Here are some examples of various Pre Departure Clearances:

"Clearance delivery" on Tower VHF frequencies has been around for many years and took up a lot of time reading the long message and then asking for a "read back". But a few years ago the FAA got into the 21 Century and started using ARINC'S ACARS system to deliver these clearances over the local ACARS frequencies at selected airports around the country.

This could be the first step to the FAA using digitalized communications for many other ATC clearances. They have said they are planning for this. But instead of using a proven existing system, they are planning to invent an entirely new operation using transponder fequencies! This should be interesting!

Except for Air Canada, I have not found any foreign carriers making use of this as yet. Maybe, you all might have caught such a message. I'd appreciate your help in letting me know who they are.

The following are a few examples of PDC (Pre Depature Clearance) messages I've copied. The transmission "times" are given after the upload and sometimes at the start.

ACARS mode: 2 Aircraft reg: .N615UA

Message label: RA Block id: I Msg. no: QUAT

Flight id: CCDUA~

Message content:-

1DPTR CLRNC

FLT 902-13 SFO - JFK

UAL902 SFO

B/B767/G P2015 RQ370

XPDR 3627

MAINT FL230 EXP REQ

ALT 10 MIN AFT T/O

GND CTL FREQ 121.8

/DPTR CTL SEE SID

DO NOT EXCEED 250 KTS

TIL ADVISED

-SFO6 S

SFO SAC J32 BAM-

SFO SFO6 SFO

SAC./.JFK

--------------[13/02/1996 11:54]

ACARS mode: 2 Aircraft reg: .C-FDSU

Message label: 4P Block id: E Msg. no: -//

Flight id: ATC P9

Message content:-

47 YYZOWAC 13FEB/2004 OAK C-FDSU/ /0756

TIMESTAMP 13FEB96 20:04

*PRE-DEPARTURE CLEARANCE*

155

FLT ACA0756/13 KSFO

T/EA32/R P2030 BQ370

XPRD 3656 EDCT 1230

MAINT FL230 EXP REQ ALT 10 MI

N AFT T/O

GND CTL FREQ 124.25/DPTR CTL SEE SID

DO NOT EXCEED 250 KTS TIL ADVISED

SFO6 SFO LIN

KSFO LIN J84 SNY***CYYZ

@ICAO REG/CFDSU SEL/FQC***

--------[13/02/1996 12:04]

[09/09/1996 15:14]

2 .N401UP 37 J NYSD FXY5X

----ATC CLEARANCE----

CLEARED AS FILED

SQWK: 4546

DO NOT EXCEED 250

KNOTS UNTIL ADVISED

CALL 121.1 FOR

DEPARTURE INSTRUCTIONS

----FILED FLT PLAN----

SAC OAK SLNT7 REBAS

SAC216 SAC SIER2 RNO

PROPOSED ETD: 2224Z

REQUESTED ALT: 210

A/C: F/B757/E

---END OF CLEARANCE---

[09/09/1996 18:40]

2 .N453UP 37 C NYSD FXY5X

UNAVAILABLE. PLEASE

RETRY 20 MINUTES PRIOR

TO RELEASE TIME.

< ACARS SYSTEM

[09/09/1996 18:44]

2 .N453UP 37 L NYSD FXY5X

----ATC CLEARANCE----

OAK4 OAK LIN J84 MVA

THEN AS FILED

SQWK: 1705

DO NOT EXCEED 250

KNOTS UNTIL ADVISED

----FILED FLT PLAN----

OAK LIN J84 EKR J116

FQF J80 MKC J24 STL

ENL***SDF

PROPOSED ETD: 0215Z

REQUESTED ALT: 270

A/C: F/B757/E

---END OF CLEARANCE---

[13/02/1996 12:42]

ACARS mode: 2 Aircraft reg: .N302UA

Message label: RA Block id: W Msg. no: QUAT

Flight id: CCDUA~

Message content:-

1DPTR CLRNC

FLT 2941-13 SFO - ONT

UAL2941 SFO

T/B73S/G P2110 RQ370

XPDR 1774

MAINT FL230 EXP REQ

ALT 10 MIN AFT T/O

GND CTL FREQ 121.8

/DPTR CTL SEE SID

DO NOT EXCEED 250 KTS

TIL ADVISED

AVE SFO PORTE9

WAGES AVE./.ONT

-----------[13/02/1996 12:47]

Aircraft reg: .N605AU

Message label: C1 Block id: X Msg. no: .FFX

Flight id: FMUS 1

Message content:-

32047

AGM

AN N605AU/AP SFO

- PDCSSFO 0058 605

EQP L/B757/G P2115

SQK 6324 ALT 370

SFO6 SFO LIN

SFO LIN J84 EKR./.CLT

MAINT FL230 EXP REQ

ALT 10 MIN AFT T/O

GND CTL FREQ

124.25/DPTR CTL

SEE SID

DO NOT EXCEED 250

KTS TIL ADVISED

SQK 6324

PDC VALID UNTIL 2315Z

-- END OF MESSAGE --

[17/09/1996 14:39]

2 .N655FE C1 R .MEM XRFX 1 (A-300)

72139

AGM

AN N655FE

- PDC

FDX3853/17 XPNDR 1731 H/EA30/E

DEPT: OAK TIME: P2200Z FL330

.

