Onward Clearance Time (OCT)

In the event some aircraft are being held at BT NDB or TF NDB, the aircraft concerned shall, as soon as practicable, be given an expected onward clearance time. The aircraft shall also be advised if further holding at subsequent holding points is expected.

Note 1.— OCT is the time at which an aircraft can expect to leave the point at which it is being held (feeder point);

Note 2.— The actual time of leaving the holding fix will depend upon the approach clearance;

OCT is issued to ;

a) enable the pilot-in-command to determine whether to divert without delay or to hold;

b) enable the pilot-in-command to decide whether to absorb a specified period of notified terminal delay by cruising at reduced speed en-route or not;

c) form a basis on which action subsequent to a radio failure will be adopted.

Note.— The example of OCT calculation : GIA 240 (aircraft number 6 in the approach sequence) is held over TF NDB maintain 5 000 ft.; Elapsed time from TF NDB to BTF VOR/DME is 9 minutes; EAT aircraft number 5 is 0625; ATI : 6 minutes. The EAT for GIA 240 = 0625 + 6 = 0631. The onward clearance time for GIA 240 will be 0631 - 9 minutes = 0622 (see figure 12 below).

In case GIA 240 experiences communication failure and it got OCT, GIA 240 will leave TF NDB maintaining 6000 (for example)at 0623

Figure 12 Oct Calculation