Definition
An ATC phrase used to remove previously issued altitude crossing or step-down restrictions on a Standard Instrument Departure (SID), Standard Terminal Arrival (STAR), or other published or assigned procedure. Once issued, the pilot is no longer required to comply with those altitude restrictions and may climb or descend at pilot's discretion to the assigned altitude, while still complying with any lateral routing of the procedure.
Plain English
ATC is telling you to ignore the published or earlier-assigned altitude steps on the procedure you're flying. You only need to make the assigned altitude — when and how you get there is up to you. The route itself still applies.
Context Anchor
Heard in air traffic control clearances during climbs, descents, departures, arrivals, or route changes where altitude limits had already been assigned or published.
Why Pilots Care
Allows a more efficient climb or descent profile without having to level off at previously assigned crossing altitudes.
Grounding Statement
Only the altitude limits are removed; the rest of the clearance remains in effect unless the controller changes it.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as canceling the whole clearance. It cancels only the altitude restrictions, not the route, heading, speed, or final altitude unless the controller says so.
Example Sentence 1
After takeoff, departure called 'Climb and maintain one-zero thousand, altitude restrictions are canceled,' so we climbed continuously instead of leveling at each SID step.
Example Sentence 2
ATC canceled the altitude restrictions so the aircraft could descend directly without intermediate level-offs.