AIM

8/15/19

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Departure Procedures

responsible civil aviation authority, and file appropri-
ate equipment information in ICAO field 10a and in
the ICAO field 18 DAT (Other Data Applications) of
the flight plan.

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3. IFR Clearances Off Uncontrolled

Airports

a.

Pilots departing on an IFR flight plan should

consult the Chart Supplement U.S. to determine the
frequency or telephone number to use to contact
clearance delivery. On initial contact, pilots should
advise that the flight is IFR and state the departure and
destination airports.

b.

Air traffic facilities providing clearance deliv-

ery services via telephone will have their telephone
number published in the Chart Supplement U.S. of
that airport’s entry. This same section may also
contain a telephone number to use for cancellation of
an IFR flight plan after landing.

c.

Except in Alaska, pilots of MEDEVAC flights

may obtain a clearance by calling 1

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877

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543

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4733.

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4. Taxi Clearance

Pilots on IFR flight plans should communicate with
the control tower on the appropriate ground control or
clearance delivery frequency prior to starting en-
gines, to receive engine start time, taxi, and/or
clearance information.

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5. Line Up and Wait (LUAW)

a.

Line up and wait is an air traffic control (ATC)

procedure designed to position an aircraft onto the
runway for an imminent departure. The ATC
instruction “LINE UP AND WAIT” is used to instruct
a pilot to taxi onto the departure runway and line up
and wait.

EXAMPLE

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Tower: “N234AR Runway 24L, line up and wait.”

b.

This ATC instruction is not an authorization to

takeoff. In instances where the pilot has been
instructed to line up and wait and has been advised of
a reason/condition (wake turbulence, traffic on an
intersecting runway, etc.) or the reason/condition is
clearly visible (another aircraft that has landed on or
is taking off on the same runway), and the
reason/condition is satisfied, the pilot should expect

an imminent takeoff clearance, unless advised of a
delay. If you are uncertain about any ATC instruction
or clearance, contact ATC immediately.

c.

If a takeoff clearance is not received within a

reasonable amount of time after clearance to line up
and wait, ATC should be contacted.

EXAMPLE

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Aircraft: Cessna 234AR holding in position Runway 24L.
 
Aircraft: Cessna 234AR holding in position Runway 24L
at Bravo.

NOTE

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FAA analysis of accidents and incidents involving aircraft
holding in position indicate that two minutes or more
elapsed between the time the instruction was issued to line
up and wait and the resulting event (for example, land

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over

or go

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around). Pilots should consider the length of time

that they have been holding in position whenever they
HAVE NOT been advised of any expected delay to
determine when it is appropriate to query the controller.

REFERENCE

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Advisory Circulars 91

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73A, Part 91 and Part 135 Single

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Pilot Proced-

ures during Taxi Operations, and 120

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74A, Parts 91, 121, 125, and 135

Flightcrew Procedures during Taxi Operations

d.

Situational awareness during line up and wait

operations is enhanced by monitoring ATC
instructions/clearances issued to other aircraft. Pilots
should listen carefully if another aircraft is on
frequency that has a similar call sign and pay close
attention to communications between ATC and other
aircraft. If you are uncertain of an ATC instruction or
clearance, query ATC immediately. Care should be
taken to not inadvertently execute a clearance/
instruction for another aircraft.

e.

Pilots should be especially vigilant when

conducting line up and wait operations at night or
during reduced visibility conditions. They should
scan the full length of the runway and look for aircraft
on final approach or landing roll out when taxiing
onto a runway. ATC should be contacted anytime
there is a concern about a potential conflict.

f.

When two or more runways are active, aircraft

may be instructed to “LINE UP AND WAIT” on two
or more runways. When multiple runway operations
are being conducted, it is important to listen closely
for your call sign and runway. Be alert for similar
sounding call signs and acknowledge all instructions
with your call sign. When you are holding in position
and are not sure if the takeoff clearance was for you,
ask ATC before you begin takeoff roll. ATC prefers