The FAA plans to begin releasing its new Mobile Clearance tool for general and business aviation pilots next month following operational evaluations in Houston in May, the agency said today. Mobile Clearance allows pilots to request and receive IFR departure clearances using the ForeFlight and Garmin Pilot electronic flight bag apps.
First deployments will be at the evaluation sites, which include Appleton International Airport (KATW) in Wisconsin and New Century AirCenter (KIXD) in Olathe, Kansas. The FAA plans to add Kansas City, Missouri; Nashville, Tennessee; and Austin, Texas, in the fourth quarter, followed by nationwide deployment to 300 airports that don't have pre-departure clearance services next year. Some of the facilities receiving Mobile Clearance will include FAA Tracons. Mobile Clearance will also work a non-tower airports, although IFR releases won't initially be available without a tower to manage that process.
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