4-2-5

Route or Altitude Amendments

JO 7110.65BB, Change 3, effective July 9, 2026 · Official text on faa.gov

Amend route of flight in a previously issued clearance by one of the following:
1. State which portion of the route is being amended and then state the amendment.
  Phraseology
  
  CHANGE (portion of route) TO READ (new portion of route).
2. State the amendment to the route and then state that the rest of the route is unchanged.
  Phraseology
  
  (Amendment to route), REST OF ROUTE UNCHANGED.
3. Issue a clearance “direct” to a point on the previously issued route.
  Phraseology
  
  CLEARED DIRECT (fix, waypoint).
  Or
  CLEARED DIRECT (destination) AIRPORT.
  
  Note
  
  Clearances authorizing “direct” to a point on a previously issued route do not require the phrase “rest of route unchanged.” However, it must be understood where the previously cleared route is resumed. When necessary, “rest of route unchanged” may be used to clarify routing.
4. Issue the entire route by stating the amendment.
  Example
  (Cessna 21A has been cleared to the Airville Airport via V41 Delta VOR V174 Alfa VOR, direct Airville Airport, maintain 9000. After takeoff, the aircraft is rerouted via V41 Frank intersection, V71 Delta VOR, V174 Alfa VOR. The controller issues one of the following as an amended clearance):
  1. “Cessna Two One Alfa change Victor Forty-One Delta to read Victor Forty-One Frank, Victor Seventy-One Delta.”
  2. “Cessna Two One Alfa cleared via Victor Forty-One Frank, Victor Seventy-One Delta, rest of route unchanged.”
  3. “Cessna Two One Alfa cleared via Victor Forty-One Frank, Victor Seventy-One Delta, Victor One Seventy-Four Alfa V-O-R, direct Airville airport, maintain Niner Thousand.”
When route or altitude in a previously issued clearance is amended, restate all applicable altitude restrictions.
Example
1. (A departing aircraft is cleared to cross Ollis intersection at or above 3,000; Gordonsville VOR at or above 12,000; maintain FL 200. Shortly after departure the altitude to be maintained is changed to FL 240. Because altitude restrictions remain in effect, the controller issues an amended clearance as follows):
  “Amend altitude. Cross Ollis intersection at or above Three Thousand; cross Gordonsville V-O-R at or above One Two Thousand; maintain Flight Level Two Four Zero.”
  (Shortly after departure, altitude restrictions are no longer applicable, the controller issues an amended clearance as follows):
  “Climb and maintain Flight Level Two Four Zero.”
2. (An aircraft is cleared to climb via a SID with published altitude restrictions. Shortly after departure the top altitude is changed to FL 230 and compliance with the altitude restrictions is still required, the controller issues an amended clearance as follows):“Climb via SID except maintain Flight Level Two Three Zero.”
Note
1. Restating previously issued altitude to “maintain” is an amended clearance. If altitude to “maintain” is changed or restated, whether prior to departure or while airborne and previously issued altitude restrictions are omitted, altitude restrictions are canceled, including SID/STAR altitude restrictions if any.
2. Crossing altitudes and speed restrictions on Obstacle Departure Procedure/s (ODP/s) cannot be canceled or amended by ATC.
Issue an amended clearance if a speed restriction is declined because it cannot be complied with concurrently with a previously issued altitude restriction.
Example

(An aircraft is cleared to cross Gordonsville VOR at 11,000. Shortly thereafter he/she is cleared to reduce his/her airspeed to 300 knots. The pilot informs the controller he/she is unable to comply with both clearances simultaneously. The controller issues an amended clearance as follows):
“Cross Gordonsville VOR at One One Thousand. Then, reduce speed to Three Zero Zero.”

Note

The phrase “do the best you can” or comparable phrases are not valid substitutes for an amended clearance with altitude or speed restrictions.

Reference

FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 2-1-18, Operational Requests.
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Section 6, Vectoring, Para 5-6-2, Methods.
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Section 7, Speed Adjustment, Para 5-7-2, Methods.
Air traffic control specialists should avoid route and/or altitude changes for aircraft participating in the North American Route Program (NRP) and that are displaying “NRP” in the remarks section of their flight plan.
Note

Air traffic control specialists retain the latitude necessary to tactically resolve conflicts. Every effort should be made to ensure the aircraft is returned to the original filed flight plan/altitude as soon as conditions warrant.

Reference

FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 2-1-4, Operational Priority.
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 2-2-15, North American Route Program (NRP) Information.
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 2-3-2, En Route Data Entries.
FAA Order JO 7210.3, Chapter 18, Section 17, North American Route Program.