On request, standby...

sonopoa

sonopoa

Pre-takeoff checklist
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sonopoa
Ok so this is the reply you might get in reply to when you call ATC for ifr clearance (when on the ground prior to taxi etc)

The first time I heard it I thought it meant I needed to request it, or that I hadnt requested clearance properly.

I still think it is an odd reply from that standpoint, you *have* requested it..

Why not just "standby" which is efficient, clear and would carry no doubt ?
 
sonopoa said:
Ok so this is the reply you might get in reply to when you call ATC for ifr clearance (when on the ground prior to taxi etc)

The first time I heard it I thought it meant I needed to request it, or that I hadnt requested clearance properly.

I still think it is an odd reply from that standpoint, you *have* requested it..

Why not just "standby" which is efficient, clear and would carry no doubt ?
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Maybe it was short for “I’m working on your request, standby”? Or clumsily worded “standby on your request”
 
Salty said:
Maybe it was short for “I’m working on your request, standby”? Or clumsily worded “standby on your request”
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I've heard "clearance on request. Stand-by" often. Just means, "wait while we fit you in."

Personally never thought it was particularly confusing.
 
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KaiGywer said:
I believe it is because your tower/ground/CD requested the flight plan from the national system, but hasn’t been accepted yet.
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Agree, it's not like the CD controller you're talking to comes up with the clearance themselves. It's like a waiter at a restaurant telling you they put your order in.
 
Its a common phrase, it might even be in the PCG.
Because it is not part of everyday non-av lingo, many times you will hear a quizzical reply from pilots who have not heard it.
Now that I know what it means, my response is silence.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
It simply means the controller you are talking to (ground at a D, for example) has made the request to the overlying TRACON or ARTCC for the clearance, and they're waiting for it, and they'll give it to you when they get it.
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Yes. I think that every time I asked for my clearance at KLUK I got the "clearance on request" message.
 
It simply means that it hasn’t printed out yet or the controller has something else he has to do. If it is more than 30 minutes prior to your proposed departure it hasn’t printed out yet.

It means. “I have your request. I’ll advise you when it’s available.”
 
sonopoa said:
Ok so this is the reply you might get in reply to when you call ATC for ifr clearance (when on the ground prior to taxi etc)

The first time I heard it I thought it meant I needed to request it, or that I hadnt requested clearance properly.

I still think it is an odd reply from that standpoint, you *have* requested it..

Why not just "standby" which is efficient, clear and would carry no doubt ?
Click to expand...

The first time I encountered it, all I got was "clearance on request". I thought it meant that I had not correctly requested my clearance. I had to ask "what do you mean?" and then she explained it to me.
 
sarangan said:
The first time I encountered it, all I got was "clearance on request". I thought it meant that I had not correctly requested my clearance. I had to ask "what do you mean?" and then she explained it to me.
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Yes, exactly.

dmspilot said:
t's like a waiter at a restaurant telling you they put your order in.
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Actually no.. if the waiter told you he put the order in that would be fine .. however: If you gave an order to a waiter and he replied "on request standby" - you might likley think you had to tell him your order again when he was less busy..
 
When I took my IFR training, I was taught to tell ground control that I would like to put my IFR clearance on request. Consequently, the terminology never confused me when a controller said it.
 
At some airports, you’ll get it before almost every takeoff.

Leaving KAGC, I’m often asked by ground control during the taxi whether I’ll be ready when I get to the runway, e.g. “will you need a run up?”. If the stars are aligned, when I contact tower, I’m cleared for takeoff. Usually I get “Clearance on request” which means they’ve contacted Pittsburgh approach and are awaiting a takeoff clearance to pass on to me.

Very common in some situations. I can see how you may rarely hear it in others.

My question is why my clearance to KHPN from the west always includes Allentown and Kingston VORs even though I know I’ll be vectored direct to BREZY.


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sonopoa said:
Actually no.. if the waiter told you he put the order in that would be fine .. however: If you gave an order to a waiter and he replied "on request standby" - you might likley think you had to tell him your order again when he was less busy..
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Actually yes. I was explaining what it meant with an analogy, not explaining what someone might accidentally think it means.
 
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Palmpilot said:
When I took my IFR training, I was taught to tell ground control that I would like to put my IFR clearance on request. Consequently, the terminology never confused me when a controller said it.
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One person I fly with, when he wants a new altitude, will say to ATC "I'd like to put <altitude> on request." Drives me freaking nuts. :rofl: "Request <altitude>" would be so much faster...
 
Since "On request" is not defined in the P/CG, it means whatever the person who said it thinks it means.
 
Larry in TN said:
Since "On request" is not defined in the P/CG, it means whatever the person who said it thinks it means.
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Interestingly, it used to be. I found a link to an older edition and it was there.

Of course, the PCG is not the universe of information on FAA terms. Here's from the FAA's Instrument Flying Handbook glossary:
Clearance on request. An IFR clearance not yet received after filing a flight plan.​
..with a further explanation in Chapter 2:
When reporting "ready to copy" an IFR clearance before the strip has been received from the Center computer, pilots are advised "clearance on request." The controller initiates contact when it has been received. This time can be used for taxi and pre-takeoff checks.​
 
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sonopoa said:
The first time I heard it I thought it meant I needed to request it, or that I hadnt requested clearance properly.
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The same thing happened to me in St. Joseph, MO - a joint civil/military field.

After the controller said "Clearance on request", I called back with "ok, I'm requesting it." :D

It took a bit of back and forth before he explained it to me.
 
It literally means that ATC doesn’t have the clearance in front of them and they have to walk over to the printer and get it. Alternatively, they have it, but aren’t ready to give it to you yet because they are dealing with something else. It’s just an explanation as to why they can’t read you the clearance immediately.

It’s in the same camp as “awaiting IFR release”.
 
midlifeflyer said:
I've heard "clearance on request. Stand-by" often. Just means, "wait while we fit you in."

Personally never thought it was particularly confusing.
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I think what's confusing about it, or at least it was for me (and as stated by the OP), is that one thinks the controller is telling you that you can get the clearance on request when you just requested it. You don't immediately realize they're saying they have it on request.
 
I remember the first time I heard clearance on request. I was thinking that they meant they would give me clearance once I requested it, but since I had already requested clearance, it couldn't be what the meant. I assumed it meant they were requesting my clearance and didn't open my mouth and share how inexperienced I was at the time.
 
BrianNC said:
I think what's confusing about it, or at least it was for me (and as stated by the OP), is that one thinks the controller is telling you that you can get the clearance on request when you just requested it. You don't immediately realize they're saying they have it on request.
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Oh I understand why someone might be confused. But that can be said about just about everything, can't it? Until we understand lingo it's confusing. There's a lot of it in aviation. Some instructors even write scripts for their students to follow when they are first introduced to towered airports.
 
For the ‘casual’ IFR pilot who doesn’t fly professionally or often, there’s a suggestion that filing and flying in the system on every CC flight is good for one’s proficiency, particularly radio and ATC operation proficiency.

If you use the system, fly the system as much as you can.


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