From carlsonj at workingcode.com Mon Jan 6 11:21:40 2025 From: carlsonj at workingcode.com (James Carlson) Date: Mon, 6 Jan 2025 11:21:40 -0500 Subject: EAA IMC Club Nashua Chapter Meeting January 8th and 12th. Message-ID: <001d8922-a4e9-4da5-83fd-71c3d1d066a4@workingcode.com> Next month's meetings will be February 9th and 12th. Please let me know of any conflicts. The in-person meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 8th, at 1830L (6:30PM EST) at the Nashua Airport, 93 Perimeter Road, Nashua NH 03063: https://goo.gl/maps/GiC2DsYdULDLVpzU8 Please do not attend the in-person meeting if you feel ill. The virtual IMC Club meeting will be held on Sunday, January 12th, at 6:30PM EST (2330Z) via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/3577949883?pwd=aURNaEt6bjVoZWp1LzBFTklkQitNUT09 Without that link, it's meeting ID 357 794 9883 and passcode "5hSjnY" (without the quotes). Items tentatively planned for January's meeting: - Pilot Workshop Scenarios: Colorado Clearance Confusion The Hanscom STAR - (Planning supplemental materials) - Insert your item here (suggestions wanted) I'll be there by 6PM to open the room, but the real meeting begins at 6:30PM with this month's scenario. On Sunday, I'll have the Zoom meeting open at 6PM for those who want to chat or test equipment, and the meeting starts at 6:30PM EDT. If you wish, you can sign up for WINGS credit for the Wednesday in-person meeting here: https://www.faasafety.gov/SPANS/event_details.aspx?eid=134349 And for the Sunday virtual meeting here: https://www.workingcode.com/imc-club/wings-signup.html For those who don't sign up in advance, there will also be a link provided in the meeting for WINGS credit. If you use a different name in your Zoom account, please include it with your registration or let me know during the meeting. Until then, fly safely! -- James Carlson 42.703N 71.076W From carlsonj at workingcode.com Wed Jan 8 09:12:02 2025 From: carlsonj at workingcode.com (James Carlson) Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2025 09:12:02 -0500 Subject: EAA IMC Club Nashua Chapter Meeting TONIGHT and virtual January 12th. Message-ID: <37836f48-0e6f-4c85-9873-5fab70daaa6c@workingcode.com> Next month's meetings will be February 9th and 12th. Please let me know of any conflicts. The in-person meeting is scheduled for tonight at 1830L (6:30PM EST) at the Nashua Airport, 93 Perimeter Road, Nashua NH 03063: https://goo.gl/maps/GiC2DsYdULDLVpzU8 Please do not attend the in-person meeting if you feel ill. The virtual IMC Club meeting will be held on Sunday, January 12th, at 6:30PM EST (2330Z) via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/3577949883?pwd=aURNaEt6bjVoZWp1LzBFTklkQitNUT09 Without that link, it's meeting ID 357 794 9883 and passcode "5hSjnY" (without the quotes). Items tentatively planned for tonight's meeting: - Pilot Workshop Scenarios: Colorado Clearance Confusion The Hanscom STAR - New human factors course: https://tinyurl.com/faa-hffp - Insert your item here (suggestions wanted) I'll be there by 6PM to open the room, but the real meeting begins at 6:30PM with this month's scenario. On Sunday, I'll have the Zoom meeting open at 6PM for those who want to chat or test equipment, and the meeting starts at 6:30PM EST. If you wish, you can sign up for WINGS credit for the Wednesday in-person meeting here: https://www.faasafety.gov/SPANS/event_details.aspx?eid=134349 And for the Sunday virtual meeting here: https://www.workingcode.com/imc-club/wings-signup.html For those who don't sign up in advance, there will also be a link provided in the meeting for WINGS credit. If you use a different name in your Zoom account, please include it with your registration or let me know during the meeting. Until then, fly safely! -- James Carlson 42.703N 71.076W From carlsonj at workingcode.com Sun Jan 12 12:21:13 2025 From: carlsonj at workingcode.com (James Carlson) Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2025 12:21:13 -0500 Subject: EAA IMC Club Nashua Chapter Virtual Meeting TONIGHT Message-ID: Next month's meetings will be February 9th and 12th. Please let me know of any conflicts. The virtual IMC Club meeting will be held on tonight at 6:30PM EST (2330Z) via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/3577949883?pwd=aURNaEt6bjVoZWp1LzBFTklkQitNUT09 