Is tower enroute still a thing?

[RobertGary1]

I used to frequently get ter clearances for airports around the area. Today with vis 2 miles in smoke I asked tower for a ter to an airport 10 miles away. The controller didn’t seem to know what it was and said I’d have to file through Fss. I was able to do that at the runup in foreflight on my iPad but what happened to the quick east ter clearance ? 

[Mooney Dog]

I had to look up what a TEC route was cause of this. TIL. 

 

It looks like foreflight put out a thing in 2019 about finding them in the A/FD, but honestly ive never heard of them and would wager they probably arnt used much anymore with the advance of ipad style EFBs and electronic filings. The only other information i can find about them is they where used in the SoCal area. 

https://support.foreflight.com/hc/en-us/articles/204023295-Where-can-I-find-Terminal-Enroute-Control-TEC-routes-

 

It appears you can search and get a list of certain TEC routes here as well.

https://www.fly.faa.gov/rmt/nfdc_preferred_routes_database.jsp

Edited August 28, 2021 by Mooney Dog
Added information

[Skates97]

I think it depends on where you are flying. As @Mooney Dog said, here in SoCal you use them.

[carusoam]

Back in the day when we used the A/FD…

The TEC was pronounced Tech Route…

How many ways did you try to pronounce it?

PP guessing only, by the time I got the IR, the A/FD was dead…. iPads were on version one….

Best regards,

-a-

[ilovecornfields]

Maybe I’m confused but I thought TEC routes (published standard routes between two  airports) and tower-to-tower clearances were two different things.

As others have pointed out, the TEC routes are quite commonly used, especially in Southern CA and provide standard and predictable ways to go between two airports and in ForeFlight you can just file the TEC route “KSMX SBAP42 KHHR.”

I have a vague memory (like over 25 years ago) of requesting a “tower-to-tower” IFR clearance which was basically an on-the-fly clearance from one tower to another without involving anyone else in the NAS. The tower at your departure airport would basically coordinate with your arrival airport (close by) and give you a route. I’ve done it VFR recently but I don’t think I’ve tried to do it IFR in a long time.

Maybe one of the CA CFIs can clarify if there’s a difference or if I’m just confused.

[midlifeflyer]

8 hours ago, ilovecornfields said:

Maybe I’m confused but I thought TEC routes (published standard routes between two  airports) and tower-to-tower clearances were two different things.

As others have pointed out, the TEC routes are quite commonly used, especially in Southern CA and provide standard and predictable ways to go between two airports and in ForeFlight you can just file the TEC route “KSMX SBAP42 KHHR.”

I have a vague memory (like over 25 years ago) of requesting a “tower-to-tower” IFR clearance which was basically an on-the-fly clearance from one tower to another without involving anyone else in the NAS. The tower at your departure airport would basically coordinate with your arrival airport (close by) and give you a route. I’ve done it VFR recently but I don’t think I’ve tried to do it IFR in a long time.

Maybe one of the CA CFIs can clarify if there’s a difference or if I’m just confused.

The difference is usage. As far back as I can remember (1991 or 1992), TEC routes were a form of preferred IFR routing between airport pairs in which you remained in TRACON airspace and never spoke to Center. They were and are published in the Chart Supplement in the same area as the full preferred routes. Some are pretty lengthy.

They exist in the northeast, NorCal and SoCal. The difference is usage. They are coded - given alphanumeric names -  in NorCal and SoCal. They are not coded in the northeast. In the northeast, the TECs are a guide to what will probably work but you file the full routing just like any other IFR flight plan. In SoCal, you can pick up TEC routes with or without filing and can ask for them by name. From what I e seen from others, in NorCal it's a bit of a mixed bag. 
 

I don't know of anywhere you would actually go tower to tower without ever speaking to Approach which controls approach airspace.

[MikeOH]

My only experience with tower enroute is SoCal.  I really like it.  I can just call ground/CD and ask for tower enroute to where I want (within SoCal TRACON's airspace, of course).  In a few minutes I get a clearance and squawk.  No need to file or even use the route name.

But, as midlifeflyer says, you will be talking to approach (TRACON).

[frcabot]

17 hours ago, RobertGary1 said:

I used to frequently get ter clearances for airports around the area. Today with vis 2 miles in smoke I asked tower for a ter to an airport 10 miles away. The controller didn’t seem to know what it was and said I’d have to file through Fss. I was able to do that at the runup in foreflight on my iPad but what happened to the quick east ter clearance ? 

Might help to know where you're located. TEC routes are still a thing, they're listed in the A/FD Supplements I believe. And yes, they are in Foreflight. The SoCal preferred TEC routes are here https://myflightroute.com/inputtec.php

If you use the online AFSS, you can also search for TEC routes. You can also search here (omit the K from the origin and destination airports) https://www.fly.faa.gov/rmt/nfdc_preferred_routes_database.jsp Most Mooneys use the Q routes (non-jet, cruising speed 189 kts or less). If your cruising speed is over 189, then you're a P. P routes and Q routes are (nearly?) always the same -- I have yet to find routes that aren't labeled PQ (for both P and Q categories).

If you're filing IFR in the SoCal region, you will frequently be given a TEC. For flights between San Diego and LA area, I am always assigned to a TEC.

Edited August 28, 2021 by frcabot