139:
NAVAIDS. The high altitude airways in the U.S. have names that start with the letter J and are called Jet Routes, or Q for Q routes. Q routes in the U.S. are RNAV only high altitude airways, whereas J routes use VOR NAVAID's the same way V routes do. J & Q routes run from 18,000 feet (5,486 m) to 45,000 feet (13,716 m). The altitude separating the low and high airway structures varies from country to country. For example, it is 19,500 feet (5,944 m) in
Switzerland, and 25,500 feet (7,772 m) in Egypt.
50:
88:), the pilot's information, number of people on board, and information about the aircraft itself. In most countries, flight plans are required for flights under IFR, but may be optional for flying VFR unless crossing international borders. Flight plans are highly recommended, especially when flying over inhospitable areas such as water, as they provide a way of alerting rescuers if the flight is overdue. In the United States and Canada, when an aircraft is crossing the
282:, IFR flight plans require an alternate airport, regardless of the forecast destination weather. In order to be considered as a legally valid alternate, the airport must be forecast to be at or above certain weather minima at the estimated time of arrival (at the alternate). The minimum weather conditions vary based on the type of approach(es) available at the alternate airport, and may be found in the General section of the Canada Air Pilot (CAP).
131:). Most airways are eight nautical miles (14 kilometers) wide, and the airway flight levels keep aircraft separated by at least 1000 vertical feet from aircraft on the flight level above and below. Airways usually intersect at Navaids, which designate the allowed points for changing from one airway to another. Airways have names consisting of one or more letters followed by one or more digits (e.g., V484 or UA419).
437:
151:) which are not always connected by airways. Navaid routing is typically only allowed in the continental U.S. If a flight plan specifies Navaid routing between two Navaids which are connected via an airway, the rules for that particular airway must be followed as if the aircraft was flying Airway routing between those two Navaids. Allowable altitudes are covered in Flight Levels.
230:(FL) are used by air traffic controllers to simplify the vertical separation of aircraft and one exists every 100 feet relative to an agreed pressure level. Above a transitional altitude, which can vary from country to country and even within a country, the worldwide agreed upon pressure datum of 1013.25 millibars (corresponding to the pressure at sea level for the
127:. Airways can be thought of as three-dimensional highways for aircraft. In most land areas of the world, aircraft are required to fly airways between the departure and destination airports. The rules governing airway routing cover altitude, airspeed, and requirements for entering and leaving the airway (see
274:
Part of flight planning often involves the identification of one or more airports which can be flown to in case of unexpected conditions (such as weather) at the destination airport. The planning process must be careful to include only alternate airports which can be reached with the anticipated fuel
246:
Airways have a set of associated standardized flight levels (sometimes called the "flight model") which must be used when on the airway. On a bi-directional airway, each direction has its own set of flight levels. A valid flight plan must include a legal flight level at which the aircraft will travel
551:
The ICAO is the specialized agency of the United
Nations with a mandate "to ensure the safe, efficient and orderly evolution of international civil aviation." The standards which become accepted by the ICAO member nations "cover all technical and operational aspects of international civil aviation,
413:
over the destination or alternate airports is a required part of some flight plans. Holding (circling in a pattern designated by the airport control tower) may be necessary if unexpected weather or congestion occurs at the airport. If the flight plan calls for hold planning, the additional fuel and
159:
Direct routing occurs when one or both of the route segment endpoints are at a latitude/longitude which is not located at a Navaid. Some flight planning organizations specify that checkpoints generated for a Direct route be a limited distance apart, or limited by time to fly between the checkpoints
290:
Aircraft manufacturers are responsible for generating flight performance data which flight planners use to estimate fuel needs for a particular flight. The fuel burn rate is based on specific throttle settings for climbing and cruising. The planner uses the projected weather and aircraft weight as
250:
In the US, Canada and Europe for eastbound (heading 0–179 degrees) IFR flights, the flight plan must list an "odd" flight level in 2000 foot increments starting at FL190 (i.e., FL190, FL210, FL230, etc.); Westbound (heading 180–359 degrees) IFR flights must list an "even" flight level in 2000 foot
138:
Navaids have names that start with the letter V, and are therefore called Victor
Airways. They cover altitudes from approximately 1200 feet above ground level (AGL) to 17,999 feet (5,486 m) above mean sea level (MSL). T routes are low altitude RNAV only routes which may or may not utilize VOR
399:
Flight plans may be submitted before departure or even after the aircraft is in the air. However flight plans may be submitted up to 120 hours in advance either by voice or by data link; though they are usually filled out or submitted just several hours before departure. The minimum recommended
238:
and altitude is then referred to as a flight level. The altimeter reading is converted to a flight level by removing the trailing two zeros: for example, 29000 feet becomes FL290. When the pressure at sea level is by chance the international standard then the flight level is also the altitude. To
294:
In addition to standard fuel needs, some organizations require that a flight plan include reserve fuel if certain conditions are met. For example, an over-water flight of longer than a specific duration may require the flight plan to include reserve fuel. The reserve fuel may be planned as extra
552:
such as safety, personnel licensing, operation of aircraft, aerodromes, air traffic services, accident investigation and the environment." A simple example of ICAO responsibilities is the unique worldwide names used to identify
Navaids, Airways, airports and countries.
