Are students allowed to clear departures out of the Departure List? If not, what must be done before issuing clearance?

• A. Students are not allowed to clear departures out of the Departure List; the strip must be placed in the bay prior to issuing the clearance.
• B. Students may clear departures from the Departure List before placing the strip in the bay.
• C. Clearances can be issued before placing the strip in the bay.
• D. The Departure List is not used during EDST operations.

Answer: (A)

In EDST operations, clearance is issued only after a physical cue confirms the departure is ready. Placing the departure strip in the bay creates that signal and aligns the Departure List with the actual flight flow. This sequencing ensures proper timing, accountability, and coordination with the rest of the operation. Clearing departures directly from the Departure List without the strip in the bay bypasses this control step and can lead to premature or unsafe clearances. The Departure List is an active part of EDST workflow, so saying it isn’t used isn’t accurate. Therefore, the correct practice is to place the strip in the bay before issuing any clearance.