Did
you ever suspect ATC really doesn't understand your request? On the
flip side, are there embarrassing moments when you forget an IFR term?
Well, grab the putty knife, bust out the rubber cement and get ready
to paste these terms to the wall. Then, when you stumble back out into
the NAS (or onto the simulator realm), where the gatekeepers don't think
you belong, simply quote chapter and verse.
Contact
Approach:
It
can be used to command, as in "Cactus 1354, contact approach with
that request." Its real value is as a procedure. Most controllers
are familiar with the contact approach but often hesitate to even recal
the particulars. It is like a visual approach, except there must be a
published IAP at the airport and the pilot must request the contact approach.
You need not have the airport in sight, just one mile is visibility. You're
still IFR mind you, even though you might be sucking sparrows from their
nests. A contact approach has no final approach course, no FAF, no MAP,
or missed approach procedure. Once cleared, all terrain clearance is your
responsibility. "Cactus 1354 cleared contact approach, radar service
terminated, change to advisory frequency approved, report survival, er,
cancellation. Godspeed."
References:
7110.65 (Controllers bible)7-4-6
AIM 5-4-22
Cruise
Clearance:
Few
are the pilots or controllers who know or utilize this IFR gem. A cruise
clearance - "Cruise 4000" - allows you to use any altitude from
4000 feet to the minimum IFR altitudes and to shoot and approach at the
destination airport. Climb and descend at will within that altitude block,
but once you report leaving an altitude you can't return.
References:
7110.65 4-5-7
AIM 4-4-3
Radar
Service Terminated:
Who
loves ya? ATC of course, but every so often you slip below radar coverage
while you are still on an IFR clearence. The controller sadly reports
"Radar service terminated," which means the love isn't gone,
just the face to face contact. At this point it is up to you to furnish
ATC with position reports and ETA's to your next fix.
References:
AIM 5-3-2
VFR
on Top (OTP)
Highlight
this mother. Perhaps it's the lead-in acronym that confuses-VFR. Despite
those three letters, this is an IFR term, requiring an IFR clearance.
"Cleared to maintain VFR - on - TOP". When the phrase "Cleared
to" passes the controller's drug stained lips, you are IFR, in the
system, big brothers b*tch. The trick is to convince ATC that if you maintain
VFR on Top, the controller does not apply IFR separation standards even
though you're on an IFR flight plan. It's a great shortcut. Despite its
name, no clouds are required to be OTP. Yes, you can climb IFR through
the clouds to reach OTP. It does require VFR conditions; you must maintain
VFR cloud clearances and visibility while OTP.
Suggestions:
As you are now furnished with this new knowledge and quotable passages
that you might be tempted to sling at an uncooperative controller, I suggest
you use this power conservatively. While there are times when it feels
good to say "Hey center, grab your 7110.65 and turn to 7-3 and explain
to me why I can't go VFR on Top," bite your tongue. Knowing a few
references doesn't make you a controller anymore then having a friend
that is a stripper makes you a pimp. Unless you're really pissed, then
by all means - fire at will.
