IFR Route Changes

Sitting around and talking with pilot friends, you hear nonstop talk about aircraft and equipment. Eventually, someone always brings up ATC in conversation. Pilots argue among themselves more intensely than Socrates debating Plato. One question that new and even veteran pilots bring up is why, when they file an IFR flight plan, that their clearance is usually never as filed but includes a route change of some sort.

Eric Lyn

Monday, August 05, 2019 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

ATC frequently reroutes IFR flights from their filed plans due to multiple factors, including the use of predetermined Tower Enroute Control (TEC) or Preferred IFR Routes for efficiency and congestion relief.
Reroutes are issued by controllers to prevent conflicts from "bad routes," manage traffic flow through "enter and exit gates" between sectors, and utilize standard instrument departures (SIDs) and arrivals (STARs) in redesigned airspaces.
The Traffic Management Unit (TMU) also issues reroutes primarily due to weather or employs flow times and Expected Departure Clearance Times (EDCT) to manage overall traffic volume and avoid conflicts without necessarily altering the route.
Pilots are advised to research and file appropriate TEC or Preferred routes, avoid filing "lazy" direct routes, and be prepared for amended clearances, understanding they prioritize safety and system efficiency.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Since I’m a working controller, they all look at me, while I briefly state a possible reason. After the assembled pilots all nod their heads and let out an “ohhh,” some will walk away still uncertain of what was explained. Overall, it is simple, there are about eight topics, within three areas, which determine whether or not you get “cleared as filed” or if ATC re-routes you before you take off.