AIM

8/15/19

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11

Departure Procedures

4.

Aircraft instructed to resume a SID procedure

such as a DP or SID which contains speed and/or
altitude restrictions, must be:

(a)

Issued/reissued all applicable restrictions,

or

(b)

Advised to “Climb via SID” or resume

published speed.

EXAMPLE

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“Resume the Solar One departure, Climb via SID.”
“Proceed direct CIROS, resume the Solar One departure,
Climb via SID.”

5.

A clearance for a SID which does not contain

published crossing restrictions, and/or is a SID with
a Radar Vector segment or a Radar Vector SID, will
be issued using the phraseology “Maintain (

alti-

tude).”

6.

A clearance for a SID which contains

published altitude restrictions may be issued using
the phraseology “climb via.” Climb via is an
abbreviated clearance that requires compliance with
the procedure lateral path, associated speed and
altitude restrictions along the cleared route or
procedure. Clearance to “climb via” authorizes the
pilot to:

(a)

When used in the IFR departure clearance,

in a PDC, DCL or when

 

cleared to a waypoint

depicted on a SID, to join the procedure after
departure or to resume the procedure.

(b)

When vertical navigation is interrupted

and an altitude is assigned to maintain which is not
contained on the published procedure, to climb from
that previously-assigned altitude at pilot’s discretion
to the altitude depicted for the next waypoint.

(c)

Once established on the depicted depar-

ture, to navigate laterally and climb to meet all
published or assigned altitude and speed restrictions.

NOTE

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1.

When otherwise cleared along a route or procedure that

contains published speed restrictions, the pilot must com-
ply with those speed restrictions independent of a climb via
clearance.

2.

ATC anticipates pilots will begin adjusting speed the

minimum distance necessary prior to a published speed re-
striction so as to cross the waypoint/fix at the published
speed. Once at the published speed ATC expects pilots will
maintain the published speed until additional adjustment
is required to comply with further published or ATC as-

signed speed restrictions or as required to ensure
compliance with 14 CFR Section 91.117.

3.

If ATC interrupts lateral/vertical navigation while an

aircraft is flying a SID, ATC must ensure obstacle clear-
ance. When issuing a “climb via” clearance to join or
resume a procedure ATC must ensure obstacle clearance
until the aircraft is established on the lateral and vertical
path of the SID.

4.

ATC will assign an altitude to cross if no altitude is de-

picted at a waypoint/fix or when otherwise necessary/
required, for an aircraft on a direct route to a waypoint/fix
where the SID will be joined or resumed.

5.

SIDs will have a “top altitude;” the “top altitude” is the

charted “maintain” altitude contained in the procedure
description or assigned by ATC.

REFERENCE

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FAA Order JO 7110.65, Paragraph 5-6-2, Methods
PCG, Climb Via, Top Altitude

EXAMPLE

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1.

Lateral route clearance:

“Cleared Loop Six departure.”

NOTE

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The aircraft must comply with the SID lateral path, and any
published speed restrictions.

2.

Routing with assigned altitude:

“Cleared Loop Six departure, climb and maintain

four thousand.”

NOTE

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The aircraft must comply with the SID lateral path, and any
published speed restriction while climbing unrestricted to
four thousand.

3.

(A pilot filed a flight plan to the Johnston Airport using

the Scott One departure, Jonez transition, then Q-145. The
pilot filed for FL350. The Scott One includes altitude
restrictions, a top altitude and instructions to expect the
filed altitude ten minutes after departure). Before
departure ATC uses PDC, DCL or clearance delivery to
issue the clearance:

“Cleared to Johnston Airport, Scott One departure,

Jonez transition, Q-OneForty-five. Climb via SID.”

NOTE

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In Example 3, the aircraft must comply with the Scott One
departure lateral path and any published speed and
altitude restrictions while climbing to the SID top altitude.

4.

(Using the Example 3 flight plan, ATC determines the

top altitude must be changed to FL180). The clearance will
read: 

“Cleared to Johnston Airport, Scott One departure,

Jonez transition, Q-One Forty-five, Climb via SID except
maintain flight level one eight zero.”

NOTE

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In Example 4, the aircraft must comply with the Scott One