Which clearance is generally the initial clearance for the pilot?

The initial clearance for a pilot is typically the departure clearance. This clearance serves as the pilot’s authorization to begin the flight, which includes important information such as the assigned departure route and squawk code for the transponder. The departure clearance is crucial for ensuring that the flight operates within the air traffic control (ATC) system, allowing for safe coordination between multiple aircraft, especially during takeoff and initial climb phases.

In contrast, landing clearance is issued when an aircraft approaches its destination and is prepared to land, taxi clearance allows a pilot to move the aircraft on the ground after they have landed or before takeoff, and flight plan clearance is not a standard term used in aviation to describe a pilot's initial interaction with air traffic control. Each of these clearances takes place at different stages of the flight process, making departure clearance the first of the relevant clearances a pilot will receive prior to taking off.