That's it I am getting my clearances on the ground

ahmad

ahmad

Pre-takeoff checklist
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Apr 9, 2017
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Midwest Aviator
I departed KMKY VFR and was attempting to get my clearance in the air. I tried calling Ft. Myers app on 124.12 several times and no answer. Meanwhile I am trying to dodge other traffic(busy airspace), the delta, and class C airspace. No answer no answer. Tune in <iami center to see if I can get it from them. Its busy and it took a bit to finally key in. Center tells me the approach frequency is down and to call 119.75. I didnt see any notams or anything anywhere to know that. Lesson learned. I am calling flight service on the ground going forward.
 
There's a CD frequency there - 120.8. Did you try that? Interestingly, no phone # to call.
 
Another good reason is a local change to your flight plan, especially in an unfamiliar area. During the busy departure phase is not the best time to deal with a full route clearance even if it’s not busy.

If no phone number or available frequency, the TRACON number from another airport using the same TRACON will work.
 
Whatever you do, avoid calling Leidos as best you can. In my experience they’re the clueless middleman at best.
 
Getting your clearance on the ground may not always be the fastest.
Have heard "Your release time will be delayed due to saturation; call back in 20 minutes"

(Getting clearance on ground may well resolve your concerns about traffic, however.)
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
Getting your clearance on the ground may not always be the fastest.
Have heard "Your release time will be delayed due to saturation; call back in 20 minutes"
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If there is saturation your release can be delayed in the air also. “Unable to issue your clearance due to saturation. Maintain VFR and say intentions.”

I think it was YouTuber Baron Pilot who has a video where he tries the VFR departure to avoid delay strategy and was halfway to the destination before ATC would clear him.
 
Llewtrah381 said:
Whatever you do, avoid calling Leidos as best you can. In my experience they’re the clueless middleman at best.
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With the publishing of CD phone numbers several years ago now, Flight Service pretty much left the clearance middleman business. Even that old 800 national CD number is defunct.

But it’s not necessary to call FSS. They’d probably just give you the phone number from the A/FD. Here’s the entry from the A/FD

1731465856220.png
 
NY departure is like that too, Ahmad. You fly VFR to Allentown if you want to go NOW.
You sit on the ground for ~4 hours if you need the IFR clearance.

B
 
midlifeflyer said:
With the publishing of CD phone numbers several years ago now, Flight Service pretty much left the clearance middleman business. Even that old 800 national CD number is defunct.

But it’s not necessary to call FSS. They’d probably just give you the phone number from the A/FD. Here’s the entry from the A/FD

View attachment 135152
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By and large, yeah. But last spring I was trying to leave from KPRX, I think, and the A/FD said to contact FSS for clearance and if they were closed to contact Ft Worth Center. Trying to play by the rules, I tried just that. During the “telephone game” where they “put me on hold” on the radio while making the exact same call I shoulda made, I’m watching a cell move towards me - on NEXRAD and physically. They resisted me taking off even though I told them I could see it coming and see my path to the east. They finally let me go and it was a non-event. In hindsight I shoulda called Center: it would probably have tied even them up less and I would have had more margin in front of the cell.

Frankly, I’m not sure why that wording continues for there.
 
I hate (love) reading about these things amateurs (who think they’re pros) do to save a few minutes.
 
Llewtrah381 said:
By and large, yeah. But last spring I was trying to leave from KPRX, I think, and the A/FD said to contact FSS for clearance and if they were closed to contact Ft Worth Center. Trying to play by the rules, I tried just that. During the “telephone game” where they “put me on hold” on the radio while making the exact same call I shoulda made, I’m watching a cell move towards me - on NEXRAD and physically. They resisted me taking off even though I told them I could see it coming and see my path to the east. They finally let me go and it was a non-event. In hindsight I shoulda called Center: it would probably have tied even them up less and I would have had more margin in front of the cell.

Frankly, I’m not sure why that wording continues for there.
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That was always the problem even when calling FSS was the only “official” option. Once I realized the limitations and the alternative, I started asking ATC when inbound for a number to reach them directly for my outbound clearance.
 
Llewtrah381 said:
Whatever you do, avoid calling Leidos as best you can. In my experience they’re the clueless middleman at best.
Click to expand...
That is exactly what they are/were. That's probably also why the FAA now just publishes phone numbers to get your clearance directly from ATC, which is the far better option anyway.
 
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