Meaning to "Maintain Your Own Terrain and Obstruction Clearance": Maintaining control over one's personal space and ensuring it's free from hindrances or barriers.
In certain situations, air traffic controllers may ask pilots to maintain their own terrain and obstruction clearance when radar coverage is poor or airports lack published obstacle departure procedures (ODPs). This practice, known as "own terrain and obstruction clearance," is a strategic measure that offers operational flexibility while ensuring safety.
Under standard Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), air traffic control (ATC) is responsible for providing traffic, terrain, and obstruction clearance. However, when pilots request and assume this responsibility, they must adhere to specific procedures and use appropriate navigation and terrain avoidance equipment to prevent controlled flight into terrain.
### Requesting Own Terrain and Obstruction Clearance
To request this clearance, pilots must explicitly ask the appropriate ATC facility. The request is granted at the discretion of ATC, taking traffic, airspace, and safety considerations into account. Once approved, pilots assume full responsibility for ensuring terrain and obstacle clearance while operating under IFR.
### Maintaining Own Terrain and Obstruction Clearance
Maintaining this clearance involves continuous monitoring of position and altitude to ensure clearance from terrain and obstacles. Pilots should use all available aids, such as terrain awareness warning systems, charts, and radar altimeters, to maintain safe clearance. If unable to maintain safe clearance, pilots must notify ATC immediately. ATC may withdraw the option if safety cannot be assured.
### When is it Appropriate to Use This Option?
This option is suitable in various scenarios, such as when the pilot requires operational flexibility to deviate from published routes or altitudes that are safe under standard IFR. It is also beneficial in tactical or military operations where specific routing is necessary, in complex or mountainous environments where the pilot has superior terrain knowledge or situational awareness, and when conducting military training or missions under special IFR Military Training Routes (IR).
This procedure aligns with standard ATC practices found in both military and civilian IFR operations. While not routinely granted in civilian IFR flights unless explicitly authorized, pilots are expected to acknowledge the risks and responsibilities involved.
In summary, requesting and maintaining "own terrain and obstruction clearance" under IFR conditions involves pilots explicitly informing ATC that they will assume responsibility for terrain and obstruction clearance, rather than relying on standard IFR obstacle clearance provided by ATC. This option provides operational flexibility under IFR conditions while ensuring safety.
- Under certain situations, when radar coverage is poor or airports lack published obstacle departure procedures (ODPs), air traffic controllers may ask pilots to maintain their own terrain and obstruction clearance.
- This practice, known as "own terrain and obstruction clearance," is a strategic measure offering operational flexibility while ensuring safety in IFR conditions.
- Under standard Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), air traffic control (ATC) is responsible for providing traffic, terrain, and obstruction clearance.
- However, when pilots request and assume this responsibility, they must adhere to specific procedures and use appropriate navigation and terrain avoidance equipment.
- To request this clearance, pilots must explicitly ask the appropriate ATC facility, and the request is granted at the discretion of ATC, taking traffic, airspace, and safety considerations into account.
- Once approved, pilots assume full responsibility for ensuring terrain and obstacle clearance while operating under IFR.
- Maintaining this clearance involves continuous monitoring of position and altitude to ensure clearance from terrain and obstacles.
- Pilots should use all available aids, such as terrain awareness warning systems, charts, and radar altimeters, to maintain safe clearance.
- If unable to maintain safe clearance, pilots must notify ATC immediately. ATC may withdraw the option if safety cannot be assured.
- This option is suitable in various scenarios, such as when the pilot requires operational flexibility, in tactical or military operations, complex or mountainous environments, and when conducting military training or missions under special IFR Military Training Routes (IR).
- This procedure aligns with standard ATC practices found in both military and civilian IFR operations. While not routinely granted in civilian IFR flights unless explicitly authorized, pilots are expected to acknowledge the risks and responsibilities involved in assuming "own terrain and obstruction clearance."
