CLEARANCE – INSTRUCTION – READ BACK

1. Introduction
An ATC clearance or an instruction constitutes authority for an aircraft to proceed only in so far as known
air traffic is concerned and is based solely on the need to safely expedite and separate air traffic.

ATC = Air traffic controller.

Pilots are required to comply with ATC clearances and instructions accepted by them and with ATC
instructions directed to and acknowledged by them, subject to the pilot maintaining final responsibility for
the aircraft's safety.

Everyone shall conduct transmissions in a normal conversational tone using standard phraseology as
prescribed in relevant documents or procedures.

2. Clearances and instructions

2.1. Definition

Air Traffic Control CLEARANCE: A clearance is an authorization that allows a pilot to do something.
Air Traffic Control INSTRUCTION: An instruction is an action to be executed without delay.

There is a difference between an ATC clearance and an ATC instruction:

 A clearance uses the term “cleared”
 An instruction will use an action verb in the imperative mood.

Examples of action verbs in the imperative mood:

Taxi, stop, follow, descend, climb, turn, reduce, expedite, maintain…

You may omit words such as “this is”, “over”, and other similar terms from radio transmissions provided
there is no likelihood of misunderstanding.

Clearance – instruction – read back Version 1.2 30 September 2015 Page 1

© IVAO HQ training department Training Documentation Manager Erwan L’hotellier

This manual is dedicated only for IVAOTM Network activities. This document must not be used in real aviation or in other networks
There are other types of messages which are not clearances and instructions:
 ATC advises an expect-approach-clearance time, delay, traffic information
 ATC suggests any advice to aircraft
 ATC requests any information from an aircraft.

When the controllers use the term “expect” in communication, this is never a clearance or instruction. It’s
information (or advice).
With the term “expect”, the pilot shall not proceed as if it were a clearance or instruction, but prepare his
aircraft for this future instruction.

Example:
SAU2455, expect ILS approach runway 35.

Here, the pilot shall locate the ILS runway 35 approach chart and start his preparation for this approach.
This communication shall not clear the pilot to the ILS approach runway 35. Pilot must hold at the last point
of the previous clearance and not continue on the procedure given.

2.2. Format

Clearance shall contain positive and concise data and shall be phrased in a standard manner using
phraseology.

ATC shall issue clearance items, as appropriate, in the following order:

1) Prefix.
2) Aircraft identification.
3) Clearance limit.
4) SID.
5) Route.
6) Altitude.
7) Mach-number.
8) Departure, en route, approach, or holding instructions.
9) Special instructions or information.
10) Traffic information.

Clearance – instruction – read back Version 1.2 30 September 2015 Page 2

© IVAO HQ training department Training Documentation Manager Erwan L’hotellier

This manual is dedicated only for IVAOTM Network activities. This document must not be used in real aviation or in other networks
 2.3. Rules to know as a controller
ATC units shall issue such ATC clearances and instructions as are necessary to prevent collisions and to
expedite and maintain an orderly flow of air traffic.

ATC units shall issue clearances and instructions that ensure an aircraft will remain within controlled
airspace unless the aircraft requests otherwise.

ATC units shall issue clearances and instructions with the least possible delay.

ATC units shall identify and correct any error made during transmission of a clearance or instruction.
ATC units shall cancel and restate the clearance in full if there is any possibility of misunderstanding.

You may issue a clearance amending a previous clearance:

Example:
CDN92, CLEARED TO THE WINNIPEG AIRPORT VIA PRINCETON, J504 LUMSDEN, REMAINDER OF
ROUTE UNCHANGED;

When a flight plan specifies that the first portion of a flight will be subject to air traffic control and the
subsequent portion will be uncontrolled, the aircraft shall normally be cleared to the point at which the
controlled flight terminates.

2.4. Rules to know as a pilot

If an air traffic control clearance is not suitable to the pilot-in-command of an aircraft, the flight crew may
request and, if practicable, obtain an amended clearance.

ATC clearance does not constitute authorisation to violate the applicable regulations for promoting the
safety of flight operation or for any other purpose.

When a flight will be partially uncontrolled, aircraft shall be advised to obtain its clearance from the ATC unit
in whose area controlled the flight will be commenced.

What can I do if, as a pilot-in-command, I do not receive any further clearance?

If a clearance is not received, the aircraft is expected to hold in a published holding pattern or if there is no
published pattern, a standard pattern on the inbound track to the clearance limit and to request further
clearance or an approach clearance.

What can I do if, as a pilot-in-command, I cannot contact the air traffic controller? (In IVAO, by voice and by
text).
If communication cannot be established with ATC, the aircraft is then expected to proceed in accordance
with communication failure rules and procedures.

Clearance – instruction – read back Version 1.2 30 September 2015 Page 3

© IVAO HQ training department Training Documentation Manager Erwan L’hotellier

This manual is dedicated only for IVAOTM Network activities. This document must not be used in real aviation or in other networks
 2.5. Clearance limit

A clearance limit shall be described by specifying the name of the appropriate significant point.

At least 5 minutes before an aircraft reaches its clearance limit, issue:

 A further clearance;
 An approach clearance
 A holding clearance.

If a clearance is not received, the aircraft is expected to hold in a published holding pattern or if there is no
published pattern, a standard pattern on the inbound track to the clearance limit and to request further
clearance or an approach clearance.

