Definition
Authorizations issued by Air Traffic Control (ATC) directing a pilot to leave a current altitude and proceed downward to a specified altitude, often with conditions such as a crossing restriction, a target rate of descent, or a specific point at which the descent must begin or end.
Plain English
Permission from ATC to come down from your current altitude to a lower one, sometimes with rules about where, when, or how fast to do it.
Context Anchor
You encounter descent clearances during IFR flights when ATC assigns lower altitudes, clears you on an arrival, or clears you for an instrument approach.
Derivation
Descent comes from words meaning “to climb down” or “go down.” Clearance comes from “clear,” meaning free or approved for action. In aviation, the phrase points to approved permission to move downward from one altitude to another under specific limits.
Why Pilots Care
Following descent clearances maintains safe separation from terrain, obstacles, and other aircraft.
Intuition Check
Do not assume a descent clearance means “go down however you want.” It means you may descend only within the limits ATC or the published procedure gives you.
Example Sentence 1
Center issued a descent clearance to cross JOLLY at or above 10,000 feet.
Example Sentence 2
Before starting down, the pilot read back the descent clearance to confirm the assigned altitude.