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:

IFR clearances often appear indirect because they prioritize system-wide safety, efficiency, and factors like weather, traffic volume, and dynamic airspace restrictions.
These seemingly complex routes are determined by the National Airspace System's broader considerations, which local controllers or individual pilots may not always fully perceive.
Pilots should anticipate and plan for potential reroutes by carrying extra fuel, as repeatedly refiling a direct route is unlikely to change an initial system-issued clearance.
While initial clearances might be circuitous, direct routing often becomes available once an aircraft is airborne and clear of immediate congestion, reflecting the system's adaptability.

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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.