When should departure clearances be issued during ground delays?

Issuing departure clearances in the order of original requests made, if practicable, ensures an orderly and fair approach to managing departures during ground delays. This method prioritizes the sequence in which pilots have communicated their intentions to depart, creating predictability and helping to maintain efficient flow management.

By adhering to the original request order, air traffic control (ATC) can manage the situation based on established expectations of the pilots, allowing for an organized and systematic processing of departures. This approach can minimize confusion and ensure that all crews are treated equitably and informed, particularly in a high-stress environment that often accompanies ground delays.

While factors like aircraft size and fuel status are certainly considerations in overall operational efficiency and safety, they are secondary when it comes to the priority sequence of issuing clearances. Similarly, using the order of arrival at the gate would not be optimal since such an approach could disrupt the well-established communication and planning protocols among pilots and ground controllers.