A late clearance may cause an aircraft to overshoot the holding fix.

When the destination aerodrome is outside controlled airspace, the ATC unit responsible for the last
controlled airspace shall issue the appropriate clearance for the flight to the limit of that controlled airspace.

2.6. Route of flight

You may use the phrase “via flight planned route” provided:
 the previously filed route has not been changed
 the aircraft will be radar-monitored until past the first compulsory reporting point.

You may instruct an aircraft to follow a specified track or heading for a specified time, to a location, or to an
altitude, provided the instruction does not prevent the aircraft from clearing all obstructions and terrain in
accordance with the specified minimum.

Example:
PROCEED VIA/REMAIN ON (specified radial or course) UNTIL (time or location).
CLIMB/DESCEND TO (altitude) ON (specified radial or course).

You should inform a high-performance aircraft if you anticipate that it may be required to hold en route or
during descent.

An ATC unit can issue, with the holding clearance, an expected approach clearance time, expected further
clearance time, or the time to depart the fix, and revise it as necessary:
Example:
EXPECT APPROACH CLEARANCE AT (time); EXPECT FURTHER CLEARANCE AT (time); DEPART
(fix) AT (time).

2.7. Approach clearance

An ATC unit shall specify in an approach clearance the published name of the approach as it appears in
the AIP, and the route to be flown if adherence to a particular procedure is required.

Use the prefix “RNAV” in radio communications concerning RNAV(GPS) approaches.

Clearance – instruction – read back Version 1.2 30 September 2015 Page 4

© IVAO HQ training department Training Documentation Manager Erwan L’hotellier

This manual is dedicated only for IVAOTM Network activities. This document must not be used in real aviation or in other networks
 2.8. Resolution advisory (TA/RA)

An aircraft can deviate from an ATC clearance or instruction when an ACAS/TCAS or a GPWS/TAWS
resolution advisory manoeuvre occurs.
Aircraft crew that manoeuvre as a result of an ACAS/ TCAS or GPWS/TAWS RA and which may affect an
ATC clearance will notify controllers when beginning the manoeuvre or as soon as workload permits.

When the ACAS/TCAS or GPWS/TAWS RA has been resolved, the aircraft crew must advise ATC they are
returning to their previously assigned clearance or subsequent amended clearance.

Become aware that an aircraft has deviated from an ATC clearance or instruction as a result of an
ACAS/TCAS or GPWS/TAWS resolution advisory manoeuvre.

Do not assume that other aircraft in the vicinity of an aircraft that is responding to an RA instruction are
aware of its intended manoeuvres unless you are advised by them that they are also responding to an
ACAS/ TCAS or GPWS/TAWS RA.

Continue to provide control instruction, safety alerts, and traffic advisories as appropriate to such aircraft.

An ATC unit shall re-assume the responsibility for separation after an aircraft has responded to an
ACAS/TCAS or GPWS/ TAWS RA when the aircraft informs you that:
 the manoeuvre is complete
 it has returned to its assigned altitude
 it is following an alternate clearance

If an aircraft manoeuvers outside the limits of its clearance, the controller is not responsible for separation
between it and other aircraft, protected airspace for other aircraft, terrain or obstructions.

When the ACAS/TCAS or GPWS/TAWS RA has been resolved the aircraft must advise ATC they are
returning to normal situation.

Clearance – instruction – read back Version 1.2 30 September 2015 Page 5

© IVAO HQ training department Training Documentation Manager Erwan L’hotellier

This manual is dedicated only for IVAOTM Network activities. This document must not be used in real aviation or in other networks
3. Read back requirements
The flight crew shall read back to the air traffic controller safety-related parts of ATC clearance and
instructions which are transmitted by voice (and by text for IVAO).
Read-back requirements have been introduced in the interest of flight safety.

The following shall always be read back:

 ATC route clearances
 clearances and instructions to enter, land on, take off from, hold short of, cross and backtrack on
any runway
 runway-in-use, altimeter settings, SSR codes, level instructions, heading and speed instructions
 transition level

ATC advice, suggestions and requests shall not be read back.

Unless requested by an ATC unit, voice read back of a data link communication message is not required.

Strict adherence to read-back procedures ensures not only that the clearance has been received correctly,
but also that the clearance was transmitted as intended.

The stringency of the read-back requirement is directly related to the possible seriousness of a
misunderstanding in the transmission and receipt of ATC clearances and instructions.

ATC shall listen to the read back to ascertain that the clearance or instruction has been correctly
acknowledged by the flight crew.
ATC shall identify and correct any error made during read back of a clearance or instruction.

Examples of read back:

Pilot  ATC 
 DEHBA, taxi holding point runway 01
 taxi holding point runway 01, DEHBA

Pilot  ATC 
 DEHBA, squawk 4525
 4525, DEHBA

If an aircraft read-back of a clearance or instruction is incorrect, the controller shall transmit the word
"NEGATIVE I SAY AGAIN" followed by the correct version:

Pilot  ATC 
 DEHBA, QNH 1003
 QNH 1033, DEHBA
 DEHBA, Negative I say again, QNH 1003
 QNH 1003, DEHBA

Clearance – instruction – read back Version 1.2 30 September 2015 Page 6

© IVAO HQ training department Training Documentation Manager Erwan L’hotellier

This manual is dedicated only for IVAOTM Network activities. This document must not be used in real aviation or in other networks