Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 923/2012Show full title

SERA.8015 Air traffic control clearances

(a) Air traffic control clearances shall be based solely on the requirements for providing air traffic control service.

(b) Operation subject to clearance

(1) An air traffic control clearance shall be obtained prior to operating a controlled flight, or a portion of a flight as a controlled flight. Such clearance shall be requested through the submission of a flight plan to an air traffic control unit.

(2) The pilot-in-command of an aircraft shall inform ATC if an air traffic control clearance is not satisfactory. In such cases, ATC will issue an amended clearance, if practicable.

(3) Whenever an aircraft has requested a clearance involving priority, a report explaining the necessity for such priority shall be submitted, if requested by the appropriate air traffic control unit.

(4) Potential reclearance in flight. If, prior to departure, it is anticipated that, depending on fuel endurance and subject to reclearance in flight, a decision may be taken to proceed to a revised destination aerodrome, the appropriate air traffic control units shall be so notified by the insertion in the flight plan of information concerning the revised route (where known) and the revised destination.

(5) An aircraft operated on a controlled aerodrome shall not taxi on the manoeuvring area without clearance from the aerodrome control tower and shall comply with any instructions given by that unit.

(c) Clearances for transonic flight

(1) The air traffic control clearance relating to the transonic acceleration phase of a supersonic flight shall extend at least to the end of that phase.

(2) The air traffic control clearance relating to the deceleration and descent of an aircraft from supersonic cruise to subsonic flight shall seek to provide for uninterrupted descent at least during the transonic phase.

(d) Contents of clearances

An air traffic control clearance shall indicate:

(1)

aircraft identification as shown in the flight plan;

(2)

clearance limit;

(3)

route of flight;

(4)

level(s) of flight for the entire route or part thereof and changes of levels if required;

(5)

any necessary instructions or information on other matters such as approach or departure manoeuvres, communications and the time of expiry of the clearance.

(e) Read-back of clearances and safety-related information

(1) The flight crew shall read back to the air traffic controller safety-related parts of ATC clearances and instructions which are transmitted by voice. The following items shall always be read back:

(i)

ATC route clearances;

(ii)

clearances and instructions to enter, land on, take off from, hold short of, cross, taxi and backtrack on any runway; and

(iii)

runway-in-use, altimeter settings, SSR codes, newly assigned communication channels, level instructions, heading and speed instructions; and

(iv)

transition levels, whether issued by the controller or contained in ATIS broadcasts.

(2) Other clearances or instructions, including conditional clearances and taxi instructions, shall be read back or acknowledged in a manner to clearly indicate that they have been understood and will be complied with.

(3) The controller shall listen to the read-back to ascertain that the clearance or instruction has been correctly acknowledged by the flight crew and shall take immediate action to correct any discrepancies revealed by the read-back.

(4) Voice read-back of CPDLC messages shall not be required, unless otherwise specified by the ANSP.

(f) Coordination of clearances

(1) An air traffic control clearance shall be coordinated between air traffic control units to cover the entire route of an aircraft or a specified portion thereof as described in provisions (2) to (6).

(2) An aircraft shall be cleared for the entire route to the aerodrome of first intended landing:

(i)

when it has been possible, prior to departure, to coordinate the clearance between all the units under whose control the aircraft will come; or

(ii)

when there is reasonable assurance that prior coordination will be effected between those units under whose control the aircraft will subsequently come.

(3) When coordination as in (2) has not been achieved or is not anticipated, the aircraft shall be cleared only to that point where coordination is reasonably assured; prior to reaching such point, or at such point, the aircraft shall receive further clearance, holding instructions being issued as appropriate.

(4) When prescribed by the ATS unit, aircraft shall contact a downstream air traffic control unit, for the purpose of receiving a downstream clearance prior to the transfer of control point.

(i)

Aircraft shall maintain the necessary two-way communication with the current air traffic control unit whilst obtaining a downstream clearance.

(ii)

A clearance issued as a downstream clearance shall be clearly identifiable as such to the pilot.

(iii)

Unless coordinated, downstream clearances shall not affect the aircraft’s original flight profile in any airspace, other than that of the air traffic control unit responsible for the delivery of the downstream clearance.

(5) When an aircraft intends to depart from an aerodrome within a control area to enter another control area within a period of thirty minutes, or such other specific period of time as has been agreed between the area control centres concerned, coordination with the subsequent area control centre shall be effected prior to issuance of the departure clearance.

(6) When an aircraft intends to leave a control area for flight outside controlled airspace, and will subsequently re-enter the same or another control area, a clearance from the point of departure to the aerodrome of first intended landing may be issued. Such clearance or revisions thereto shall apply only to those portions of the flight conducted within controlled airspace.