For GNSS-equipped aircraft, clearance off the airport via a point-to-point route is permissible if the points are published NAVAIDS, waypoints, fixes, or airports. Which option correctly states this rule?

• A. Only if the points are conceptual
• B. Published NAVAIDS, waypoints, fixes, or airports
• C. Only if provided by the pilot
• D. Only within a single sector.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that a GNSS-equipped aircraft can be cleared onto a point-to-point route only when the intermediate points are those already published in the navigation database. Using published NAVAIDs (like VORs or VOR/DME), published waypoints or fixes, or other published airports gives ATC and the flight management system a fixed, verifiable path that both sides recognize. This ensures the clearance is clear, traceable, and safe because all points are defined and approved in advance.

Why the other ideas don’t fit: relying on conceptual points means there’s no official reference in the navigation data, which would create ambiguity and reduce reliability. Points provided by the pilot are not part of the standardized, published routing and therefore aren’t acceptable for an approved clearance. The restriction about staying within a single sector isn’t related to whether the points are published; the rule focuses on the nature of the points themselves, not the airspace segment.