Founder · Editor · Builder
I’m TW Olson, founder of Cleared for Departure — a travel publication and the intelligence platforms behind it.
CFD is built for people who plan carefully: practical guidance, destination intelligence, and tools for relocation and cross-border living — all aimed at turning complicated travel information into something you can use.
Background
For more than two decades I’ve worked across technology, design, publishing, and digital media — creative direction, product design, photography, and software that makes complex information easier to navigate. Cleared for Departure is where that practice meets travel.
Platforms
Alongside the site, I design travel-intelligence products under Rightway Media — scoring frameworks, mobility tools, editorial systems, and native apps for travelers building lives across borders.
Livability index
E.L.F. — Expat Livability Framework
The editorial scoring system behind CFD’s location pages and destination atlas. Walkable, car-light European cities share one 0–100 rubric across nine dimensions — comparable, source-backed, and explainable. Explore it on the Europe Expat Livability Framework page. Editorial estimates only — not housing, immigration, tax, or financial advice.
Mobility planning
X-Pat-Pro
A privacy-first mobility planner for cross-border life: visa rules, stay limits, documents, destination research, and relocation costs in one plan — with personal data kept on-device. Planning support only; verify critical figures with the relevant authority.
Editorial systems
DraftPilot
The research and editorial stack behind CFD’s livability data and journals — one pipeline to score cities, keep evidence reviewable, sync location pages, and turn field notes into published entries. On the public site, it shows up as fresher destination intelligence, not a separate consumer brand.
iOS & Apple Watch
Atlas
A native iOS and Apple Watch companion for people whose calendars cross borders — Schengen 90/180 counting, visa windows, and 183-day tax-residency monitoring, with widgets and watch complications for quick checks. On-device travel intelligence, not official counsel.
App frameworks
Magnus Storage
Native iOS and macOS inventory for physical storage — units and garages mapped in three dimensions, with local-first records, QR-labeled containers, and sync across devices. Built for relocating and living between places, on the same privacy-minded native stack as the mobility products above.
Why Cleared for Departure
International travel — and longer stays — get complicated fast. I wanted a resource I would use myself: organized, transparent, carefully researched, and focused on real decisions. Accuracy matters more than speed; when rules and prices change, confirm critical details with the official source.
Whether you are planning a trip, comparing destinations, or relocating, I hope CFD — and the platforms behind it — help you move with greater confidence.
Safe travels,
TW Olson
Founder and Editor
Cleared for Departure