Tower Enroute Control

[PA28/C172 Flyer]

I am reading about TEC's. In the back of an AF/D, it lists the Departure airports, along with preplanned TEC routes, and certain destinations. I noticed that not all Departure/Arrival combinations within one TEC area are listed...meaning if I want to fly from Atlanctic City to Buffalo via Tower Enroute Control, it is not listed. However, there is a TEC route from Atlantic City to Wilkesbarre and one from Wilkesbarre to Buffalo.

How would I file and fly this? Would I request both TEC clearances on the ground at Atlantic City, or just get a clearance from Atlantic City to Wilkesbarre and then file in-flight for the other TEC from Wilkesbarre to Buffalo?

I read in the AIM that TEC's should be used for flights under 2 hours. Does this have anything to do with it?

Also, can you depart and arrive at airports NEAR those listed in a TEC?

 

[midlifeflyer]

TEC routes are the "poor pilot's" preferred IFR routes. They're published for city pairs in high traffic areas to give pilots an idea of what routing is likely. It's a general time saver in that, if you are going between a listed pair, you can file the route described (like "KAAA V58 KBBB", not "the AAA - BBB TEC route") and have a shot at receiving a "cleared as filed" clearance.

There's no guaranty that you'll get it.

Besides, isn't there a route, like V184 -> V408 -> V164, than, in addition to being more direct, =doesn't= take you directly into the Wilkes-Barre traffic area?. Isn't that the whole idea? (Unless, of course, you're planning to land at Wilkes-Barre.)

 

[PA28/C172 Flyer]

Midlife, or anyone,
For learning purposes, could you please explain the process for using TEC clearances.

Lets assume, (and you would be correct) that I am a "poor pilot".
So, hypothetically, if you are flying from Atlantic City to Buffalo, and you see the TEC route in the AF/D from Atlantic City to Wilkes-barre and from Wilkes-barre to Buffalo. And suppose you like the route, even if its not the shortest. As I understand it, you can call Clearance Delivery at Atlantic City, and request a TEC to Wilkes-barre in your flight plan. They can give you clearance then and there, without having to wait the 30 minutes after you file a normal Flight plan.

But suppose you don't want to stop at Wilkes-barre. How, if possible, would you file for Buffalo?

 

[midlifeflyer]

PA28/C172 Flyer asked:
But suppose you don't want to stop at Wilkes-barre. How, if possible, would you file for Buffalo?

Call flight service or go on Duats and and file an IFR flight plan from ACY to BUF?

 

[SkyGuyEd]

Well I did my IFR training in pretty busy airspace... so almost every one of my flights invovle TEC routing.

You file for TEC routes when you want to plan your flight the way you will most likely be cleared. For an example, if a TEC route has some kind of detour around busy airspace... it's best to just file TEC and exepct it, and if you want to go straight through you can ask for an amendment once airborne.

If you want to fly from an airport not listed in the TEC routing via some kind of TEC route you have two options:
-list the departure airport, some kind of transition fix like a VOR, then via the TEC routing; most likely in this case you'd get vectored to the route anyways
-file for the TEC routing without specifically saying it's a TEC route

In all honesty, if your departure airport is close enough to a TEC route you might as well file for it because you'll probably get it anyways.

There is really nothing mysterious about the routes. They're just ATC perfered routes that published for pilots to know what they can expect to fly. If all else fails you can always describe the route to the briefer and he or she can help you decide if a TEC would be best (not all that professional sounding... but so what).

 

[SkyGuyEd]

One more thing I should throw in there...

It has nothing to do with length of flight. The only reason that's mentioned is because the terrain transversed in 2 hours of flight will generally be enough to get out of an area covered by approach radar. However... if you're in something with a low cruise speed and in a big enough area (socal for example) you could really fly for as long as you want on a TEC.

Once again, all TECs do is let us know what we can expect in terms of routing; and they're mostly used to keep some kind of order to the traffic flow (if there is such a thing). If 4 different planes coming from the same place were to file and fly 4 different routes... this creates separation issues that ATC has to deal with. However if they all fly the same route, it's a lot easier for the controllers when the airspace gets busy.