## Departures From Airports Without an Operating Control Tower 

When departing from airports that have neither an operating tower nor an FSS, a pilot should telephone the flight plan to the nearest ATC facility at least 30 minutes before the estimated departure time. If weather conditions permit, depart VFR and request IFR clearance as soon as radio contact is established with ATC. 

If weather conditions make it undesirable to fly VFR, telephone clearance request. In this case, the controller would probably issue a short-range clearance pending establishment of radio contact and might restrict the departure time to a certain period. For example: 

“Clearance void if not off by 0900.” 

This would authorize departure within the allotted period and permit a pilot to proceed in accordance with the clearance. In the absence of any specific departure instructions, a pilot would be expected to proceed on course via the most direct route. 

## En Route Procedures 

Procedures en route vary according to the proposed route, the traffic environment, and the ATC facilities controlling the flight. Some IFR flights are under radar surveillance and controlled from departure to arrival and others rely entirely on pilot navigation. 

Where ATC has no jurisdiction, it does not issue an IFR clearance. It has no control over the flight, nor does the pilot have any assurance of separation from other traffic. 

## ATC Reports 

All pilots are required to report unforecast weather conditions or other information related to safety of flight to ATC. The pilot-in-command of each aircraft operated in controlled airspace under IFR shall report as soon as practical to ATC any malfunctions of navigational, approach, or communication equipment occurring in flight: 

1. Loss of VOR, tactical air navigation (TACAN) or automatic direction finder (ADF) receiver capability. 

2. Complete or partial loss of instrument landing system (ILS) receiver capability. 

3. Impairment of air-to-ground communications capability. 

The pilot-in-command shall include within the report (1) aircraft identification, (2) equipment affected, (3) degree to which the pilot to operate under IFR within the ATC system is impaired, and (4) nature and extent of assistance desired from ATC. 

## Position Reports 

Position reports are required over each compulsory reporting point (shown on the chart as a solid triangle) along the route being flown regardless of altitude, including those with a VFR-on-top clearance. Along direct routes, reports are required of all IFR flights over each point used to define the route of flight. Reports at reporting points (shown as an open triangle) are made only when requested by ATC. A pilot should discontinue position reporting over designated reporting points when informed by ATC that the aircraft is in “RADAR CONTACT.” Position reporting should be resumed when ATC advises “RADAR CONTACT LOST” or “RADAR SERVICE TERMINATED.” 

Position reports should include the following items: 

1. Identification 

2. Position 

3. Time 

4. Altitude or flight level (include actual altitude or flight level when operating on a clearance specifying VFR- on-top) 

5. Type of flight plan (not required in IFR position reports made directly to ARTCCs or approach control) 

6. Estimated time of arrival (ETA) and name of next reporting point 

7. The name only of the next succeeding reporting point along the route of flight 

8. Pertinent remarks 

En route position reports are submitted normally to the ARTCC controllers via direct controller-to-pilot communications channels using the appropriate ARTCC frequencies listed on the en route chart. 

Whenever an initial contact with a controller is to be followed by a position report, the name of the reporting point should be included in the call-up. This alerts the controller that such information is forthcoming. For example: 

“Atlanta Center, Cessna 1230 Alpha at JAILS intersection.” 

“Cessna 1230 Alpha Atlanta Center.” 

“Atlanta Center, Cessna 1230 Alpha at JAILS intersection, 5,000, estimating Monroeville at 1730.” 

## Additional Reports 

In addition to required position reports, the following reports should be made to ATC without a specific request. 

1. At all times: 

