“Waiting for IFR release”

RyanB

RyanB

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For our controller members...

What is actually taking place during this time? I assume the controller is coordinating a release time with Center, but what is the channel of communication that this happens? Text? Phone?

...And what is the verbiage like? (‘You can release N123 at 1736z’.)

Curious to learn about what is happening behind the scenes, that us pilots don’t get to see.

Thanks
 
Most towers usually own about 5 miles. Most are required to call the approach control/TRACON or maybe center if you’re really in the sticks and it goes like this...

“Sector 3 Aurora”
“Sector 3”
“Request release N771BC, Runway 27”
“Cleared direct destination, released”

This is a single push button that activates a shout or ring line where each facility knows whose on the line and voice over headsets or speaker.

If COVID ever ends you can get a tour of the nearby facilities by being a pilot and asking. The more both sides know about each other the better.
 
what we really want to know is, when they say "sorry I was on the landline" is that code for
1. I was at the break table chowing on donuts
2. I was in the little boys/girls room
3. I was on my cell with my boy/girl friend
4. I was laughing my ass off with center about the dufus GA pilot who just got handed off....
 
Radar Contact said:
Most towers usually own about 5 miles. Most are required to call the approach control/TRACON or maybe center if you’re really in the sticks and it goes like this...

“Sector 3 Aurora”
“Sector 3”
“Request release N771BC, Runway 27”
“Cleared direct destination, released”

This is a single push button that activates a shout or ring line where each facility knows whose on the line and voice over headsets or speaker.

If COVID ever ends you can get a tour of the nearby facilities by being a pilot and asking. The more both sides know about each other the better.
Click to expand...

Adding to ‘shout line’ where it comes over a speaker and then the answering controller pushes a button and says something to the effect of ‘whadaya want’ are places where it goes directly into the other controllers headset. You push the button, wait a second to make sure you’re not stepping on anything and then say what you have to say.
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
what we really want to know is, when they say "sorry I was on the landline" is that code for
1. I was at the break table chowing on donuts
2. I was in the little boys/girls room
3. I was on my cell with my boy/girl friend
4. I was laughing my ass off with center about the dufus GA pilot who just got handed off....
Click to expand...

What it means is they think they have to give you some excuse for why they didn’t answer you right away. Like not getting answered right away isn’t routine. Hearing “I was on the landline” was like fingernails screeching on a chalkboard to me.
 
Radar Contact said:
Most towers usually own about 5 miles. Most are required to call the approach control/TRACON or maybe center if you’re really in the sticks and it goes like this...

“Sector 3 Aurora”
“Sector 3”
“Request release N771BC, Runway 27”
“Cleared direct destination, released”

This is a single push button that activates a shout or ring line where each facility knows whose on the line and voice over headsets or speaker.

If COVID ever ends you can get a tour of the nearby facilities by being a pilot and asking. The more both sides know about each other the better.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I sometimes wait 5, 10, or up 15 minutes for release while VFR departures zip by.. always wondered how exactly that exchange took place with tower

Similar thing with approach, they'll hand you over to tower sometimes very late on the ILS and all the tower says is "cleared to land" .. so clearly some coordination took place ahead of time as well since our airport tends to get very busy
 
Ryanb said:
For our controller members...

What is actually taking place during this time? I assume the controller is coordinating a release time with Center, but what is the channel of communication that this happens? Text? Phone?

...And what is the verbiage like? (‘You can release N123 at 1736z’.)

Curious to learn about what is happening behind the scenes, that us pilots don’t get to see.

Thanks
Click to expand...

There can be times when no coordination is taking place. Automatic, sometimes referred to as Silent, releases can be in effect. This is where the Tower just launches on their own. They of course must provide the initial separation between successive departures. Something like a minute between diverging ones. More between same route. Many Towers have ‘certified’ Radar displays and use that. If they gotta hold you for a bit they may say words to the effect ‘waiting for IFR release.’ Or just wait until you can go and then say “I was on the landline, Cleared for Takeoff.”:devil:
 
Tantalum said:
I've been hearing "controller change" more often now. I was always tempted as a pilot to reply back "I was on the landline" when I've missed a call
Click to expand...

Maybe not, but "I was on the radio with flight service" is a valid one...
 
Tantalum said:
Thanks. I sometimes wait 5, 10, or up 15 minutes for release while VFR departures zip by.. always wondered how exactly that exchange took place with tower

Similar thing with approach, they'll hand you over to tower sometimes very late on the ILS and all the tower says is "cleared to land" .. so clearly some coordination took place ahead of time as well since our airport tends to get very busy
Click to expand...

