.g. H090). If the aircraft is cleared direct to a waypoint enter the identifier of this waypoint.

    As a clearance controller, we recommend you set your altitude filter to 000 <-> 030.

    Set your IN/OUT box to only display traffic departing the airport you are covering (e.g. EGSS). Set your ATC list to show all facilities of the airport you are covering as well as the appropriate area sector.