Expected Further Clearance Time

Expected Further Clearance (EFC) time is the time at which a pilot can expect to receive a clearance beyond a clearance limit. It is issued by ATC when a delay is expected and the aircraft must hold at a fix. The EFC time is critical for lost-communications planning — if radio contact is lost before the EFC, the pilot departs the holding fix at the EFC time.

Lost Communications at a Clearance Limit

If radio communications are lost while holding at a clearance limit with an EFC time issued: hold until the EFC time, then proceed to the destination via the filed route, fly the approach, and land. The sequence: arrive at EFC, continue to destination, fly the expected approach (the approach you were told to expect), land.

Related Terms

See also: Expected Approach Time, Clearance Limit, IFR.