VFR Clearance

[liv'n_on_credit]

Do towered airports usually require a VFR clearance prior to departing? An IFR clearance is obviously needed, but I've flown VFR out of dozens of towered airports in the past, and never needed a clearance prior to departing, just told them what direction I was heading while getting my taxi clearance and they never had a problem.

But in CMH (Columbus) the other day, I asked for a taxi clearance, told them we had the ATIS, we were VFR and we would be heading North. He asked if we had a VFR clearance, I said no. He said to get one, then call him back. We called up clearance delivery, (I thought it was just for IFR clearances), got the VFR clearance, called back ground, departed just fine.

Is this normal at towered airports to need a VFR clearance?

 

[bobbysamd]

VFR clearance

Maybe it's just a local procedure. Anything said about it on the ATIS? Was the airport in question in or under Class B airspace? Of course, you need to hear from ATC "the magic words," i.e. "Cleared to enter the XYZ Class B," to penetrate. Usually, you depart, request a frequency change, and contact the appropriate TRACON facility for the clearance.

I, too, flew out many controlled fields, including those with Class Bs and Cs, and only needed a takeoff clearance to depart VFR.

 

[avbug]

If clearance delivery is available, start there. Not all airports will provide a VFR clearance via clearance delivery, but often they will. When departing Class B or C airspace, or if you're planning to climb through it, often clearance delivery can help expedite you. This is done to keep congestion on ground frequency to a minimum.

 

[English]

Every time I fly VFR out of my local class C and class B airports (SNA, ONT, BUR, LAS come to mind) I have to call clearance delivery first. I basically get just an altitude, heading and squawk. In fact, I don't recall ever having flown from a class C or class B airport VFR without calling clearance delivery first.

 

[liv'n_on_credit]

Nothing said about it on ATIS, unless I heard it wrong. No Class B around, it is the center airport in Class C. Maybe there's something about it in the AF/D.

 

[liv'n_on_credit]

Thanks for the replies. The more I think about it, 98% of all towered airports I've flown VFR out of have been class D airports.

Maybe it's the difference Class D vs. Class B/C that determines whether you need a VFR clearance??

 

[avbug]

The local airport determines if you need to go through clearance delivery. I've flown from some busy airfields underlying Class B, that didn't provide Class B clearances or service, nor would a VFR clearance be provided on clearance delivery. SDL is an example.

Other fields do.

Your best bet is to contact clearance delivery first, if one is available. Then go from there.

 

[DitchDriver]

Maybe it's the difference Class D vs. Class B/C that determines whether you need a VFR clearance??

That's strange they wanted VFR clearance in class C. Class B requires a clearance for VFR, Class C/D does not. (91.129, .130, .131)

I assume it that was not a case of Special VFR (even then, they'd never suggest it but ask "field is IFR, say intentions"). Did they ask "do you have VFR clearance" or "did you call clearance delivery"? When it's busy, they'd put "contact clearance delivery ... prior to taxi" on ATIS.

I've gotten heading / altitude / squawk for class C departures, but it never included words "clear into (out of) class C airspace".

 

[satpak77]

"Depends" and "depends" are the correct answers to both questions.

Lets not get too wrapped around the axle with FAR this/that, Special VFR, etc.

If the airport is radar environment, it is common to need a "VFR clearance" to depart the area. Again, route of flight (Mooney XXX, where ya headed today), altitude, and maybe whatever locally is deemed necessary.

Non-radar towered airports, fewer by the day, usually do not require such items.

It is not uncommon in West Texas to depart San Angelo enroute to El Paso, VFR, and after about 30 miles, Departure Control says "Freq change approved, good day". What? I am just up here, not talking to anybody?

Before radar in SJT, you would be told "freq change approved" once you were no longer visible from the tower cab!

Anyway, start with clearance delivery, then ground.

If you did hear the controller say "cleared into Class C" he may have just made a mistake, maybe all last week he was working the Class B corridor, this week he is filling in for someone else.

When in doubt, keep it simple, use common sense, and when in doubt, use English and just ask. The other day I heard on center "Uh, center, where do you want American XXX?"

never hesistate to ASK

 

[midlifeflyer]

I thought Columbus was a Class C primary, not merely "towered". It's standard operating procedure to call Clearance Delivery and obtain a "VFR clearance" when flying out of a Class B or C airport. In the case of Class C it's not a true clearance (you won't hear any Clearance language), but you will get the Route, Altitude, departure control Frequency, and Transponder code (the RAFT from the CRAFT acronym)