ZTL, ZME, ZHU Clearance question

KASeNIK Newcomer Leesburg, VA

Hey all,

I currently work flight service in DC and we often relay clearances from centers to pilots. My question is this... I consistently receive clearances from ZTL, ZME, and ZHU and they are so badly out of order it's painful. For instance, this morning, I received a clearance from ZTL and this was exactly what he told me

Cleared as filed, clearance void at XXXX, maintain XXX, contact ATC no later then XXXX, squawk XXXX, contact Atlanta center XXX.XX

The typical clearance I get from ZME/ZHU goes something like this,

Cleared as filed, maintain XXX, squawk XXXX, clearance void XXXX, contact ATC no later then XXXX, contact Memphis center XXX.XX

So basically, I want to know why you guys give it out order. My side to this is our operating manual says we have to relay the clearance verbatim from the controller, but we obviously can't go back to the pilot with it being out of order because it makes us look stupid, and we have enough bad light shining us. Not to mention QA up our ass 24/7 making sure we do everything right to the T.

So I would really like to find out why you guys give it out of order, because right now I'm just straight frustrated.

xxDYxx Rookie Florida (KPAM)

Not all controllers are good controllers. There is a set order in which to read, and then relay, clearance items. I gaurantee that if I asked all the qualified controllers in my RAPCON to tell me all the clearance items in order, that at least 1/3 of them would get some wrong. As far as your problem goes... your right, you have to relay verbatim. But if I were you, I would call the facility manager or supervisor if it keeps happening, and have a talk with them about their relayed clearances.