11.2 CRAFT Clearances & Departure Instructions
Key Takeaways
- The standard CRAFT mnemonic structures every IFR clearance: Clearance Limit, Route of flight, Altitude (initial + expect time/distance), Frequency (departure control), and Transponder (squawk code).
- An abbreviated clearance using 'Cleared as filed' authorizes the filed route of flight but does not relieve the pilot of adhering to assigned altitudes, departure procedures (SIDs/ODPs), or tactical route amendments.
- Pilots are legally required to read back all runway hold-short instructions, runway assignments, altitude assignments and restrictions, altimeter settings, and assigned transponder squawk codes.
- Pilots must clearly state 'UNABLE' when safety, aircraft performance, or operational limitations prevent compliance with an ATC clearance or instruction.
- Under 14 CFR § 91.3, the Pilot in Command retains ultimate legal authority for the safe operation of the aircraft and must request clarification using 'SAY AGAIN' whenever a clearance is ambiguous.
CRAFT Clearances & Departure Instructions
Quick Answer: Every IFR clearance is organized using the CRAFT mnemonic: Clearance Limit, Route, Altitude (initial + expect altitude/time), Frequency (departure), and Transponder code (squawk). "Cleared as filed" approves the filed route but requires adherence to assigned altitudes and SIDs/ODPs. Pilots must provide mandatory readbacks for runway assignments, hold-short instructions, altitude assignments/restrictions, altimeter settings, and transponder squawk codes. If any instruction cannot be complied with safely, the pilot must state "UNABLE".
Receiving, recording, decoding, and reading back an Air Traffic Control clearance is one of the most critical phases of an instrument flight. A clearance is not merely a set of routing suggestions; it is an official air traffic authorization that establishes the protected legal envelope within which an aircraft will operate.
The CRAFT Clearance Framework
To ensure uniformity and prevent omissions, the FAA standardizes the structure of all IFR clearances. Pilots use the CRAFT acronym to record and organize clearance elements as they are delivered:
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| THE CRAFT CLEARANCE FRAMEWORK |
| |
| Letter Clearance Element Example Phraseology |
| ------ ---------------------- ------------------------------------ |
| C Clearance Limit "Cleared to the Chicago Midway Airport"|
| R Route of Flight "via the O'Hare Four Departure, then |
| as filed..." |
| A Altitude (Initial/Exp) "Climb and maintain 3,000, expect |
| 8,000 one zero minutes after departure"|
| F Frequency (Departure) "Departure frequency 126.65" |
| T Transponder (Squawk) "Squawk 4521" |
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1. Clearance Limit (C)
- The physical geographical point to which the aircraft is authorized to fly under IFR.
- Standard Destination: In most cases, the clearance limit is the destination airport (e.g., "Cleared to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport...").
- Short-Range / Intermediate Clearance Limit: When heavy traffic congestion or flow delays exist, ATC may clear an aircraft to an intermediate fix, NAVAID, or intersection (e.g., "Cleared to REDD FIX, hold east as published..."), accompanied by an Expect Further Clearance (EFC) time.
2. Route of Flight (R)
- Specifies the exact lateral path the aircraft must navigate.
- Components may include:
- Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs) or Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODPs).
- Radar vectors to an initial airway, fix, or waypoint.
- Federal Victor Airways, Jet Routes, or Q/T RNAV routes.
- Point-to-point direct GPS routing.
- "Cleared As Filed": Authorizes the route originally submitted in the flight plan, subject to any published departure procedures.
3. Altitude (A)
- Standard IFR clearances almost always deliver a two-part altitude structure:
- Initial Altitude: The altitude the aircraft must climb and maintain immediately after takeoff (e.g., "Climb and maintain 4,000").
- Expect Altitude & Time/Distance: The final cruising altitude and when the pilot can expect to receive clearance to climb to it (e.g., "Expect 10,000 one zero minutes after departure").
- Vital Purpose of the Expect Time: In the event of two-way radio communications failure immediately after departure, the "expect" altitude and time dictate when the pilot is legally authorized to climb from the initial altitude to the cruising altitude under 14 CFR § 91.185.
4. Frequency (F)
- The initial communications radio frequency for the radar departure control facility (TRACON) or en route Center (ARTCC) sector handling the aircraft after takeoff.
5. Transponder (T)
- A discrete 4-digit octal beacon code (0000 to 7777) assigned to the aircraft's Mode A/C/S transponder. This squawk code correlates the radar target on the controller's display with the aircraft's automated flight plan data block.