Without that link, it's meeting ID 357 794 9883 and passcode "5hSjnY" (without the quotes). Items planned for tonight's meeting: - Pilot Workshop Scenarios: Colorado Clearance Confusion The Hanscom STAR - New human factors course: https://tinyurl.com/faa-hffp - Insert your item here (suggestions wanted) I'll have the Zoom meeting open at 6PM for those who want to chat or test equipment, and the meeting starts at 6:30PM EST. If you wish, you can sign up for WINGS credit for the meeting here: https://www.workingcode.com/imc-club/wings-signup.html For those who don't sign up in advance, there will also be a link provided in the meeting for WINGS credit. If you use a different name in your Zoom account, please include it with your registration or let me know during the meeting. Until then, fly safely! -- James Carlson 42.703N 71.076W From carlsonj at workingcode.com Sat Jan 18 13:53:24 2025 From: carlsonj at workingcode.com (James Carlson) Date: Sat, 18 Jan 2025 13:53:24 -0500 Subject: IFR clearance Message-ID: <239de79c-3f92-4634-b585-e27370d6658f@workingcode.com> https://www.workingcode.com/imc-club/clearance-notes.html A question came up in Sunday's virtual meeting that requires a bit of investigation: if an approach clearance does not contain the words "maintain VFR," is it automatically an IFR clearance? Does accepting a clearance without that phrase cause the flight to operate under IFR? The relevant bits I'm drawing on are copied below. They come from the Aeronautical Information Manual, the Code of Federal Regulations, the 7110.65AA (Air Traffic Control), and 7210.3DD (Facility Operation and Administration). I also spent several hours reading through NTSB ALJ decisions and FAA Chief Counsel interpretations. I'm also reaching out to others to comment on the issue and will include that material in our next meeting. Also note: I'm not a lawyer, and I'm not your lawyer. If you're doing something that you think may have legal implications, seek competent counsel. And note: I'm not your instructor. I'm just a peer who runs this group. Anything your instructor or flight manual or op spec or chief pilot or cat says takes precedence. The rules are surprisingly thin on this topic, but there are nonetheless some important things to note. First of all, to operate IFR, you must have both a filed flight plan and an "appropriate clearance" per 91.173. The filed plan can be gathered by ATC as part of getting a pop-up, which is why they often respond to a request with "say aircraft type and destination" or similar. The nature of an "appropriate clearance" is the part that's at issue here. 7110 4-2-1 is fairly clear on what an IFR clearance must contain. If talking directly to ATC, the second item (right after aircraft ID) always starts with "CLEARED TO." That's the clearance limit. It must be included, and it must be in the form "... AIRPORT" or "... FIX" or "... VOR/NDB/VORTAC." There are no other options, because the limit is a point in space. Note that an approach clearance does not contain those items; it does not have a clearance limit. Instead, you are given "CLEARED ... APPROACH." Moreover, when ATC supersedes an IFR clearance, those amendments ("I have a full route clearance; advise ready to copy") also start with "CLEARED TO." On the other hand, if you are operating under IFR and ask for a practice approach while en route to your intended destination, the approach does not replace your existing IFR clearance. You won't get a new "CLEARED TO" on completion of the approach, because the rules say nothing about re-issuing that clearance. Instead, you'll get "say intentions" or "direct to" a fix or simply "resume own navigation." 7110 4-8-11(a)(3) and 7210.3 10-4-5(c) both say that if standard separation services are NOT provided, then the "MAINTAIN VFR" phrase is used in the approach clearance. Surprisingly, it does not say this for facilities where separation services ARE provided, and instead the phrase is used only on "initial contact" [4-8-11(a)(5)]. As noted in the 7110, the "MAINTAIN VFR" phrase is intended merely as a reminder to VFR pilots that the approach clearance is not an IFR clearance, although the wording is the same. It's advisory. The "PRACTICE APPROACH APPROVED" phrase does not affect VFR/IFR operation because practice approaches are available under