When is a departure strip deadwood?

• A. A departure strip is deadwood after landing.
• B. A departure strip is deadwood when the aircraft is radar identified and the blocked airspace cancelled (if needed).
• C. A departure strip is deadwood when the EDST readout is updated.
• D. A departure strip is deadwood when the pilot requests VFR advisories.

Answer: (B)

The departure strip becomes deadwood when there is positive radar identification of the aircraft and any previously blocked airspace is cancelled. Positive radar identification confirms the aircraft’s exact position and identity, so the controller can stop relying on the departure strip for tracking that flight. If the blocked airspace that affected the departure is no longer in effect, there’s no further coordination needed for that strip, allowing it to be retired from active status. This combination—being radar identified and the airspace constraint cleared—signals that the strip no longer requires active monitoring. After landing, routine EDST updates, or the pilot requesting VFR advisories do not by themselves indicate that the departure strip is no longer needed in the system.