Shorthand Clearance Copying
Pilots utilize standardized shorthand symbols to rapidly record rapid clearance deliveries:
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| STANDARD ATC CLEARANCE SHORTHAND |
| |
| Symbol / Shorthand Meaning |
| -------------------- --------------------------------------------- |
| C Cleared to... |
| AF As Filed |
| ↑ 30 Climb and Maintain 3,000 ft |
| E 80 10 Expect 8,000 ft 10 minutes after departure |
| D 126.65 Departure Frequency 126.65 |
| SQ 4521 Squawk 4521 |
| H-S 28R Hold Short Runway 28 Right |
| T Turn (e.g., T L 090 = Turn Left heading 090) |
| V Radar Vectors |
| RL Right Turn after Takeoff |
| LL Left Turn after Takeoff |
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"Cleared As Filed" & Abbreviated Clearances
Under AIM 5-2-5, ATC utilizes abbreviated clearances to reduce radio frequency congestion in busy terminal environments.
Scope and Meaning of "Cleared As Filed"
- What It Means: The controller is clearing the aircraft to fly the exact lateral route submitted in the pilot's flight plan.
- What It Does NOT Mean: "Cleared as filed" does not authorize the filed cruising altitude for initial departure! Pilots must strictly comply with the initial assigned altitude issued in the verbal clearance.
- Route Amendments: If ATC modifies only a portion of the filed route, the controller will state the amendment first, followed by "rest of route unchanged" or "then as filed" (e.g., "Cleared to Miami Airport via radar vectors to JAX, V3, then as filed...").
Conditions for Abbreviated Clearances
ATC will only issue "cleared as filed" if:
- The filed route can be issued without major routing modifications.
- The pilot has not filed an illegal or non-compliant routing (such as routing through active restricted airspace).
- Any applicable Standard Instrument Departure (SID) is explicitly stated by name and transition.
Mandatory Readback Requirements
FAA regulations and air traffic procedures require specific, unambiguous readbacks to eliminate "hearback-readback" errors. Failure to read back critical instructions is a leading contributor to pilot deviations and runway incursions.
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| MANDATORY READBACK REQUIREMENTS |
| |
| The pilot MUST read back the following items verbatim: |
| |
| 1. ALL Runway Hold-Short Instructions |
| • Must state aircraft callsign AND exact runway designator |
| • Example: "Hold short of Runway 28R, Skyhawk 172SP" |
| |
| 2. Runway Takeoff, Landing & Line Up/Wait Clearances |
| • Example: "Cleared for takeoff Runway 28R, Skyhawk 172SP" |
| |
| 3. Altitude Assignments & Altitude Restrictions |
| • Level-offs, crossing restrictions, climb/descend instructions |
| • Example: "Climb and maintain 5,000, cross MERIT at 7,000" |
| |
| 4. Altimeter Settings |
| • Example: "Altimeter 29.92, Skyhawk 172SP" |
| |
| 5. Assigned Transponder Squawk Codes |
| • Example: "Squawk 4521, Skyhawk 172SP" |
| |
| 6. Radar Vectors & Assigned Headings |
| • Example: "Turn right heading 090, Skyhawk 172SP" |
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Strict Rule: Unconditional Call Sign Inclusion
Every readback must terminate or begin with the aircraft's full or ATC-abbreviated call sign. An acknowledgment such as "Roger", "Wilco", or clicking the mic button is illegal and unacceptable for altitude, runway, or squawk instructions.
Pilot Authority & Clarification: "Say Again" vs. "Unable"
Under 14 CFR § 91.3(a), the Pilot in Command is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to, the operation of that aircraft.
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| PILOT CLARIFICATION & REFUSAL TOOLS |
| |
| Phraseology When to Use Pilot Responsibility |
| ----------- --------------------------- -------------------------- |
| "SAY AGAIN" Any portion of transmission Do not guess or assume. |
| was garbled, rapid, or unclear. Request complete or partial|
| repetition. |
| |
| "VERIFY" / Clearance seems conflicting, Prompt controller to |
| "CONFIRM" unusual, or contradicts charts cross-check flight plan and|
| (e.g., wrong direction altitude). radar data. |
| |
| "UNABLE" Clearance compromises safety, State "UNABLE" immediately |
| exceeds aircraft performance, and provide the operational |
| or violates cloud clearances. reason. |
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Examples of Proper Pilot Assertiveness
- Rate of Climb Exceeded: "Approach, Cessna 172SP unable 1,500 feet per minute climb rate due to aircraft performance, can maintain 700 feet per minute."
- Icing Encounter: "Center, Piper 28R unable 9,000 due to structural icing, request immediate descent to 5,000."
- Crosswind / Runway Length: "Tower, unable Runway 4 due to crosswind component, request Runway 32."
In an IFR clearance containing the phrase: 'Climb and maintain 4,000, expect 10,000 one zero minutes after departure', what is the operational purpose of the 'expect 10,000' altitude instruction?
Which of the following items requires a mandatory, verbatim readback by the pilot to ATC?
When ATC issues an abbreviated clearance stating 'Cleared to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport as filed, maintain 5,000', what are the pilot's obligations regarding the filed flight plan?