Definition
An IFR clearance issued to a departing aircraft that authorizes flight only as far as a specified intermediate fix, point, or altitude, rather than all the way to the destination. The pilot is expected to receive the remainder of the route clearance from ATC before reaching the limit of the short-range clearance.
Plain English
A partial IFR clearance that lets you depart and fly to a specific point along your route. The rest of your clearance to your destination will come later from ATC, before you get to that point.
Context Anchor
Used when departing under instrument flight rules from an airport without an operating control tower, especially when the full route clearance is not issued before takeoff.
Derivation
Short-range' simply means 'covering a limited distance.' The clearance is short in reach -- it gets you started but doesn't take you all the way.
Why Pilots Care
Enables legal IFR departure into IMC when full clearance is unavailable at the airport, maintaining separation and safety.
Intuition Check
Short-range does not mean informal, optional, or less official. It means the clearance is real, but its reach is limited.
Example Sentence 1
Departing IFR from the uncontrolled field, the pilot was issued a short-range clearance to the VOR, with further routing to be received en route.
Example Sentence 2
With no tower available, ATC provided a short-range clearance allowing the aircraft to climb into the clouds before receiving the full IFR routing.