11/3/22
AIM
b. Controller.
1.
May clear an aircraft to maintain VFR-on-top
if the pilot of an aircraft on an IFR flight plan requests
the clearance.
2.
Informs the pilot of an aircraft cleared to
climb to VFR-on-top the reported height of the tops
or that no top report is available; issues an alternate
clearance if necessary; and once the aircraft reports
reaching VFR-on-top, reclears the aircraft to
maintain VFR-on-top.
3.
Before issuing clearance, ascertain that the
aircraft is not in or will not enter Class A airspace.
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14. Instrument Departures
a. Pilot.
1.
Prior to departure considers the type of terrain
and other obstructions on or in the vicinity of the
departure airport.
2.
Determines if obstruction avoidance can be
maintained visually or that the departure procedure
should be followed.
3.
Determines whether an obstacle departure
procedure (ODP) and/or DP is available for
obstruction avoidance. One option may be a Visual
Climb Over Airport (VCOA). Pilots must advise
ATC as early as possible of the intent to fly the VCOA
prior to departure.
4.
At airports where IAPs have not been
published, hence no published departure procedure,
determines what action will be necessary and takes
such action that will assure a safe departure.
b. Controller.
1.
At locations with airport traffic control
service, when necessary, specifies direction of
takeoff, turn, or initial heading to be flown after
takeoff, consistent with published departure proce-
dures (DP) or diverse vector areas (DVA), where
applicable.
2.
At locations without airport traffic control
service but within Class E surface area when
necessary to specify direction of takeoff, turn, or
initial heading to be flown, obtains pilot’s concur-
rence that the procedure will allow the pilot to comply
with local traffic patterns, terrain, and obstruction
avoidance.
3.
When the initial heading will take the aircraft
off an assigned procedure (for example, an RNAV
SID with a published lateral path to a waypoint and
crossing restrictions from the departure end of
runway), the controller will assign an altitude to
maintain with the initial heading.
4.
Includes established departure procedures as
part of the ATC clearance when pilot compliance is
necessary to ensure separation.
5.
At locations with both SIDs and DVAs, ATC
will provide an amended departure clearance to
cancel a previously assigned SID and subsequently
utilize a DVA or vice versa. The amended clearance
will be provided to the pilot in a timely manner so that
the pilot may confirm adequate climb performance
exists to determine if the amended clearance is
acceptable, and brief the changes in advance of
entering the runway.
6.
At locations with a DVA, ATC is not
permitted to utilize a SID and DVA concurrently.
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15. Minimum Fuel Advisory
a. Pilot.
1.
Advise ATC of your minimum fuel status
when your fuel supply has reached a state where,
upon reaching destination, you cannot accept any
undue delay.
2.
Be aware this is not an emergency situation,
but merely an advisory that indicates an emergency
situation is possible should any undue delay occur.
3.
On initial contact the term “minimum fuel”
should be used after stating call sign.
EXAMPLE
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Salt Lake Approach, United 621, “minimum fuel.”
4.
Be aware a minimum fuel advisory does not
imply a need for traffic priority.
5.
If the remaining usable fuel supply suggests
the need for traffic priority to ensure a safe landing,
you should declare an emergency due to low fuel and
report fuel remaining in minutes.
REFERENCE
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Pilot/Controller Glossary Term
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Fuel Remaining.
b. Controller.
1.
When an aircraft declares a state of minimum
fuel, relay this information to the facility to whom
control jurisdiction is transferred.
Pilot/Controller Roles and Responsibilities
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