If a departure from a secondary airport is issued a final altitude or routing different from what was requested, what must be done prior to track acquisition?

• A. The flight plan must be updated.
• B. The aircraft must be refiled.
• C. The flight plan must be closed.
• D. The route must be revalidated in the system.

Answer: (A)

When ATC clears a departure with a final altitude or routing that differs from what was filed, the flight plan in the system must be updated before the track is acquired. The flight plan contains the route and altitude the system uses to build and monitor the aircraft’s track, so reflecting the actual clearance ensures the ERAM track matches the aircraft’s real path. This alignment is essential for correct sequencing, separation, and conflict detection. If the plan isn’t updated, the system would be working off outdated data, risking mis-tracking and coordination issues. Refiling, closing, or simply revalidating the plan wouldn’t automatically apply the clearance to the active track in the same way, so updating the flight plan is the necessary step before track acquisition.