AIM 

4/20/23 

4. 

That it is the responsibility of the pilot to inform ATC in the initial call-up (for clearance) when the filed 

flight plan has been either: 

(a) 

Amended, or 

(b) 

Canceled and replaced with a new filed flight plan. 

NOTE

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The facility issuing a clearance may not have received the revised route or the revised flight plan by the time a pilot requests 

clearance. 

b. 

Controllers will issue a detailed clearance when they know that the original filed flight plan has been 

changed or when the pilot requests a full route clearance. 

c. 

The clearance as issued will include the destination airport filed in the flight plan. 

d. 

ATC procedures now require the controller to state the DP name, the current number and the DP transition 

name after the phrase “Cleared to (destination) airport” and prior to the phrase, “then as filed,” for ALL departure 

clearances when the DP or DP transition is to be flown. The procedures apply whether or not the DP is filed in 

the flight plan. 

e. 

STARs, when filed in a flight plan, are considered a part of the filed route of flight and will not normally 

be stated in an initial departure clearance. If the ARTCC’s jurisdictional airspace includes both the departure 

airport and the fix where a STAR or STAR transition begins, the STAR name, the current number and the STAR 

transition name MAY be stated in the initial clearance. 

f. 

“Cleared to (destination) airport as filed” does NOT include the en route altitude filed in a flight plan. An 

en route altitude will be stated in the clearance or the pilot will be advised to expect an assigned or filed altitude 

within a given time frame or at a certain point after departure. This may be done verbally in the departure 

instructions or stated in the DP. 

g. 

In both radar and nonradar environments, the controller will state “Cleared to (destination) airport as filed” 

or: 

1. 

If a DP or DP transition is to be flown, specify the DP name, the current DP number, the DP transition 

name, the assigned altitude/flight level, and any additional instructions (departure control frequency, beacon 

code assignment, etc.) necessary to clear a departing aircraft via the DP or DP transition and the route filed. 

EXAMPLE

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National Seven Twenty cleared to Miami Airport Intercontinental one departure, Lake Charles transition then as filed, 

maintain Flight Level two seven zero. 

2. 

When there is no DP or when the pilot cannot accept a DP, the controller will specify the assigned altitude 

or flight level, and any additional instructions necessary to clear a departing aircraft via an appropriate departure 

routing and the route filed. 

NOTE

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A detailed departure route description or a radar vector may be used to achieve the desired departure routing. 

3. 

If it is necessary to make a minor revision to the filed route, the controller will specify the assigned DP 

or DP transition (or departure routing), the revision to the filed route, the assigned altitude or flight level and any 

additional instructions necessary to clear a departing aircraft. 

EXAMPLE

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Jet Star One Four Two Four cleared to Atlanta Airport, South Boston two departure then as filed except change route to read 

South Boston Victor 20 Greensboro, maintain one seven thousand. 

4. 

Additionally, in a nonradar environment, the controller will specify one or more fixes, as necessary, to 

identify the initial route of flight. 

EXAMPLE

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Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot cleared to Charlotte Airport as filed via Brooke, maintain seven thousand. 

5

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2

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4 

Departure Procedures