clearance delivery

buffalopilot

Well-Known Member
I have a question regarding IFR clearances at uncontrolled airports. I grew up at controlled airports and when i fly out of uncontrolled airports, I have a difficult time finding out what frequency to get clearance on. Any help on how to find this?

Also when in the AFD for FSS it says 122.1R and 126.05T, how do I tune this in my radios? Thanks
 
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Also when in the AFD for FSS it says 122.1R and 126.05T, how do I tune this in my radios?

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It means that they receive on 122.1 and that they transmit on 126.05. Tune the transmitting radio (COM 1) to 122.1 and put 126.05 in COM 2. Make sure that COM 2 is set so that you can listen on it and transmit on COM 1.

Like you, I'm used to getting clearances at towered airports, and usually in the super-easy tower enroute area. At non-towered airports you can try the above, but when I can't get a hold of anyone I usually call FSS on the phone and get a clearance with a departure time.
 
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I usually call FSS on the phone and get a clearance with a departure time.

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Once you do this a couple times, it's easy and straightforward. Just need to make an accurate estimate about how much lead time you need before you plan on taking off.

If the weather is VFR, you can depart VFR and get your clearance in the air from whatever ATC facility serves the area...as long as you are comfortable with flying while copying a clearance, reviewing it per your charts/GPS and setting up your nav equipment.
 
Phone is normally the best way, but it also depends on the airport. For example, GKY is untowered, but it has a clearance del freq since it's close enough to get Regional Clearance for the DFW area. Best bet is to look in the AF/D for a clearance freq. If there's not one there, I'd call FSS on the phone.
 
also if your at an airport that has a bigger airport close by with a RCO or clearence than you can sometimes pick it up on thier frequency. Though its probably not the best way to go about things.
 
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I usually call FSS on the phone and get a clearance with a departure time.


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Agree. At smaller airports, this may be your only way to get a clearance. Remember, it's not always 1-800-WX-BRIEF that you should call. Here in the Middle Tennessee area, there's a special "Clearance Delivery" number to call at FSS. The briefer at WX-BRIEF can usually get the clearance, but I've been told to call another number more than a few times. Check in the AFD or give your local FSS a call and they can give you the number if there is one!


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Phone is normally the best way, but it also depends on the airport. For example, GKY is untowered, but it has a clearance del freq since it's close enough to get Regional Clearance for the DFW area. Best bet is to look in the AF/D for a clearance freq. If there's not one there, I'd call FSS on the phone.

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That's exactly the way it is here at Tune, and I think I remember Olive Branch being the same, Kell.
 
What ever happened to the plans for a tower there at OLV? Or, was that all rumor-mill stuff (we get that her allll the time)?
 
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If the weather is VFR, you can depart VFR and get your clearance in the air from whatever ATC facility serves the area...as long as you are comfortable with flying while copying a clearance, reviewing it per your charts/GPS and setting up your nav equipment.

[/ QUOTE ]I was nervous the first time I did this because of the reasons you mentioned, but everytime I've done it all ATC did was just give me a squawk code and cleared me as filed.

I guess it helped that most of those times were at night, and as much as possible I used pretty straightforward or preferred routes in my flight plan.
 
now when you say call FSS, do I call them right before i go to the plane to depart he airport? I know there are places where you can click the mic 3 times i think and it will dial a phone numbe for you/
 
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now when you say call FSS, do I call them right before i go to the plane to depart he airport?

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You preflight, use the bathroom, load up your passengers, get everything situated, and then call. They're going to issue you the clearance, a clearance voic time and everything! As soon as you're off the phone, the airspace is yours for a limited period of time!

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I know there are places where you can click the mic 3 times i think and it will dial a phone numbe for you/

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If there's a GCO, yes! Otherwise, that won't work. Refer to the AFD!
 
I've experienced a lot of different ways of getting a clearance this last couple of weeks. At some airports, I've had to search around to find my clearance.

I've gotten them from clearance delivery, over the phone, in the air, from FSS, from ground, and from Regional approach/departure on the ground. I like the way that you can get it at one of the FBO's (can't remember which one) at Memphis International. They have a land line right to clearance delivery. There is a red phone of the wall, you pick it up, and clearance delivery is right there.

Hicks Field has a clearance delivery frequency you call up.
 
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Wilson Air Center at MEM

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Yeah thats it!

Kellwolf....a warning.... Abilene will not give you a clearance by phone. Even if it is night and so dark on the ramp that you can't see your hand in front of your face in the aircraft with the red light on.
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I normally get my clearance in the air out of ABI. Then again, I've also never been there when the tower was closed.
 
The tower was open and it was at night. I was trying to teach to the student good cockpit management and about using all available resources. So we called up approach by telephone and asked for a clearance. The guy was just being lazy. He was working ground also. So he could have given us our clearance by phone.
 
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MQY get radar yet MTSU?

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They did! Just a couple of months ago. It helps sooooooo much! Alot more for the Wings of Geese students and the Blue Raiders - neither of which are sure of where they are . . .
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I figured that would get filed into the , would be nice, but aint gonna happen file. Im glad they finally got it, they needed it with all the schools around. I was in there all the time as a CFI.
 
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