¶ Introduction
Clearance Delivery Controller is the first controller the pilot will contact during flight. Delivery is responsible for issuing an ATC clearances for departing aircrafts. It is, among any other, a very responsible function. If you clear an aircraft with incorrect flight plan, the next controllers will need to handle this liability.
¶ Guidelines
Before connecting as DEL, you need knowledge of at least the following:
- Aurora usage: Aurora Manual
- Phraseology
- Basic local procedures
- Basic flight plan validation
- What SID is
- VFR/IFR flight rules
- Proper VFR/IFR clearance elements
- RVSM
- Transponder and Squawk Codes
- Transition Altitude & Transition Level
- Setting up correct ATIS
- AS1 - AS3 Documentation
¶ DEL in FIR EPWW
Clearance Delivery positions are located at following aerodromes:
- EPKK
- EPKT
- EPLL
- EPMO
- EPPO
- EPRZ
- EPWA
- EPWR
¶ ATC Clearance
After you check someone's flight plan and it is correct you'll need to prepare departure clearance.
A CRAFT Acronym comes in here quite handy. Without F meaning Frequency (which is mostly used in US), the rest perfectly depicts essential clearance elements:
- Clearance limit
- Route
- Altitude
- Transponder
Clearance limit - How far is pilot cleared.
Route - what will pilot be cleared to do after take off.
Altitude - Initial climb clearance.
Transponder - allocated squawk.
(Additionally there is current ATIS Information, you need to either confirm the pilot that he/she has current one, correct him if newer is available, or tell him to check it if he forgots to do so).
¶ Squawk codes & Transponder usage
¶ IFR/VFR Flights
Clearance for IFR vs VFR clearance differ slightly although CRAFT elements stays exactly the same.
¶ IFR ATC Clearance fundamentals and example
Exemplery info: Flight from EPKK -> EPWA, route POBOK DCT KOTEK DCT LOGDA. Cruise: FL230. Runway 25 is in use.
We'll now put it into CRAFT:
- Clearance limit - In case of IFR flights it will for 99,9% of the time be the destination airport
EPWA - Route - SID. The first waypoint is what you're looking for on the map to allocate proper SID. RWY25 so POBOK4J
- Altitude - Initial climb is always stated on the charts, it is 6000ft in case of Kraków.
- Transponder - Aurora will allocate a proper squawk. For instance it will be 3145
Now let's look at real transmission example:
Pilot: Kraków Delivery LOT345 Information Hotel, request IFR clearance to Warsaw.
ATC: LOT345 Kraków Delivery Information Hotel correct, cleared to Warsaw, Runway 25 POBOK4J Departure, squawk 3145.
Pilot: Cleared to Warsaw via POBOK4J RWY25, squawk 3145 LOT345.
ATC: LOT345 Readback correct.
With some experience you can start to think outside of the box and short your clearances to the most important elements:
- Runway in use is known by the pilot from the ATIS;
- Initial climb is known by the pilot from charts.
Therefore these can be ommited provided that no confusion is likely to occur and clearance can look like this:
LOT345 Cleared to Warsaw via POBOK4J Departure squawk 3145.
¶ VFR ATC Clearance fundamentals and examples
Unlike IFR Flights it is highly possible that you'll need to coordinate such flights with the TWR controller (or anyone who is responsible for CTR) as VFR flights will fly within his jurisdiction and it's his choice mostly regarding traffic circuit in use but also other factors as well.
- Clearance limit - In case of VFR flights it will be controlled airspace (CTR/TMA) as this is where ATC Service is provided. (You don't need clearance to fly in class G airspace).
- Route - This is route that the aircraft will be cleared to fly after departure. It will either be VFR Waypoints or in case of traffic circuits - a left or right traffic pattern.
- Altitude - Maximum altitude in the controlled zone / airspace.
- Transponder - Aurora will allocate a proper squawk.
Note: In case of VFR flights Transponder can be ommited as it is not going to be a primary mean of identification in the CTR nor by FIS, especially when aircraft is equipped with mode S.
¶ VFR Flight Leaving CTR
EPKK as an example.
- Clearance limit - Controlled zone.
- Route - EPKK DCT EPKKZ.
- Altitude - Maximum 2000ft as in airports procedures.
- Transponder - 7451.
How will it look like:
Pilot: Kraków Delivery SP-ABC Information Kilo ready to copy clearance.
ATC: SP-ABC Kraków Delivery, Cleared for VFR flight in controlled zone, departure Runway 25 after departure direct Kilo Zulu, maximum 2000ft, squawk 7451.
Pilot: Cleared for VFR flight in controlled zone, departure Runway 25 after departure direct Kilo Zulu, maximum 2000ft, squawk 7451 SP-ABC.
ATC: SP-ABC Readback correct.
¶ VFR Flight Inside CTR
EPKK as an example.
- Clearance limit - Controlled zone.
- Route - Expected turn of traffic pattern.
- Altitude - Maximum 2000ft as in airports procedures.
- Transponder - Standard 7000.
Example:
Pilot: Kraków Delivery SP-ABC Information Kilo ready to copy clearance.
ATC: SP-ABC Kraków Delivery, Cleared for VFR flight in controlled zone, departure Runway 25 after departure expect left traffic circuit, maximum 2000ft.
Pilot: Cleared for VFR flight in controlled zone, departure Runway 25 expecting left traffic circuit, maximum 2000ft SP-ABC.*
ATC: SP-ABC Readback correct.
¶ Handoff
When pilot receives the clearance and correctly reads it back, you have two options of handing him to Ground controller for pushback.
- Request pilot to report when he is ready for pushback.
ATC: LOT345 readback correct, report ready for pushback and startup.
Pilot: Wilco LOT345.
- Or hand him off immediately.
ATC: LOT345 readback correct, for pushback and startup contact Kraków Ground 118.105.
Pilot: For pushback and startup contact Kraków Ground 118.105 LOT345.
Note - provided that no confusion is likely to occur "for pushback and startup" might be omitted.
¶ Additional Information
Always closely listen to pilot's read back and if he missed or misunderstood anything correct him immediately.
These are basic guidelines. For more information refer to IVAO Documentation and local procedures.
Should you have any questions, IVAO Training Department is always happy to assist you.