IFR clearance on-the-fly

6 Answers

1. 
   

   
   

   Andy Neumann on Aug 22, 2011

   1.   Yes, you can always ask for an IFR clearance.  You are likely to get one, but always have a back up plan to remain VFR just in case you have to wait.  ATC can’t clear you until they have space to clear you and aircraft already IFR will take priority over you until they can give you an IFR clearance.  So if it’s a busy airport, you may have to wait.  This usually means you’ll have to orbit in VFR conditions until a clearance can be received.  DO NOT put yourself in a situation where you HAVE to get an IFR clearance immediately to save your skin.  Plan ahead and remember that ATC can always say “remain VFR.” 
    
   2.  If the student is at least a private pilot with the appropriate category, class, and type (if required) ratings, then he/she can log the whole flight as PIC regardless of the weather conditions.  You, as the instructor, can also log the whole flight as PIC too. 
    

   +4 Votes 4 Votes  0 Votes

2. 
   

   
   

   JamesCFI on Aug 22, 2011

   Do it often, also I like to add some thing like this to the request
    
    “Stinson ABC is running into reduced visibility, requesting IFR clearance present position direct XYZ”
    
    Sometimes when you just ask for a clearance they may think you were to lazy to file on the ground or are just practicing etc. Thats why I always like to through in the reduced viz comment.

   +3 Votes 3 Votes  0 Votes

3. 
   

   
   

   Earl Kessler on Aug 25, 2011

   Another term that is used is a “pop up” clearance.  It is at the discretion of the controller and you should consider it a favor.  Act professional on the radio and chances are great that you will get either what you request or something that will get you to point “b”.

   0 Votes 0 Votes  0 Votes

4. 
   

   
   

   JamesCFI on Aug 25, 2011

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     I’ve always been told a “pop up” is pulling a clearance on the ground somewhere like LGB to get above the morning fog then canceling and going VFR,  but that’s just semantics!
    
    Never considered a controller giving a clearance to a IFR rated pilot in a IFR equipped aircraft encountering reduced visibility a favor, I consider that their duty.  Of course be professional and polite, but there is no reason to catch any static from a controller for requesting a clearance.
    
    I’ve only had once instance when I ran into a problem with getting a clearance in the air.  I was flying back to my home drome in CA, the weather was great all day and the forecast was VMC departure – destination.  
    Towards the last 20 minutes of the flight there was just a wall of soup before our home airport, we still could not pick up the ATIS due to the mountains but we knew that we might be shooting an approach (no big deal).
    
    Right now it was around 11:30pm and one of those nights where you do the “radio check” once in a while because the radio is so quiet (despite having flight following) you feel like you can hear your hair growing. 
     We get on the radio and say “Stinson ABC just over the XYZ, running into some reduced visibility requesting IFR clearance present position blah blah blah”.
    The controller gives all the grief saying we should have pulled it on the ground, etc etc, even though the weather we have on board didn’t forecast this isolated area of IFR. 
     Now with all this controllers back and forth with my friend we are flying this octagon like pattern to stay out of IMC.
    I end up getting on the radio and I say “XXX approach, Stinson ABC requests you mark the tape, due to reduced visibility we are requesting a IFR clearance for the safety of this flight, we are IFR rated and equipped, are you unwilling to provide us with a IFR clearance”
    We got our clearance and got home.   That was the ONLY time I had a issue, every other time I have requested a clearance in the air it has been no big deal, worst case scenario  you will be asked to file with XXX radio then check back in with approach or something, but even that is uncommon.

   +1 Votes 2 Votes  1 Votes

5. 
   

   
   

   Heather McNevin on Oct 06, 2011

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   Regarding your first question about obtaining a popup IFR.  They are not uncommon and almost always accommodated.  One of the above answers said to think of it as a favor, in a way that’s true.  If you file an IFR flight plan, a proposed flight plan prints out at the affected Air Traffic Facilities.  In order to track up your flight in the computer, all that’s needed are a few quick computer entries to tell the computer your proposed flight is now an active flight.  This is done quickly and there is not a lot of workload.  If you are a popup, the computer and the controller know nothing about your flight.  Therefore, I (as a controller) have to enter your N number, type, equipment suffix, destination, etc manually into the computer after obtaining it from you.  This is not difficult but it is a little more time consuming.  Also, it takes up time on my frequency.  The only reasons you wouldn’t get a clearance nearly immediately would be if you were in confliction of other traffic, airspace (MOA, MEA, etc), or you may be in someone elses airspace and verbal coordination must take place.  This can take a bit more time.  Be patient.  There are some pilots who are fed up with FSS and will do the pop up clearance all the time.  As a controller, my job is not to put in flight plans, my job is to separate airplanes.  I understand the frustration with FSS, I have to deal with them as a pilot and controller nearly every day of my life.  If my workload permits, I will put in a flight plan, but just know that its not my primary duty.  Definitely let the controller know if you are unable to maintain VFR (controllers cant see clouds on radar).  Depending on the urgency of the request, it may get you declared an emergency at the ATC facility, but if you need it to save your bacon you need it and should have no difficulty explaining it to FSDO should they ever come asking.  Even if you are declared an emergency, standard separation from aircraft and airspace is still required.   If you want to hurry the controller along, let them know you will take any heading to get your clearance quicker.  I would definitely not get into a “whose in control here” situation and tell the controller to mark the tape and issue an ultimatum.  Obtaining an IFR clearance can be done quickest and safest by working together.  On the other hand, IF you do encounter a controller who was difficult to work with, call that facility.  It is not okay for a controller not to provide a service.  Note the time, and location, and then it can be found out why (maybe the controller had an emergency they were dealing with on another frequency, or maybe they were busy with something else).  When I’m flight instructing, I sometimes call facilities if I get great service as well.  I know it’s the controllers job, but its nice to get a pat on the back once in awhile.  Remember, a controller may work multiple frequencies in the same sector, and VHF and UHF frequencies are paired, so I may have one VFR and one UHF freq (meaning only two airplanes can be talking to me at the same time) or (on an overnight shift) I may have more than 10 VHF and 10 UHF frequencies (meaning 20 planes could theoretically talk at once).  Just because you don’t hear the conversation doesn’t mean there isn’t a clearance being delivered or an emergency being dealt with.   Finally, I’d highly recommend going to your local ATC facilities and sitting with a controller and watch traffic operations.  Facility numbers are found in the AFD or you can get them from FSS.  Call the facility ahead of time (security reasons) and explain you are a pilot and would like a tour!

   +3 Votes 3 Votes  0 Votes

6. 
   

   
   

   Shawn on Mar 19, 2014

   Say I was flying and I had to pop an ifr , I used an iPhone app foreflight ,
   It’s say Ifr filed completed , ok my question is who do I contact now to pick it up?

   -2 Votes 2 Votes  4 Votes