What is a clearance limit?

What is a clearance limit?

• A. The requested altitude for cruising flight.
• B. The squawk code assigned by ATC.
• C. The last navigational point or fix specified in the clearance; aircraft must not proceed beyond it until further clearance is issued.
• D. The maximum permissible airspeed in the vicinity.

Answer: (C)

A clearance limit is the farthest point covered by an ATC clearance—the last navigational point or fix specified in the clearance. The aircraft must not proceed beyond that point until further clearance is issued. This boundary helps controllers manage where an aircraft is allowed to operate, especially when entering or transitioning through different airspace or sectors. So, for example, if you’re cleared to fly to a certain fix but not beyond it, your route is officially authorized only up to that fix. You’d need additional clearance to continue past it. This is different from cruising altitude (which is an altitude instruction), a squawk code (which is a radar transponder code), or an airspeed limit (which governs speed, not the limit of where you may fly).

A clearance limit is the farthest point covered by an ATC clearance—the last navigational point or fix specified in the clearance. The aircraft must not proceed beyond that point until further clearance is issued. This boundary helps controllers manage where an aircraft is allowed to operate, especially when entering or transitioning through different airspace or sectors.

So, for example, if you’re cleared to fly to a certain fix but not beyond it, your route is officially authorized only up to that fix. You’d need additional clearance to continue past it. This is different from cruising altitude (which is an altitude instruction), a squawk code (which is a radar transponder code), or an airspeed limit (which governs speed, not the limit of where you may fly).