What is an example of the phraseology used for an abbreviated departure clearance?

• A. CLEARED TO DUPAGE COUNTY AIRPORT VIA FLIGHT PLAN ROUTE, MAINTAIN ONE ONE THOUSAND
• B. CLEARED VIA FLIGHT PLAN ROUTE TO DUPAGE COUNTY AIRPORT, MAINTAIN ONE ONE THOUSAND
• C. CLEARED TO DUPAGE COUNTY AIRPORT AS FILED. MAINTAIN ONE ONE THOUSAND
• D. CLEARED AS FILED TO DUPAGE COUNTY AIRPORT, MAINTAIN ONE ONE THOUSAND

Answer: (C)

Abbreviated departure clearances save radio time by relying on the flight plan for routing and just giving the essential parts of the clearance. The best example uses “as filed” to tell you to follow the route exactly as it’s in your filed flight plan, while still giving the altitude to maintain.

So, cleared to the destination AS FILED means you will fly the route already approved in your flight plan, without needing ATC to spell out every turn. Maintaining 11,000 feet is the altitude instruction that accompanies the clearance.

The other phrasings would require ATC to specify or repeat routing details rather than referencing the filed plan, which is more verbose than an abbreviated clearance.