IFR CLEARANCE (when is the eariest I may request clearance)

chinookogle44591

chinookogle44591

New Member
Currently flying in the airspace system maintained and controlled part-time by military controllers. During other periods primary approach/departure is controlled by Jacksonville Center ARTCC.
My question is: what is correct answer to the earliest you may request (and receive your IFR clearance, including void time) prior to the filed departure time (ZULU)?
Situation prior week: filed departure time 1330(Z) [0830(L)], and prior to start-up, requested clearance at approx. 1245(Z) [0745(L)] and we were informed to standby for clearance from tower (no clearance delivery available at stagefield), when we queried tower a few minutes later, they instructed us to contact ops to refile for an earlier departure time and stated the IFR clearance is not available until filed departure time.

(I happen to believe the ARAC/BASE OPS dropped our IFR Flightplan and gave us an excuse)

I have flown in a civilian environment and also worked for six years in United Airline Ops and the standard is to be able to contact CLR DEL or the appropriate facility prior (sometimes up to two hours prior based upon the time filed) to departure time filed to obtain the clearance.

I am aware of the FAR/AIM statement regarding the flight plan be filed at least 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure, but unable to locate a reference to the earliest time that a clearance may be requested prior to departure. I would like a reference source if possible to the standard for FAA/ARTCC/TRACON/TRSA controllers. I understand the military controllers SOP may be different, but before I start to query the ARAC, I would like to know the FAA controllers standards.

Thanks,
Frustrated Army Aviator:banghead:
 
Re: IFR CLEARANCE (when is the eariest I may request clearan

I always remember IFR clnc being available 30 mins prior to departure, and have even been told (when I called earlier than 30 prior for my clnc) that it wasn't available yet, and did I want to "amend my departure time?" ARAC, in all liklihood, accidently dropped the flight plan, or even possibly base ops forgot to load it.
 
Re: IFR CLEARANCE (when is the eariest I may request clearan

Correct, it is available 30min prior to the departure time specified in the clearance. Perhaps it is different for international flights, but I don't know.
 
Re: IFR CLEARANCE (when is the eariest I may request clearan

You can get it earlier than 30 minutes, but it creates more work for them.
 
Re: IFR CLEARANCE (when is the eariest I may request clearan

Everywhere I've been clearance was available 30 minutes prior to the proposed departure time. If I wanted it earlier they could get it but had to amend the proposed time.
 
Re: IFR CLEARANCE (when is the eariest I may request clearan

chinookogle44591 said:

Situation prior week: filed departure time 1330(Z) [0830(L)], and prior to start-up, requested clearance at approx. 1245(Z) [0745(L)] and we were informed to standby for clearance from tower (no clearance delivery available at stagefield), when we queried tower a few minutes later, they instructed us to contact ops to refile for an earlier departure time and stated the IFR clearance is not available until filed departure time.

(I happen to believe the ARAC/BASE OPS dropped our IFR Flightplan and gave us an excuse)

Click to expand...

I believe you are dead on about ops dropping your plan. Having had similiar experiences in my career if I really had to get somewhere IFR from an Army Post I filed twice. Once through the Army system because they made you, and once through Duats/FSS.

You flying Chinooks out of Cairns or Knox?
 
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