Among the various thoughts that run through our minds--"How long will this delay me?" or, "What did I do to anger this controller?"--we may also wonder exactly why we're getting an
amended clearance.
"Approach, N123AB is missing off the RNAV 36, circle 27." ATC should remember they need to provide an
amended clearance. If not, just ask, "Request missed approach guidance."
AIM 4-4-10 says, "When air traffic clearance has been obtained under either visual or instrument flight rules, the pilot-in-command of the aircraft must not deviate from the provisions thereof unless an
amended clearance is obtained.
FAR 91.123 tells us pilots are permitted to deviate from an ATC clearance when "an
amended clearance is obtained, an emergency exists, or the deviation is in response to a traffic alert and collision avoidance system resolution advisory." Deviation around storms (or vertical clouds) does not constitute an emergency, nor (of course) is it the result of a collision warning.
Remember, I've already given the Cirrus his
amended clearance. I note that he's begun his turn to the new next fix.
Amended Clearance: Among the six words most dreaded in the IFR cockpit are "stand by to copy
amended clearance." That means your best-laid plans are out and ATC's new plans are in.
While south bound and casually monitoring the center, I picked up the tail end of an
amended clearance, "...
Better yet, include the T-route entry and exit fixes in your flight plan, so you won't have to scramble to load it into your GPS when given an
amended clearance in flight.
In response to "Filing for a Lat/Long" in January 2012 edition of IFR: Would it not be simpler to use the OBS mode of the Garmin GNS530W to fly the PMM radial in the
amended clearance?
You're flying the
amended clearance you received on the ground at LVK and are just past the Manteca VOR when your headset falls apart.
FAR 91.123(a) says: "When an ATC clearance has been obtained, no pilot in command may deviate from that clearance unless an
amended clearance is obtained, an emergency exists, or the deviation is in response to a TCAS resolution advisory ..."
You might request an
amended clearance to some higher altitude, or you might have to contend with a new route, which you're expected to be able to copy and read back, all while you're still climbing in the soup.