CFI Instrument Practical Test Standards, FAA-S-8081-9B, June 2001

V. Air Traffic Control Clearances and Procedures

B. Compliance with Departure, En Route and Arrival Procedures and Clearances

1. Selection and use of current and approprate navigation publications
   a. Check, confirm current dates of all charts and GPS database
   b. Check AFD and NOTAMs for any new changes
   c. Fold low altitude enroute charts to put cleared route on front page, arrange charts in order and keep immediately available
   d. IAP charts for departure, destination and alternate airports on clip board
2. Pilot and controller responsibilities with regard to SIDs, En Route Low and High Altitude Charts, and STARs
   a. DPs (ODPs and SIDs)
   1) Pilot responsibilities
   a) Obstacle/terrain clearance if DP not flown
   i) Consider terrain, obstacles in vicinity
   ii) DP strongly recommended at night, or any time in marginal VFR or IMC
   b) Expect clearance to include DP if one is available
   i) Have DP textual and/or graphic depictions available
   ii) Advise ATC if unable DP
   iii) If unable any DP, enter "NO DP" in flight plan remarks box
   c) Adhere to all DP restrictions and requirements
   2) ATC may assume obstacle clearance responsibility by issuing vectors (headings) instead of a DP clearance
   a) 200 FPNM minimum climb gradient assumed
   b) ATC responsibility begins when first heading is issued (not on "radar contact")
   b. Enroute low and high altitude charts
   c. STARs
   1) Expect a STAR when one is available
   2) To fly a STAR requires at least the textual description
   3) Pilot has responsibility to accept or refuse STAR
   4) Decline STARs in advance if necessary by entering "NO STAR" in flight plan remarks box
   5) Comply with all published/issued restrictions and requirements in accepted STAR
   6) Some STARs contain "expect" altitudes and/or airspeeds
   a) Not crossing restrictions until issued verbally by ATC
   b) Not to be used in event of lost communication unless ATC has verbally advised you to expect these as part of clearance
   7) "Descend via" STAR clearance authorizes lateral and vertical navigation in accordance with that STAR
   a) Vertical navigation is at pilot's discretion
   b) Inform next controller on initial contact of "descending via" clearance
3. Selection and use of appropriate communications frequencies
   a. Preflight
   1) AWOS, ATIS
   2) UNICOM
   3) Clearance Delivery, record Departure Control frequency
   4) Ground for taxi
   5) Tower for takeoff clearance
   b. Inflight
   1) Tower or UNICOM (uncontrolled field) during takeoff
   2) Contact Departure when instructed by tower, or when leaving traffic pattern at uncontrolled airports
   3) Aknowledge (readback) instructions to change frequency before changing
   4) Write down new frequency
   
   c. Landing
   1) Approach Control until instructed to switch to Tower
   2) Tower until instructed to contact Ground
   3) Ground for taxi
4. Selection and indentification of the navigation aids
   a. Record/check frequencies of NAVAIDS on flight plan form
   b. Record/check correct WPs in GNS530
   c. Tune and identify first NAVAID before takeoff if within range
   d. En route, tune and identify each NAVAID used
   1) Confirm correct Morse code
   2) Confirm correct voice indentification if available
   e. Change navigation guidance at the appropriate changeover points (COPs)
   1) Change frequency from station behind to station ahead at COP
   2) Use COP depicted on chart, or, if none depicted, use midpoint of straight segment or points where heading change is required along angled segments
5. Accomplishment of the appropriate checklist items
   a. Proper cockpit resource management mandates use of appropriate checklists
   b. Example C-TR182 Checklists
   1) Pre-takeoff checklist
   2) Pre-landing checklist (GUMPS)
   c. Pre-approach briefing checklist (Five As)
   1) ATIS (listen, record)
   2) Altimeter (correct setting)
   3) Airspeed (slow to approach airspeed)
   4) Avionics (frequencies set, check correct, identify NAVAIDs)
   5) Approach brief
   a) How low? (MDA or DA/DH)
   b) How long? (time from FAF to MDA/DA)
   c) Which way? (check correct courses)
   d) No flags
   e) Passengers secure
   f) Flaps and gear to go (extend at appropriate time)
   d. Six Ts to ask and answer (in order) at each fix or heading change, especially on an approach
   1) Turn (which way?)
   2) Time (start/stop stopwatch? note time?)
   3) Twist (rotate omnibearing selector? enter new course data?)
   4) Throttle (retard/advance throttle?)
   5) Talk (report to ATC?)
   6) Track (track what course?)
6. Pilot's responsibility for compliance with vectors and also altitude, airspeed, climb, descent and airspace restrictions
   a. Comply with ATC clearance unless an amended clearance is obtained or an emergency arises (14 CFR Sec. 91.123)
   1) If unclear, request clarification
   2) If unable, request amendment
   3) If deviating emergently, notify ATC as soon as possible and obtain amended clearance
   b. Pilot is expected to comply with ATC clearances and instructions upon receipt
   1) "Expedite" means prompt compliance is required
   2) "Immediately" means immediate compliance is necessary for safety
   c. Maintain assigned within 100 feet (or better)
   d. In cruise, maintain filed TAS or assigned airspeed within 10 knots (or better) or notify ATC if unable
   e. Compliance with climb or descent instructions
   1) Initiate altitude change upon acknowledgement of instuctions
   2) Climb or descend at optimum rate to 1000 feet from assigned altitude, then
   3) Between 500 and 1500 fpm to assigned altitude
   4) Notify ATC of unable to climb or descend at >500 fpm
   5) Climb or descent at "pilot's discretion"
   a) Allows pilot to decide when to start and
   b) What rate to climb or descend
   c) May temporarily level off at any intermediate altitude, but
   d) May NOT return to a vacated altitude
   6) Descent clearance to cross a given fix "at or above" or "at or below" a given altitude allows descent to over fix at pilot's discretion (as long as crossing restriction is met)
   f. Comply with any airspace restrictions as instructed by ATC
7. Pilot's responsibility for the interception of courses, radials and bearings appropriate to the procedure, route or clearance
   a. ATC usually issues headings to fly (vectors, radar vectors) along with instructions to join a specific course
   b. Pilot is expected to intercept, in a timely manner, all courses, radials or bearings appropriate to the procedure, route or clearance
8. Procedures to be used in the event of two-way communications failure
   See IX. A. Loss of Communications

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