Download the Full March 2020 Issue PDF

The Flight Plan Quiz in the March 2020 issue larned me a few things, but one of your published quiz answers brought me up short: “…if you must contact FSS, there’s a direct clearance phone number, (888) 766-8267, where you can pick up a clearance or close a flight plan.” While that’s been true for some years and has come in handy at my home airport, KEIK, in the Denver metro area—where there is no tower and no hope of reaching Departure on the ground via VHF—when I called that number last week from the runup pad at KPGA I was informed that they “no longer give clearances” at that number. When did that happen, and is it universally the case across the country?

You are correct. It is a recent change and is nationwide. FSS will no longer relay clearances via the national phone number. IFR clearances will be provided by the ATC approach control for your departure airport. They can be reached either by radio or phone. The frequencies and phone numbers are provided in the chart supplement (formerly known as the A/FD). See the AIM reference below:

5−2−3. 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 1−877−543−4733 the A/FD) under the airport’s listing.

Joe Sandberg, CFI