Filed vs. Cleared vs. Flown

Every instrument pilot should understand the process of filing, getting a clearance, and then flying an IFR flight plan. But why does it occasionally seem that ATC makes things complicated? Say you've filed a straightforward Point A to B then C. But then you're cleared from Point A to B then to X, Y, Z, and only finally to Point C. Why are these extra fixes in the flight plan? Where did they come from? Why this today instead of an intermediate RNAV fix that you usually get?

Editorial Staff

Tuesday, January 28, 2020 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

A court has issued a permanent injunction striking down locally created noise and access restrictions at HTO implemented by the town of East Hampton, New York. Friends of the East Hampton Airport/Facebook

Key Takeaways:

ATC issues complex or indirect flight clearances primarily to maintain system-wide safety and efficiency, influenced by dynamic factors like weather, traffic volume, airspace restrictions, and temporary flight rules.
Pilots should understand that filed routes often change due to these system constraints and should be prepared with adequate fuel, even though initial indirect routings frequently become more direct once airborne as conditions allow.
Attempting to re-file a different flight plan typically won't alter a clearance if the underlying National Airspace System (NAS) operational requirements remain the same, as ATC prioritizes the overall flow of traffic.

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Every instrument pilot should understand the process of filing, getting a clearance, and then flying an IFR flight plan. But why does it occasionally seem that ATC makes things complicated? Say you’ve filed a straightforward Point A to B then C. But then you’re cleared from Point A to B then to X, Y, Z, and only finally to Point C. Why are these extra fixes in the flight plan? Where did they come from? Why this today instead of an intermediate RNAV fix that you usually get?

I actually get this question more than any other. These seemingly indirect routings might look like a lot more work than something simple, but they keep all airplanes moving safely. Sometimes there may not be much the pilot can do differently, but there are a few ways to possibly anticipate and plan the best route without having to redo it 10 times. The overriding key to this, of course, is that everything aviation is constantly changing, including the optimum route needed of you to keep the entire system moving smoothly.