both. The "NO SEPARATION SERVICES PROVIDED" phrase appears only in clearances when the ATC facility doesn't offer separation services to VFR aircraft. My interpretation of this is: 1. To operate under IFR in controlled airspace, you must get an IFR clearance, and that starts with "CLEARED TO." 2. Other kinds of clearances do NOT affect your status. If you get a practice approach under IFR, you're still IFR. If you get an approach clearance while VFR, you're still VFR. 3. If you're at all confused about a clearance, clarify with the controller. References: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap5_section_1.html#$paragraph5-1-9 AIM 5-1-9. Single Flights Conducted With Both VFR and IFR Flight Plans f. Prior to beginning the IFR portion of flight, a pilot must receive an IFR clearance from the appropriate control facility. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-91#91.173 14 CFR Regulations 91.173 No person may operate an aircraft in controlled airspace under IFR unless that person has - (a) Filed an IFR flight plan; and (b) Received an appropriate ATC clearance. https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/atc_html/chap4_section_2.html https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/atc_html/chap4_section_8.html 7110.65AA 4-2-1. Clearance Items Issue the following clearance items, as appropriate, in the order listed below: a. Aircraft identification. b. Clearance limit. 1. When the clearance limit is an airport, the word ?airport? must follow the airport name. PHRASEOLOGY - CLEARED TO (destination) AIRPORT. 2. When the clearance limit is a NAVAID, and the NAVAID type is known, the type of NAVAID must follow the NAVAID name. PHRASEOLOGY - CLEARED TO (NAVAID name and type). 3. When the clearance limit is an intersection or waypoint, and the type is known, the type must follow the intersection or waypoint name. PHRASEOLOGY - CLEARED TO (intersection or waypoint name and type). 4-2-8. IFR-VFR And VFR-IFR Flights a. Clear an aircraft planning IFR operations for the initial part of flight and VFR for the latter part to the fix at which the IFR part ends. b. Treat an aircraft planning VFR for the initial part of flight and IFR for the latter part as a VFR departure. Issue a clearance to this aircraft when it requests IFR clearance approaching the fix where it proposes to start IFR operations. The phraseology CLEARED TO (destination) AIRPORT AS FILED may be used with abbreviated departure clearance procedures. 4-2-9. Clearance Items The following guidelines must be utilized to facilitate the processing of airfile aircraft: a. Ensure the aircraft is within your area of jurisdiction unless otherwise coordinated. b. Obtain necessary information needed to provide IFR service. c. Issue clearance to destination, short range clearance, or an instruction to the pilot to contact an FSS if the flight plan cannot be processed. If clearance is to destination airport, the phraseology CLEARED TO (destination) AIRPORT must be used. If clearance is to a NAVAID, state the name of the NAVAID followed by the type of NAVAID, if the type is known. If clearance is to an intersection or waypoint and the type is known, the type must follow the intersection or waypoint name. 4-8-11. Practice Approaches Except for military aircraft operating at military airfields, ensure that neither VFR nor IFR practice approaches disrupt the flow of other arriving and departing IFR or VFR aircraft. Authorize, withdraw authorization, or refuse to authorize practice approaches as traffic conditions require. Normally, approaches in progress should not be terminated. NOTE - The priority afforded other aircraft over practice instrument approaches is not intended to be so rigidly applied that it causes grossly inefficient application of services. a. Separation. 1. IFR aircraft practicing instrument approaches must be afforded approved separation in accordance with Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, and Chapter 7 minima until: (a) The aircraft lands, and the flight is terminated, or (b) The pilot cancels the flight plan. 2. Where procedures require application of IFR separation to VFR aircraft practicing instrument approaches, IFR separation in accordance with Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, and Chapter 7 must be provided. Controller responsibility for separation begins at the point where the approach clearance becomes effective. Except for super or heavy aircraft, 500 feet vertical separation may be applied between VFR aircraft and between a VFR and an IFR aircraft. 