Aero-Tips!

A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of "there are no old, bold pilots.") It's part of what makes aviation so exciting for all of us... just when you think you've seen it all, along comes a scenario you've never imagined.

Aero-News has called upon the expertise of Thomas P. Turner, master CFI and all-around-good-guy, to bring our readers -- and us -- daily tips to improve our skills as aviators, and as representatives of the flying community. Some of them, you may have heard before... but for each of us, there will also be something we might never have considered before, or something that didn't "stick" the way it should have the first time we memorized it for the practical test.

It is our unabashed goal that "Aero-Tips" will help our readers become better, safer pilots -- as well as introducing our ground-bound readers to the concepts and principles that keep those strange aluminum-and-composite contraptions in the air... and allow them to soar magnificently through it.

Look for our daily Aero-Tips segments, coming each day to you through the Aero-News Network. Suggestions for future Aero-Tips are always welcome, as are additions or discussion of each day's tips. Remember... when it comes to being better pilots, we're all in this together.

Aero-Tips 06.07.06

We've reviewed three ways to obtain in Instrument Flight rules (IFR) clearance when departing a non-towered airport, and expanded on two: departing visually to pick up your clearance in the air, and obtaining a clearance void time for an IFR departure. There's a third method, also -- contact Air Traffic Control (ATC) by radio from the ground at your departure airport, through a Remote Communications Outlet (RCO) on the field, a repeater through a nearby NAVAID (like a VOR), or in cases of very flat terrain speaking directly with controllers at a nearby ATC facility.

Hold for release

If you're speaking directly to ATC you need to wait until ATC gives you an okay to depart. Until then you'll be told to "hold for release". This differs from a Clearance Void Time departure in that ATC can tell pretty much exactly when you'll "pop up" into controlled airspace, so instead of blocking out the airspace for a (relatively) long time they'll wait for a gap and then give you a "release" to depart under IFR.

NOTE: Your ATC release is not "clearance to take off". You're still at a non-towered (what we used to call an "uncontrolled" but is more correctly a "pilot-controlled") airport. Obtaining your release does not mean you have runway priority or will be clear of VFR traffic near the airport. You still have to wait your turn, and see and avoid VFR airplanes.

• ATC issues hold for release instructions to delay an aircraft's departure for traffic management--weather, traffic volume, etc.
• When ATC states "hold for release" in the clearance, you may not depart under IFR until ATC comes back with your release.
• ATC will include departure delay information with hold for release instructions (example: "hold for release; expect five minutes departure delay").

The ATC instruction "hold for release" applies to the IFR clearance and does not prevent you from departing VFR. If you elect to do so, cancel your IFR flight plan before takeoff and operate VFR (including transponder code). You may still be able to pick up your IFR clearance after departure -- but give yourself plenty of VFR maneuvering room.

Here's an example of a "hold for release" takeoff clearance:

"N329PT is cleared to Albuquerque as filed, maintain 6000 feet, squawk 1234. Hold for release, expect ten minutes delay for traffic."

You complete takeoff checklists while monitoring the ATC frequency (stay where other airplanes can taxi around you to depart while you wait). Eventually ATC calls you back and says: "N329PT is released, report airborne on [frequency]." You take off and are on an IFR clearance from the ground up -- just remember even IFR airplanes need to "see and avoid" traffic when in visual conditions.

Aero-tip of the day: Understand the terminology and use of Hold for Release when picking up an IFR clearance on the ground.

FMI: Aero-Tips