Narrative:

Foreign air carrier receives clearance delivery electronically via ACARS. We do not have a requirement to 'call to confirm.' on this day the pilot called to confirm 'molen 3 departure eni transition.' that is what his company filed. The problem was that above the company requested route is the preferential departure route. Example: MOLEN3.molen amakr -- preferential departure route to join flight plan, sfo molen 3 eni amakr.1.vhhh. I informed the pilot that there is not a requirement to contact clearance delivery once pre departure clearance is received, however, on this occasion he avoided a pilot deviation by doing so. International flight crews need to be trained and refreshed if they have not flown into the USA in awhile.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SFO TWR CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING FOREIGN ACR'S INTERP OF PDC CLRNC PROCS.

Narrative: FOREIGN ACR RECEIVES CLRNC DELIVERY ELECTRONICALLY VIA ACARS. WE DO NOT HAVE A REQUIREMENT TO 'CALL TO CONFIRM.' ON THIS DAY THE PLT CALLED TO CONFIRM 'MOLEN 3 DEP ENI TRANSITION.' THAT IS WHAT HIS COMPANY FILED. THE PROB WAS THAT ABOVE THE COMPANY REQUESTED RTE IS THE PREFERENTIAL DEP RTE. EXAMPLE: MOLEN3.MOLEN AMAKR -- PREFERENTIAL DEP RTE TO JOIN FLT PLAN, SFO MOLEN 3 ENI AMAKR.1.VHHH. I INFORMED THE PLT THAT THERE IS NOT A REQUIREMENT TO CONTACT CLRNC DELIVERY ONCE PDC IS RECEIVED, HOWEVER, ON THIS OCCASION HE AVOIDED A PLTDEV BY DOING SO. INTL FLT CREWS NEED TO BE TRAINED AND REFRESHED IF THEY HAVE NOT FLOWN INTO THE USA IN AWHILE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.