3. Where separation services are not provided to VFR aircraft practicing instrument approaches, the controller must; (a) Instruct the pilot to maintain VFR. (b) Advise the pilot that separation services are not provided. PHRASEOLOGY - "(Aircraft identification) MAINTAIN VFR, PRACTICE APPROACH APPROVED, NO SEPARATION SERVICES PROVIDED." (c) Provide traffic information or advise the pilot to contact the appropriate facility. 4. If an altitude is assigned, including at or above/below altitudes, the altitude specified must meet MVA, minimum safe altitude, or minimum IFR altitude criteria. 5. All VFR aircraft must be instructed to maintain VFR on initial contact or as soon as possible thereafter. NOTE - This advisory is intended to remind the pilot that even though ATC is providing IFR-type instructions, the pilot is responsible for compliance with the applicable parts of the CFR governing VFR flight. b. Missed Approaches. 1. Unless alternate instructions have been issued, IFR aircraft are automatically authorized to execute the missed approach depicted for the instrument approach being flown. 2. VFR aircraft are not automatically authorized to execute the missed approach procedure. This authorization must be specifically requested by the pilot and approved by the controller. When a missed approach has been approved and the practice approach is conducted in accordance with paragraph 4-8-11a2, separation must be provided throughout the procedure including the missed approach. If the practice approach is conducted in accordance with paragraph 4-8-11a3, separation services are not required during the missed approach. https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/atc_html/chap4_section_8.html 7210.3 6-4-4. Practice Instrument Approaches To the extent practicable, each ARTCC should provide IFR separation to aircraft not on IFR flight plans conducting practice instrument approaches to airports where that ARTCC provides approach control service. a. At locations where IFR separation is applied to VFR aircraft conducting practice instrument approaches and that airport has a non-approach control tower or a FSS, provisions for handling such aircraft must be included in a letter of agreement. b. ARTCCs must issue a letter to airmen advising users of airports where IFR separation is provided for VFR aircraft conducting practice instrument approaches. The letter should include appropriate frequencies for the airport concerned. 10-4-5. Practice Instrument Approaches a. VFR aircraft practicing instrument approaches at the approach control?s primary airport must be provided IFR separation in accordance with FAA Order JO 7110.65, Air Traffic Control, Chapter 4, Section 8, Approach Clearance Procedures. NOTE - The primary airport is the airport from which approach control service is provided, except for remoted facilities where the facility air traffic manager will designate the primary airport. b. IFR separation to VFR aircraft in accordance with FAA Order JO 7110.65, Chapter 4, Section 8, Approach Clearance Procedures, must be provided to all secondary airports under the approach control?s jurisdiction to the extent possible within existing resources. Where separation service is provided to an airport with a FSS that provides LAA, or a nonapproach control tower, provisions for handling such aircraft must be included in a LOA. c. Where IFR separation is not provided to VFR aircraft conducting practice approaches, instruct the aircraft to maintain VFR and provide traffic information. d. At airports where the tower does not provide approach control service, handle practice instrument approaches in accordance with a LOA between the tower and the facility providing approach control service. e. Facilities must issue a letter to airmen advising the users of those airports where IFR separation is provided for VFR aircraft conducting practice instrument approaches. The letter should specify which facility will handle the aircraft practicing instrument approaches and include the appropriate frequencies. -- James Carlson 42.703N 71.076W FN42lq08