Proper Phraseology for Clearance Delivery

FL_CTI Senior Member South Florida

Greetings all

Just wondering what the proper phraseology is for giving a departure clearance. If I recall from my classes, it is:
1) Airline ID
2) Clearance Limit
3) Standard Instrument Departure
4) Route of Flight
5) Altitude Data
6) Mach number (if applicable)
7) Holding Instructions
8) Special Instructions
9) Frequency and Transponder info

For example: American 456 is cleared to the Madison airport as filed. Upon departure turn left heading 2-2-0. Fly route TRANS, FOXIE, GOPAK, and YULEE. Climb and maintain 1-1,000 at Mach .84. Hold over the FOXIE transition point at or above 1-1,000. Departure frequency 125.3 squawk 2143.

I am in my Tower class at CTI school trying to get ahead of the curve of the class and would like to know how exactly a clearance is delivered. Thank you in advance for all your responses.

ATC_MacGyver MacGyver with the bears.

it depends if there are amendments, if he is cleared via radar vectors, etc. the AIM has some info on it. i think. also the .75. i'm not familiar with the fly route portion if he is CAF. but that doesn't mean it's wrong. i just dont recall that.

Roddy_Piper Resident Knucklehead Vegas baby

In your scenario I would say something like:

American 4-56, cleared to Madison airport, turn left heading 2-2-0, radar vectors TRANS, FOXIE, GOPAK, YULEE, as filed, climb and maintain 1-1,000, expect FL370 5 minutes after departure, departure frequency 125.3, squawk 2143.

If it is your intention to clear someone to a fix to hold prior to clearing them on course then I would say something like:

American 4-56, cleared to FOXIE intersection, turn right heading 2-2-0, radar vectors TRANS, direct, climb and maintain 1-1,000, expect FL370 1-0 minutes after departure, hold south as published, expect further clearance at 2130 via GOPAK, YULEE, as filed, departure freq 125.3, squawk 2143.

gosh...hope that is right. it's probably what i would say in either scenario. which doesn't make it right. i think i'm at least close.


i wouldn't say anything about mach 84 while climbing to eleven thousand. you can't really start using mach until at least the flight levels. i never used mach below FL280.

atcguruaf Rico Suave AZ

Read Chapter 4 of the .65. It's all there.