AVE

.

(Time missing)

ACARS mode: 2 Aircraft reg: .N974UA

Message label: RA Block id: V Msg. no: QUAT

Flight id: CCDUA~

Message content:-

1DPTR CLRNC

FLT 1048-13 SFO - GEG

PDC NOT STORED IN

UNIMATIC-CONTACT

CLEARANCE DELIVERY

BY VOICE TO OBTAIN

PDC

ACARS mode: 2 Aircraft reg: .N174UA

Message label: RA Block id: F Msg. no: QUAT

Flight id: CCDUA~

Message content:-

1DPTR CLRNC

FLT 837-13 SFO - NRT

UAL837 KSFO

H/B74F/R P2140 RQ350

XPDR 1730 EDCT 2200

MAINT 3000 EXP REQ

ALT 3 MIN AFT T/O

GND CTL FREQ 121.8

/DPTR CTL SEE SID

.....

KSFO STINS6 ENI C1486

GUTTS GEBCO

GAVEL***RJAA

?ICAO ENI/M085F350

ARIES***

-------------[13/02/1996 13:18]

ACARS mode: 2 Aircraft reg: .C-FTJQ

Message label: 4P Block id: H Msg. no: -//

Flight id: ATC P3

Message content:-

57 YYZOWAC 14FEB/1516 SFOC C-FTJQ/ /0758

TIMESTAMP 14FEB96 15:16

*PRE-DEPARTURE CLEARANCE*

34

FLT ACA0758/14 KSFO

T/EA32/R P1545 BQ330

XPRD 3617 EDCT 0745

MAINT FL230 EXP REQ ALT

10 MIN AFT T/O

GND CTL FREQ 121.8 /DPTR CTL SEE SID

DO NOT EXCEED 250 KTS TIL ADVISED

SFO6 SFO LIN

KSFO LIN J84 DBQ***CYYZ

@ICAO REG/CFTJQ SEL/FQC***

--------------------------[14/02/1996 07:15]

ACARS mode: 2 Aircraft reg: .N58101 (Continental)

Message label: C1 Block id: I Msg. no: .MIA

Flight id: XU1S 1

Message content:-

4/1532

AGM

AN N58101/AP SFO

- CO 0240/14

• PREDEPARTURE CLEARANCE ***

COA0240 DEPARTING SFO

EQUIP L/B757/G SKD DEP TIME P1600

INITIAL FLT LEVEL 330

SF06 SFO SAC J32 BAM

SFO SFO6 SFO SAC./.EWR

@NRP

MAINT FL230 EXP REQ ALT 10 MIN AFT T/O

GND CTL FREQ 121.8 /DPTR CTL SEE SID

DO NOT EXCEED 250 KTS TIL ADVISED

TRANSPONDER 3642

ACARS mode: 2 Aircraft reg: .N69602 (Continental)

Message label: C1 Block id: E Msg. no: .MIA

Flight id: XU1S 1

Message content:-

.MIAXU1S 14/1540

AGM

AN N69602/AP SFO

- CO 0136/14

• PREDEPARTURE CLEARANCE ***

COA0136 DEPARTING SFO

EQUIP T/B73J/G SKD DEP TIME P1550

INITIAL FLT LEVEL 370

AVE SFO PORTE9 WAGES AVE./.IAH

MAINT FL230 EXP REQ ALT 10 MIN AFT T/O

GND CTL FREQ 121.8 /DPTR CTL SEE SID

DO NOT EXCEED 250 KTS TIL ADVISED

TRANSPONDER 3451

Mode: 2 Aircraft reg: .N174UA

Message label: RA Block id: F Msg. no: QUAT

Flight id: CCDUA~

Message content:-

1DPTR CLRNC

FLT 837-13 SFO - NRT

UAL837 KSFO

H/B74F/R P2140 RQ350

XPDR 1730 EDCT 2200

MAINT 3000 EXP REQ

ALT 3 MIN AFT T/O

GND CTL FREQ 121.8

/DPTR CTL SEE SID

.....

