FAA Instrument Rating Airplane (IRA)IFR Procedures and ChartsMedium
A pilot is at 6,000 feet MSL, flying an IFR flight, and receives a clearance 'Cleared direct to Springfield Municipal, maintain 6,000, expect higher in 10 minutes, expect further clearance 30 minutes past the hour.' What is the latest time the pilot should expect to receive a revised clearance?
- A30 minutes past the hour.
- B30 minutes from the current time.
- C10 minutes from the current time.
- D40 minutes from the current time.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. 30 minutes past the hour.
The 'expect further clearance' (EFC) time is the time at which ATC expects to issue a revised clearance. It is the definitive time for the pilot to expect further instructions, especially in a holding or communication failure scenario. The 'expect higher in 10 minutes' is an advisory, not a clearance time.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. This is not directly stated in the clearance as a specific time.
- C. This is an advisory for potentially higher altitude, not the definitive EFC time.
- D. This combines the advisory with the EFC, but the EFC is a specific time, not a duration from the current time.
Expect Further Clearance (EFC) Time
The Expect Further Clearance (EFC) time is a specific time issued by Air Traffic Control (ATC) indicating when a pilot can anticipate receiving a revised clearance. It is critical for planning, especially in holding patterns or during lost communications.
- EFC is a specific time, not a duration.
- It's the time ATC expects to issue a revised clearance.
- Crucial for lost communications procedures (AIM 6-4-1).
- Distinguish from 'expect higher/lower' advisories.
Memory trick: EFC: Expected Future Clearance!