291:
inputs to the flight performance data to estimate the necessary fuel to reach the destination. The fuel burn is usually given as the weight of the fuel (usually pounds or kilograms) instead of the volume (such as gallons or litres) because aircraft weight is critical.
183:, ('Standard Instrument Arrival' in the UK) defines a pathway into an airport from the airway structure. STARs can be associated with more than one arrival airport, which can occur when two or more airports are in proximity (e.g., San Francisco and San Jose).
254:
Aircraft efficiency increases with height. Burning fuel decreases the weight of an aircraft which may then choose to increase its flight level to further improve fuel consumption. For example, an aircraft may be able to reach FL290 early in a flight, but
298:
In case of an in-flight emergency it may be necessary to determine whether it is quicker to divert to the alternate airfield or continue to the destination. This can be calculated according to the formula (known as the Vir Narain formula) as follows:
96:
to initiate tracking and routing services. For VFR flights, their only purpose is to provide needed information should search and rescue operations be required, or for use by air traffic control when flying in a "Special Flight Rules Area."
80:. Flight plan format is specified in ICAO Doc 4444. They generally include basic information such as departure and arrival points, estimated time en route, alternate airports in case of bad weather, type of flight (whether
168:
SIDs and STARs are procedures and checkpoints used to enter and leave the airway system by aircraft operating on IFR flight plans. There is a defined transition point at which an airway and a SID or STAR intersect.
295:
which is left over on the aircraft at the destination, or it may be assumed to be burned during flight (perhaps due to unaccounted for differences between the actual aircraft and the flight performance data).
525:
Contact
Information at Destination: Having a means of contacting the pilot is useful for tracking down an aircraft that has failed to close its flight plan and is possibly overdue or in distress.
251:
increments starting at FL180 (i.e., FL180, FL200, FL220, etc.). However, Air
Traffic Control (ATC) may assign any flight level at any time if traffic situations merit a change in altitude.
513:
Alternate
Airports: Airports of intended landing as an alternate of the destination airport. May be required for an IFR flight plan if poor weather is forecast at the planned destination.
424:
tracks over the
Northern Pacific Ocean). Others change on a daily basis depending on weather, west or eastbound and other factors and therefore cannot appear on printed charts (e.g., the
358:
219:. Government and military aircraft may have different requirements for particular SUA areas, or may be able to acquire special clearances to traverse through these areas.
400:
time is one hour before departure for domestic flights, and up to three hours before international flights. This depends on the country the aircraft is flying out of.
176:, defines a pathway out of an airport and onto the airway structure. A SID is sometimes called a Departure Procedure (DP). SIDs are unique to the associated airport.
499:
Remarks: Any information the PIC believes is necessary to be provided to ATC. One common remark is "SSNO", which means the PIC is unable or unwilling to accept a
619:
105:
Routing types used in flight planning are: airway, navaid and direct. A route may be composed of segments of different routing types. For example, a route from
92:(ADIZ), either an IFR or a special type of VFR flight plan called a DVFR (Defense VFR) flight plan must be filed. For IFR flights, flight plans are used by
420:
are a series of paths similar to airways which cross ocean areas. Some organized track systems are fixed and appear on navigational charts (e.g., the
463:
Aircraft Type/Special
Equipment: The type of aircraft and how it is equipped. For example, a Mitsubishi Mu-2 equipped with an altitude reporting
89:
391:
is the drift (plus when the drift and the alternate airfield are on the opposite sides of the track, and minus when they are on the same side).
243:, height is referred to as a numeric altitude, for example 'descend 5000 feet' and above the transition altitude, 'climb flight level 250'.