KSFO STINS6 ENI C1486

GUTTS GENCO

GAVEL***RJAA

?ICAO ENI/M085F350

ARIES***

------------[13/02/1996 13:18]

ACARS mode: 2 Aircraft reg: .N147AA

Message label: 40 Block id: D Msg. no: FLIG

Flight id: HT 003

Message content:-

FLIGHT 0039/14 SFO -HNL

PDC

AAL39 XPNDR 6301 SFO

H/DC10/R P1700 330

KSFO GAPP2 SFO BEBOP R464

BITTA BAMBO CKH PHNL

MAINT 3000 EXP REQ ALT 3 MIN AFT T/O

GND CTL FREQ 121.8 /DPTR CTL SEE SID

DO NOT EXCEED 250 KTS TIL ADVISED

CALL CLNC DEL 10 MIN PRIOR TO ENG START

END

------------[14/02/1996 09:08]

ACARS mode: 2 Aircraft reg: .N361UA

Message label: RA Block id: V Msg. no: QUAT

Flight id: CCDUA~

Message content:-

1DPTR CLRNC

FLT 2157-14 OAK - LAX

PDC NOT STORED IN

UNIMATIC-CONTACT

CLEARANCE DELIVERY

BY VOICE TO OBTAIN

PDC

ACARS mode: 2 Aircraft reg: .N1844U

Message label: RA Block id: J Msg. no: QUAT

Flight id: CCDUA~

Message content:-

1DPTR CLRNC

FLT 41-14 SFO - KOA

UAL41 KSFO

H/DC10/R P1715 RQ330

XPDR 3222

MAINT 3000 EXP REQ

ALT 3 MIN AFT T/O

GND CTL FREQ 121.8

/DPTR CTL SEE SID

DO NOT EXCEED 250 KTS

TIL ADVISED

CALL CLNC DEL 10 MIN

PRIOR TO ENG START

GAPP2 SFO BEBOP

KSFO BEBOP R464 BAKON

R464 BANDY R464 BITTA

PHKO

[04/04/1996 19:12]

ACARS mode: 2 Aircraft reg: .N650TW

Message label: C1 Block id: M Msg. no: .MKC

Flight id: CCTW 0

Message content:-

50012

AGM

AN .N650TW/GL JFK

- /- - P D C - - CAPTAINS COPY 05APR96/0012Z

TWA740 H/B767/R KJFK-EDDF 330 P0030

- - CLEARED AS FILED - -

ACK

KJFK BETTE1 BETTE***EDDF

@ICAO WHALE/N0468F370 B***

BETTE ONE DEPARTURE ACK TRANSITION

INITIAL HEADING 155

MAINT 5000 EXP REQSTD ALT 10MIN AFT DEP

DEPARTURE FREQUENCY 135.9

CONTACT GATE-HOLD 125.05

XPNDR 4065

[04/04/1996 19:28]

ACARS mode: 2 Aircraft reg: .N181DN

Message label: RA Block id: R Msg. no: QUAT

Flight id: LDDDL.

Message content:-

6PDC 0106 JFK FRA

***DATE/TIME OF PDC RECEIPT: 05APR 0004Z

• PREDEPARTURE CLEARANCE ****

EXPIRES 2 HRS AFTER SKED DEP TIME

DAL106 DEPARTING KJFK TRANSPONDER 4076

SKED DEP TIME 0035

EQUIP H/B767/R

FILED FLT LEVEL 330

****************************************

ACK

KJFK BETTE1 BETTE******EDDF

****************************************

BETTE ONE DEPARTURE, ACK TRANSITION

INITIAL HEADING 155

MAINT 5000 EXP REQSTD ALT 10MIN AFT

DEP DEPARTURE FREQUENCY 135.9

CONTACT GATE-HOLD 125.05

[04/04/1996 19:05]

ACARS mode: 2 Aircraft reg: .N391AA

Message label: 40 Block id: V Msg. no: FLIG

Flight id: HT 004

Message content:-

4/04 JFK -ORY

PDC

AAL44 XPNDR 1605 JFK

H/B767/R P0015 330

YAHOO

KJFK HAPIE1 HAPIE***LFPO

@ICAO RAFIN/M080F350 GU***

HAPIE ONE DEPARTURE, YAHOO TRANSITION

INIT IAL HEADING 155

MAINT 5000 EXP REQSTD ALT 10MIN AFT DEP

DEPARTURE FREQUENCY 135.9

CONTACT GATE-HOLD 125.05

ADVISE ON INITIAL CONTACT YOU HAVE ATIS

END

If you have any questions, please contact Nick

All data on this Wiki copyright Mark Avey unless otherwise stated.