26
votes
Is there any airspace where you can fly without a flight plan?
Note: I fly in EASA-land (EU) but I'm assuming the situation should be similar in the US and other countries
As @757toga described perfectly, there are situations where a pilot does not need a flight ...
- 419
23
votes
Accepted
May a non-instrument pilot legally file IFR as long as he amends and doesn’t accept an instrument clearance?
My instrument students, when they get more advanced, file FP with their name, and in remarks say "Training xxxxxx CFII"
That way it is clear. The FAA office investigated one student, dug up his ...
- 17.7k
19
votes
Accepted
What is the flight purpose of this helicopter over Karlsruhe with blocked callsign?
Whenever you see a helicopter circling over a large city in Germany, it is most likely a police helicopter.
The helicopter took off from Baden-Airpark (Flughafen Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden FKB), where one ...
- 54.3k
16
votes
Accepted
Does an IFR flight-plan include the approach?
US-based answer. No, the specific instrument approach is not part of the flight plan and is not included in the initial IFR clearance.
The flight plan is just that, a plan. It can change in flight, ...
- 13.4k
14
votes
May a non-instrument pilot legally file IFR as long as he amends and doesn’t accept an instrument clearance?
I am not aware of, and have not been able to find any regulation governing the filing of flight plans.
The only applicable rule that I know of in the FAR's is 14 CFR 61.3(e), which says that no pilot ...
- 58.6k
12
votes
Does an IFR flight-plan include the approach?
What you’re missing is that DJL8W is a Standard Terminal Arrival Procedure (STAR) to the Paris area. Here is an (out of date) chart:
This procedure takes you from DJL to OKIPA, which is an Initial ...
- 27.6k
11
votes
Accepted
Who closes an airline's IFR flight plan and when?
When landing at a controlled aerodrome, air traffic control will automatically close the flightplan once the flight has safely arrived. The pilot does not have to do anything in this case. The ...
- 36.2k
11
votes
Can a pilot amend a flight plan in-flight?
Anything and everything (well, maybe not the aircraft type...). A flightplan is just that - a plan. The pilot's intentions can change during flight for any number of reasons. Just inform ATC of your ...
- 36.2k
10
votes
Accepted
Is altitude information included in filed flight plan?
The flight plan contains the requested cruise flight level, as well as step climbs or level changes along the route in the route field.
Example 1:
(Image Source: skybrary.aero)
Example 2:
SAM ...
- 15.7k
10
votes
Can a pilot amend a flight plan in-flight?
Context: FAA.
Altitude change
Very common request. The pilot simply makes the request, and the controller issues the climb or descent after checking to make sure the altitude is clear. The controller ...
- 13.4k
9
votes
Accepted
Can European (or more generally, non-US) airspace users airfile IFR flight plans?
Sure you can. This is from ICAO Doc 4444:
4.4.2.2.1 A flight plan to be submitted during flight should normally be transmitted to the ATS unit in charge of the FIR, control area, advisory area or ...
- 36.2k
8
votes
Why isn't the point you begin descent part of the flight plan?
Because the Top of Descent (TOD) is calculated in flight based on current weather data, STAR/Transition assigned, directs received during the cruise portion of the flight, vectors received taking you ...
- 15.7k
8
votes
How much do "Preferred Routes" matter for non-airliners?
The short answer (when it comes to real filing) is it depends.
You are free to file what ever you like (direct route included). Ultimately its up to ATC/FAA to assign your route and they are free to ...
- 100k
7
votes
Accepted
Can longer paths consume less fuel than the (shorter) great circle path?
On a flat plane, the shortest distance between any two points is a straight line, right? So if you were at A and wanted to get to B in as few steps as possible, you would walk a straight line.
But ...
- 1,163
6
votes
Accepted
Why isn't the point you begin descent part of the flight plan?
You can calculate ToD beforehand or let the FMS do the work. In reality though, you generally don't get to wait until your optimal ToD to start descending, especially flying into busy airports. If ...
- 35.2k
6
votes
Accepted
Do IFR flight plans ever get rejected for operational reasons?
Generally speaking, the only reasons for which a flight plan would be actually rejected would fall under what you referred to as "errors or omissions". But, the operational reasons you cite might lead ...
- 16.5k
6
votes
Accepted
What software generated this VFR flight plan?
This flight plan was generated with Skyvector
Click here for the specific flight plan from your example
Then click "Nav Log" for the log itself.
- 23.1k
6
votes
Can you file an open-ended IFR flight plan?
If operating within a single area (TRACON) then file from KABC -> KABC and in remarks put "Practice APCHS KXYZ KDEF". The controller will be asking you what your next approach will be at ...
- 17.7k
6
votes
Accepted
Are planes allowed to fly through a planned professional fireworks display?
Most fireworks go no higher than 1200 ft and consumer sized stuff is more around 500ft and below. which is fairly low for most regimes of flight for all but general aviation planes and planes taking ...
- 100k
5
votes
Can longer paths consume less fuel than the (shorter) great circle path?
That depends how you define longer in aviation. As you can look at it geographically or on the clock.
The hard answer is no, the most fuel efficient route is the one that has the aircraft in the air ...
- 100k
5
votes
Why are some item numbers missing in ICAO flight plans?
From the FAA page:
Item numbers on the form are not consecutive, as they correspond to Field Type numbers in ATS messages
Here you can find a description of ATS messages.
- 1,944
4
votes
Is altitude information included in filed flight plan?
The ATC Flightplan (FPL) does not directly contain the optimum cruise levels for a flight. These levels are calculated and printed in the Operational Flightplan (OFP).
The FPL does contain the ...
- 36.2k
4
votes
How is the effect of wind on arrival time handled?
It will depend on constraints at the arrival airport. If there are no constraints, they will choose a speed that minimizes fuel burn, and arrive early if that's how it works out.
It's possible that ...
- 71.8k
4
votes
Accepted
How much do "Preferred Routes" matter for non-airliners?
Flight plan processing, and the route you are assigned, is done by the overlying ARTCC computer (ERAM). ERAM looks at your aircraft type, requested altitude, requested route, and destination to arrive ...
- 1,725
4
votes
What is the flight purpose of this helicopter over Karlsruhe with blocked callsign?
Flight tracking sites make use of a technology called ADS-B to track flights. For identification, ADS-B only transmits a 24-bit ICAO address. The site has to look up the address in publicly available ...
- 12.8k
3
votes
Can you file an open-ended IFR flight plan?
JScarry's comment is the answer.
The system has multiple levels of safety and assumes that if communications are lost, you'll fly the last clearance.
For instrument training or test flights, you can ...
- 203
3
votes
Do IFR flight plans ever get rejected for operational reasons?
In busy airspaces like Europe and US east coast, checking for congestion is done. This does not mean directly comparing the specific routes and waypoints—conflicts on that scale are easily resolved by ...
- 56.2k
3
votes
What happens if I activate VFR flight plan later than filed ETD?
Assuming that you've submitted a Delay Message in order to prevent your flightplan from being deleted you have to do nothing at all.
In your flightplan you only state your ETD (Expected Time of ...
- 1,998
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible