What term describes a departure time restriction issued by ATC to separate a departing aircraft from other traffic?

• A. HFR
• B. Release time
• C. Clearance void time
• D. Departure restriction

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is how ATC uses a specific time to control when a departure can occur in order to keep proper separation from other traffic. The term released for this purpose is release time—the exact moment ATC intends the aircraft to depart so it can be sequenced smoothly with other flights on the departure path. It provides a concrete departure deadline that helps manage spacing ahead of runway operations and in the air.

This is different from a clearance void time, which is simply the time after which a previously issued clearance becomes invalid if the aircraft hasn’t complied, not a scheduled departure time. It’s also not a generic “departure restriction,” which would be vague and not specify a concrete moment to depart. HFR isn’t a standard term used for separation timing.