C.R.A.F.T. CHECKS
We use the CRAFT mnemonic for the essential elements of an IFR clearance.
C — CLEARED LIMIT
R — ROUTE
A — ALTITUDE
F — FREQUENCY
T — TRANSPONDER (Squawk)
CLEARED LIMIT
The cleared limit is the point which we are cleared to.
ROUTE
The route which we are to follow as part of our clearance.
ALTITUDE
The initial altitude to maintain and can also include a time at which we should transmit upon leaving our airport of departure.
FREQUENCY
The frequency we should transmit on upon leaving our airport of departure.
TRANSPONDER (SQUAWK)
The transponder code we must set prior to departure.
Bonus! The T also stands for time as in ‘void time’. Void time is an expiration time applicable to the IFR clearance if we are not airborne by the time given.
Here’s an example of an IFR clearance:
“N2458G, cleared to Las Vegas airport via the HOLTZ7 SID, Daggett transition, then as filed. Climb and maintain 5,000 ft, expect FL330 10 minutes after departure, departure frequency is 124.5, SQUAWK 6562.”
In this example, ‘C’ is Las Vegas airport. ‘R’ is the HOLTZ7 SID with transition fix at the DAG VOR. The rest as filed in our flight plan. The initial climb clearance is 5,000 ft and further clearance to FL330 may be expected 10 minutes after departure. We should tune into frequency 124,50 MHz and we are to squawk 6562 before departure. No void time was given in this example.
CRAFT can also be used under VFR when departing from a Class B, C and D airport. All aircraft that wish to enter a Class B airspace is required to obtain ATC clearance. When flying VFR we never have a clearance limit. This means that ‘Cleared into B airspace’ acts as our clearance limit. We can be routed at the discretion of ATC, always following SOP, most commonly to ‘Fly a heading after departure’.
VFR initial altitudes are issued as a restriction. “Maintain VFR at or below 1,600 ft.” Departure frequencies are only issued if we require flight following services. In this case, Squawk codes are also issued. I.e., “N2458G cleared out of San Diego Class B airspace. On departure fly heading 300º. Maintain VFR at or below 2,500 ft. Departure frequency 119.60. Squawk 5768/Squawk VFR.”