That ‘coordination’ is sometimes not verbal but via Radar. Enough information can be put in the Data Block of an aircraft that the the Tower knows all they need to from it by the time you check in
 
Some facilities authorize tower automatic release authority. Some don’t.

Another coordination example:

Intrafacility headset comms-
“ten (approach) eighteen (local) release.”
“Go ahead.”
“Request release, Blade one one runway five unrestricted to flight level two three zero.”
“Hold for release (initials).”

Speaker at center:

“Allendale low Beaufort forty seven line app req.”
“Allendale.”
“Blade one one getting ready to roll requesting unrestricted to flight level two three zero direct Charleston.”
“Ah, Blade one one cleared up to flight level one eight zero for traffic.”
“One eight zero (initials).”

“eighteen, ten.”
“Go ahead.”
“Blade One One released runway five up to flight level one eight zero.”
“One eight zero thanks (initials).”

Of course off a non towered field you could get a hold for IFR release or a release time. Could be for other arriving departing IFR traffic or could be a ground stop issued for your destination.
 
Velocity173 said:
Some facilities authorize tower automatic release authority. Some don’t.

Another coordination example:

Intrafacility headset comms-
“ten (approach) eighteen (local) release.”
“Go ahead.”
“Request release, Blade one one runway five unrestricted to flight level two three zero.”
“Hold for release (initials).”

Speaker at center:

“Allendale low Beaufort forty seven line app req.”
“Allendale.”
“Blade one one getting ready to roll requesting unrestricted to flight level two three zero direct Charleston.”
“Ah, Blade one one cleared up to flight level one eight zero for traffic.”
“One eight zero (initials).”

“eighteen, ten.”
“Go ahead.”
“Blade One One released runway five up to flight level one eight zero.”
“One eight zero thanks (initials).”

Of course off a non towered field you could get a hold for IFR release or a release time. Could be for other arriving departing IFR traffic or could be a ground stop issued for your destination.
Click to expand...

Great examples of the actual conversations.
 
Velocity has the best example and note: he was on a landline while he was getting the release. In other words, sometimes controllers ARE actually on a land line.
 
Great examples guys! Thanks!

I was able to get a couple of tower tours at the local Charlie, but it’s been years ago now since I was there and well before I had the insight on topics and questions to ask. I need to go back soon.
 
I don't care if they have even perceived momentary lapses, they work their butts off.
Today at Austin ONE guy was tower, ground, clearance, probably the FAA would have him repairing wires and sweeping floors if they could get away with it.
And it was not quiet! 6 of us waiting to depart, several on approach and this guy was the picture of calm, and just move the tin; taxi instructions, take off clearance, issue traffic, ifr clearance hold on the readback break, further taxi instructions, wait I'll get to you, issue traffic and landing clearance etc etc, NON STOP all the time I was on frequency!
A departing JetBlue said "I hope you get some help up there soon!".
 
Def much respect for controllers especially right now. No idea how they keep everything as organized as they do. Tricities approach controller even knew what a VTUR was.
 
Hats off to the guy today who perfectly announced “we’re on an 080 heading” as I completely forgot to turn him to a 180 to join the FAC into DPA in IMC. I was working a combined sector and all my attention was 30 miles south of where he was at the time, and his timing was perfect. I confessed my sin to him, cleared him for the approach, and shortly after hung up my headset until Sunday night
 
In 1991 when I was a student pilot, my instructor taught me that if I ever thought that a controller had mixed me up with another aircraft, I should make a position report. Oddly enough, that happened as I was approaching the airport at the end of my private-pilot checkride, so I did as he suggested, and it worked perfectly.

The second time it happened was a few years ago. With a busy pattern, about the time I touched down, the tower controller gave an instruction that made it clear that he thought I was about to turn base. I told him I was on the landing rollout, and he immediately reissued the instruction to the proper aircraft. The controller was VERY appreciative.
 
Tantalum said:
Thanks. I sometimes wait 5, 10, or up 15 minutes for release while VFR departures zip by.. always wondered how exactly that exchange took place with tower

Similar thing with approach, they'll hand you over to tower sometimes very late on the ILS and all the tower says is "cleared to land" .. so clearly some coordination took place ahead of time as well since our airport tends to get very busy
Click to expand...
Depending on the airspace, I regularly depart VFR and pick the IFR up later to avoid that. I prefer IFR...if I don’t get a delay and the route I want. :)

Most LOA’s seem to have the transfer of control point around 4-5 mile final from approach to tower on an IFR arrival. The coordination, either verbal or non-verbal, will be covered in the LOA and be invisible to the pilot. In a perfect world if you’re IFR inbound on an ILS all the tower will need to do is clear you to land.
 
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