Proceed direct Vs. Cleared direct

meatasaurusx Trusted Member Chi-town

Here is the situation:

At C90 all of the departures are cleared to their destination via radar vectors to the first fix. To the east and south, we have RNAV fixes that the aircraft are sent direct to before being shipped to the center and after we are done vectoring for spacing, past the arrivals, weather, etc... My question is are you supposed to say Proceed direct (fix) or Cleared direct (fix) or is there no difference. I have heard both used, but that doesn't mean it is technically right. I try to use Proceed direct (fix), as that was how I was trained. I think that for the most part using either one is not confusing to the pilots, but are you technically changing the clearance limit of the aircraft by saying cleared direct? Thanks for the help.

atcbrownie Trusted Member Warrenton Va

I say proceed because like you stated saying cleared to a fix changes the clearance limit. But this is just my opinion.

BonanzaMan Junior Member

Cleared direct means they have a new clearance from their present position direct to the next fix. Proceed direct means basically the same thing.

Roddy_Piper Resident Knucklehead Vegas baby

"cleared direct (fix)" is different than "cleared to (fix)". cleared to changes the clearance limit, not cleared direct.

that being said we have a similar situation in vegas. i personally say "proceed direct (fix)" only because as a center puke i said cleared direct. i didn't wanna continue that trend in the tracon.

atcguruaf Rico Suave AZ

.65, 4-2-5. ROUTE OR ALTITUDE AMENDMENTS

a. Amend route of flight in a previously issued clearance by one of the following:

3. Issue a clearance "direct" to a point on the previously issued route.

PHRASEOLOGY -
CLEARED DIRECT (fix).

Pages 4-8-3, 5-6-2, and 5-9-4, also have examples that use "cleared direct"

HOWEVER,

Pages 4-5-6 and 4-8-2 have examples that use "Proceed direct".

There is also some associated phraseology on page 5-6-2 and 2-6-3.

So, as you can see, there really is no difference. Even the .65 flip flops between the two. I started this post getting explanatory, but eventually figured out that you can look it up just as easily.

DairyCreamer Senior Member Elsewhere

1 extra syllable in "proceed." Cleared direct.

Roddy_Piper Resident Knucklehead Vegas baby

says the center guy

meatasaurusx Trusted Member Chi-town

Thanks everyone.

DairyCreamer Senior Member Elsewhere

Does the .65 differentiate b/w center or terminal for this particular instance? I think not.

In any case, I personally try and use the word "proceed" for VFRs and "cleared" for IFR aircraft to avoid a possible misinterpretation by a VFR pilot that he's been given an explicit ATC clearance for something. If I do tell a VFR guy "cleared," I usually follow up with "maintain VFR."

I just think cleared is a more precise word. Proceed sounds so... I don't know, fluffy? Prim and proper?

~Nate

PS - Meat, PM me, eh?

Roddy_Piper Resident Knucklehead Vegas baby

that was my point. when i worked the center i said "cleared direct" cuz everyone else did. now that i'm in a tracon, i say "proceed direct" for whatever reason. hence...the .65 does not differentiate a difference b/w center or terminal or does not differentiate one as right and the other as wrong.