(Stimbo) wrote in message . com...
What are the recommended procedures in obtaining an IFR clearance
enroute?

Ask .

More specifically: it helps ATC if your info is in the system. The
more info in the system, the more it helps.

Officially, the way to obtain an IFR clearance enroute is to contact
FSS in the air, file an IFR flight plan with them from some point
your route will cross (navaid, intersection, airport) to your
destination, request the correct facility and freq. to contact ATC
if you don't know.

Then call up ATC. Advice about what exactly to say varies. I'd
go with something like: "Bigfish Center, Piper 12345, request IFR
clearance". That's who I wanna talk to, who I am, what I want,
and where I rank on the controller's duty priority (he's not already
working me IFR). I'm skipping where I am, what altitude, and where
I'm going; I'll provide all that when he gets back to me.

This is basically the same procedure as when you file on the ground
with FSS, depart from a non-towered airport VFR and request your
IFR clearance once airborne.

Practically speaking, if we have filed a VFR flight plan and are
receiving flight following from ATC, when we've requested an IFR
clearance the conversation has gone something like this: "Bigfish
Center, Piper 1234, request IFR clearance to Podunk" "Piper 1234,
do you have a VFR flight plan on file?" "Affirmative, Piper 1234"
"Piper 1234, you are cleared from present position to Podunk
via (route), climb and maintain X thousand". The skinny is, when
I'm receiving ff from center, I'm already in the ATC computer
system with much of the info the controller needs. He wants to
know if the rest of my info (needed for SAR purposes) is in the
FSS system. I tell him it is, he types whatever he needs to switch
me to a hard IFR altitude and an IFR flight plan, and we're good
to go.

Important: note that if you have a VFR flight plan open and request
IFR, *you still have a VFR flight plan open* and must close it with
FSS (either request of ATC to change freq to FSS, or close it on
the ground).

Personal anecdote: we've gotten "dropped" from the system twice
while flying IFR. Both times, we had requested a pop-up clearance
while receiving ff from the *previous* ATC facility. At a hunch,
something didn't get changed correctly. So beware...be prepared
to stuff yourself back into the system if need be.

Another opinion: it is the view of my very experienced CFI that
if the weather is deteriorating enough to request an IFR clearance,
safety is best served by landing, getting a thorough briefing,
filing, and taking off again, especially if you are single-pilot.
A point worth considering IMHO.


Flying from NJ to FL, I prefer to fly VFR, but undoubtedly I will
encounter IMC along the way. If I filed IFR in advance, it takes 1/2
hour or more to clear it through ATC.

I've never had it take 1/2 hr to receive a clearance airborne (but
for that matter, I've seldom had it take that long to receive a
clearance on the ground). Sometimes you need to negotiate. For
example if you're below radar coverage, you can request a clearance
to some nearby navaid, in order to be able to climb and get radar
identified without ATC having to work a large block of airspace under
non-radar rules.

Is there an "acceptable" procedure enroute if I start seeing a cumulus
build-up in front of me?

I'm not sure what you mean by cumulus build-up, but if t-storms are
a possibility, personally I really want to remain VFR. Especially if
building cumulus weren't in the forcast enough for me to plan and
file IFR on the ground, I want a very good picture of what's going
on ahead of me before I turn myself over to ATC to get vectored around
in the clouds. Maybe it's just me, but when we're flying along in a
cloud, peaceful and happy with the wx briefing we received, nothing
gets my attention (and makes the hair on the back of my neck stand
up) like hearing other planes on freq. requesting to divert or
other indications of convective weather.

Do I file with FSS and wait 1/2 hour before I open with Center?

File with FSS but don't wait to contact Center. If you wait, you
may be in different airspace and they won't have access to your
flightplan.

Can I file directly
with Center? Is this idea generally "frowned upon" by ATC?

You CAN file directly with Center, but if they're busy, it's a
PITA for them. If you're already "in the system" getting ff, and
your SAR info is already on file, it's much easier for them and
they may take you directly.

HTH,
Sydney