Definition
The time at which a pilot in a holding pattern can expect to receive a clearance to leave the holding fix and continue on their route. It is issued by ATC so that the pilot has a planned departure time from the hold and a reference point in the event of two-way radio communications failure.
Plain English
The time ATC tells you to expect to be released from holding and cleared to continue your flight. If your radios fail while holding, you leave the hold at this time.
Context Anchor
You encounter this in instrument holding instructions, especially when ATC needs you to wait at a fix before continuing.
Derivation
“Clearance” comes from “clear,” meaning free or unobstructed. In aviation, a clearance is ATC permission to do something, so an expect further clearance time points to when that next permission is expected.
Why Pilots Care
Allows pilots to plan fuel reserves and manage expectations instead of holding indefinitely.
Intuition Check
Do not treat the expect further clearance time as automatic permission to leave the hold during normal radio contact. It is the time you expect the next ATC instruction; if communications fail, it becomes an important time reference for your next action.
Example Sentence 1
ATC instructed the pilot to hold east of the fix and gave an expect further clearance time of 1845Z.
Example Sentence 2
We monitored the expect further clearance time closely to ensure we had enough fuel remaining.