This has come up a number times; most recently here
I am referring to a clearance to enter controlled airspace on something like the filed route, not just a transponder code etc.
Which countries is this possible in, what are the contact numbers, and how is the time slot handled? Obviously the clearance must be time-limited, like they do in the USA.
When you say on the ground, do you also include “over the radio, on the ground” or just phone (/other system)?
I’ve had such IFR clearances from pretty much all my IFR departures from french ATC airfields. As I remember, they generally ask to tell them when 3 min before ready for departure.
Last time in Nimes, I was getting a bit late, and the controller told me I’d have to be airporne by XX which was the limit of my clearance.
If you can reach an IFR controller via the radio while still parked at an airport where the tower is empty, that is too easy 
Say, departing St Yan, you would need to reach presumably Clermont or Lyon, neither of which is likely IME
And if the non-ATC person in the tower can relay such a clearance, that’s great. It’s not possible in the UK.
If there is a general phone method, that would be useful to know about.
In Troyes (LFQB) you can get your departure clearance on the ground from the Paris Approach frequency.
In Pontoise (LFPT) a NOTAM was recently published containing a phone number for obtaining the departure clearance by phone from De Gaulle outside of the LFPT opening hours.
Other places in France you need to plan ahead for example by contacting tower during opening hours and ask them how to proceed (they may give you the phone number of the overlying approach facility).
Peter wrote:
If you can reach an IFR controller via the radio while still parked at an airport where the tower is empty, that is too easy
I meant the person in the tower of the airfield.
I forgot exact clearances I would get but out of Toussus, for instance, i’m pretty sure I got a clearance into CAS, via the SID, from the tower. I don’t remember if it was to destination or not.
Peter wrote:
I am referring to a clearance to enter controlled airspace on something like the filed route, not just a transponder code etc.
That’s exactly what I’m saying.
When departing an AFIS airport in Sweden, the AFISO will give you a complete IFR route clearance, to the destination, authorising entry into controlled airspace, obtained by telephone from the ACC.
This is not difficult if the various ATS units coordinate in a sensible way.
Peter wrote:
Which countries is this possible in
Germany.
…what are the contact numbers
You call the airfield operator via radio (flying is not allowed here without a radio operator). He will do the necessary phonecalls and forward the clearance to you.
and how is the time slot handled?
No idea. That’s nothing we normally need to worry about, it’s negotiated between the airfield radio operator and the center he calls by phone.
Noe wrote:
I meant the person in the tower of the airfield.
I took it to mean you wondered how to obtain the clearance when there is nobody in the tower, whether controlled of AFIS.
Well, in most of Europe, you obtain it from TWR or AFIS. If the airport is unmanned, mileage varies as previously explained.
Noe wrote:
I forgot exact clearances I would get but out of Toussus, for instance, i’m pretty sure I got a clearance into CAS, via the SID, from the tower. I don’t remember if it was to destination or not.
In France, or any other place in Europe outside the UK, an IFR clearance implicitly includes entry into controlled airspace. You will never hear an IFR flight be cleared into class E, D or A airspace in France From Toussus you would not explicitly be cleared to destination. You will only get a clearance that allows you to reach the first point of the en-route portion of your FPL. In other countries you will receive an explicit “cleared to destination” or “cleared to XXXX via DEP then flight planned route”
From Toussus you would not explicitly be cleared to destination. You will only get a clearance that allows you to reach the first point of the en-route portion of your FPL
That conflicts with some of the previous replies
Anyway, I can see that Paris is well organised because they don’t want somebody just popping up (but even there you don’t get a full clearance, it seems). But how would one do it in the St Yan case I posted?
