How to retrieve a Mobile IFR Clearance using Garmin Pilot

A new system unveiled at Oshkosh this summer lets pilots skip the call to Clearance Delivery and request an IFR clearance right from a compatible aviation app. Both ForeFlight and Garmin Pilot support this feature, and as of August 1, 2026, Mobile Clearances are available at 5 airports:

• Appleton Airport, WI (KATD)
• New Century Airport, KS (KIXD)
• David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport, TX (KDWH)
• Sugar Land Regional Airport, TX (KSGR)
• Galveston Airport, TX (KGLS)

Here’s how it works in Garmin Pilot:

While the FAA Mobile Clearance program is officially live now, it is still in an evaluation period, as FAA and app developers collect real-world data to continue improving the system. The FAA plans to end this evaluation in early 2027 and transition to deployment of the final product, making it available at the airports shown with light blue rings over the next several years.

Here’s how this feature works in ForeFlight

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Bret Koebbe

Bret is a senior vice president at Sporty's and senior flight instructor for Sporty's Academy. In addition to Bret's teaching responsibilities, Bret leads Sporty's video production and app development team and serves as editor of iPad Pilot News. As an airline transport pilot, Bret is a senior captain in Sporty's corporate flight department.

Latest posts by Bret Koebbe (see all)

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