Clearance Procedures

9 July, 2024

Unless otherwise coordinated with, or instructed by ATC, all departing aircraft with exception to A-10 VFR departures require a local ATC clearance from Nellis Clearance Delivery prior to taxi. At time of publication, clearance delivery is consolidated with Ground control on Local Channel 2, 275.800. Listen for the appropriate Clearance Delivery frequency on ATIS prior to contacting NATCF.

A-10 VFR Departures: These departures do not require aircrews to contact NATCF Clearance Delivery. ATC Clearance for a VFR departure constitutes clearance to operate within Class B airspace. Aircraft are to NOT re-enter Class B airspace after exiting.

General Policy:

• Air missions that plan to expend ordnance on the NTTR except Red Flag an WSINT flights are to confirm type ordnance and specific target with Blackjack prior to departure.
• If an aircraft in the flight is delayed, or a clearance is not yet available, a short-range clearance may be requested if your flight will remain within the NTTR.
  • Request a short-range clearance from NATCF with requested departure procedure and scheduled transponder code
  • Range times and restrictions apply to the entire flight, even delayed aircraft. An aircraft is considered part of the flight after they are cleared to tactical frequency and are in scheduled airspace
• Two or more flights wanting to join-up must fly the same departure route and must receive their own clearance from NATCF.

Obtaining Clearance:

• Contact Nellis Ground with Flight Name, Parking Position and Clearance Request: "Nellis Ground, MAKO1 flight at Foxtrot Row XX request IFR clearance"
• NATCF Issues Clearance: "MAKO1, Nellis Ground. Cleared to Nellis via the DREAM SEVEN departure, then as filed. Climb via SID. Departure channel 4. Squawk 4551."
• Flight Acknowledges/Reads-Back Clearance: "MAKO1 cleared to Nellis via the DREAM SEVEN departure, then as filed. Climb via the SID. Departure channel 4. Squawk 4551."
• ATC Acknowledges Proper Readback and Gives Further Instruction: "MAKO1 readback correct. Advise ready to taxi, expect runway 21L."

Clearance Exceptions:

When traffic load/separation needs dictate, exceptions to filed routes may be given in a clearance. For example, despite the DREAM departure having a top altitude of Flight Level 190 (19,000 feet), if multiple flights are taking off in quick succession that are using the same departure procedure, ATC may advise one of the flights to "Climb via SID except maintain one-seven thousand feet". This means that after climbing to 17,000 feet, which meets the charted crossing restriction for the MINTT and JUNNO intersections, the flight is not to climb any higher until advised by ATC. In the case of flights into the NTTR, the altitude restriction is terminated when frequency change is approved to Blackjack.

ATC may also assign direct altitudes, even when flying a departure procedure. This will sound like: "Cleared to Nellis via the DREAM SEVEN departure. Climb and maintain one-five thousand, expect flight level one-niner-zero one-zero minutes after departure." This clearance instructs the pilot to fly the lateral routes of the DREAM SEVEN departure, but they are to immediately climb all the way up to 15,000 feet. If radio contact is lost, Flight Level 190 (19,000) is automatically approved after you have been flying for 10 minutes.