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421:
613:
134:
The airway structure is divided into high and low altitudes. The low altitude airways in the U.S. which can be navigated using
576:
A unit of distance used in aviation and maritime navigation, equal to approximately one minute of arc of latitude on a
671:
570:
The average height of the surface of the sea for all stages of tide; used as a reference for altitude (also see AGL).
387:
is the angle between the track to the destination and the track from the destination to the alternate airfield), and
504:
490:
Route: Proposed route of flight. The route can be made up of airways, intersections, navaids, or possibly direct.
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load and total aircraft weight and that have capabilities necessary to handle the type of aircraft being flown.
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to Rome may include airway routing over the U.S. and Europe, but direct routing over the
Atlantic Ocean.
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Estimated Time Enroute: Planned elapsed time between departure and arrival at the destination.
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713:
510:
Fuel on Board: The amount of fuel on board the aircraft, in hours and minutes of flight time.
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Departure Time: Proposed and actual times of departure. Times are Universal Time Coordinated.
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Aircraft Identification: The registration of the aircraft, usually the flight or tail number.
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234:, 101.325 kPa) or the equivalent setting of 29.92 inches of mercury is entered into the
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Destination: Point of intended landing. Typically the identifier of the destination airport.
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Departure Point: Usually the identifier of the airport from which the aircraft is departing.
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160:(i.e. direct checkpoints could be farther apart for a fast aircraft than for a slow one).
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Color of Aircraft: The color helps identify the aircraft to search and rescue personnel.
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Pilot's Information: Contact information of the pilot for search and rescue purposes.
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in the United States) prior to departure which indicate the plane's planned route or
65:
27:
Document filed by a pilot or flight dispatcher indicating the aircraft's flight path
597:
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A measurement of elevation, or "height", above a specific land mass (also see MSL).
212:
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True airspeed in knots: The planned cruise true airspeed of the aircraft in knots.
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472:
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In Canada, unlike the United States, unless specifically exempted by a company
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The weight of the aircraft with crew, cargo, and passengers, but without fuel.
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is the distance from the Critical Point (equitime point) to the destination,
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to FL370 later in the route after weight has decreased due to fuel burn off.
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Description of flight plan blocks (FAA) Domestic Flight Plan Form 7233-1,
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Navaid routing occurs between Navaids (short for Navigational Aids, see
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A unit of speed used in navigation equal to one nautical mile per hour.
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666:(1st American ed.). New York: Frederick Fell, Inc. p. 133.
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the airway. A change in airway may require a change in flight level.
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207:(MOA). Examples of Special Use Airspace include a region around the
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580:. It is defined to be 1852 metres exactly, or approximately 1.15
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Cruising Altitude: The planned cruising altitude or flight level.
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the distance between the destination and the alternate airfield,
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Number Onboard: Total number of people on board the aircraft.
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Airway routing occurs along pre-defined pathways called
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Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System
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may be found in the FAA Airman's Information Manual.
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735:
704:International Flight Planning Resource by Region
714:Flight Crew Guide - ICAO Model Flight Plan Form
530:Some terms and acronyms used in flight planning
457:, or a combination of types, termed composite.
38:. For the Japanese video game developer, see
414:hold time should appear on the flight plan.
729:Flight Crew Guide - Operational Flight Plan
594:A format for reporting weather information.
544:International Civil Aviation Organization (
445:Type: Type of flight plan. Flights may be
643:International Civil Aviation Organization
34:. For how a flight plan is produced, see
719:Flight Crew Guide - FAA Flight Plan Form
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614:Aeronautical Telecommunication Network
353:{\displaystyle C=D*O*\sec \theta /2A,}
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404:Other flight planning considerations
724:Flight Crew Guide - ATS Flight Plan
195:are expected to avoid areas called
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203:, Warning, Prohibited, Alert, and
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428:(NAT) over the Atlantic Ocean).
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181:Standard Terminal Arrival Route
90:Air Defense Identification Zone
70:Air Navigation Service Provider
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440:Standard FAA flight plan form
174:Standard Instrument Departure
637:Future Air Navigation System
44:Flight plan (disambiguation)
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239:avoid confusion, below the
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60:are documents filed by a
53:International flight plan
664:A Dictionary of Aviation
662:Wragg, David W. (1974).
232:ICAO Standard Atmosphere
205:Military Operations Area
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82:instrument flight rules
631:Flight service station
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42:. For other uses, see
686:Published reference:
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426:North Atlantic Tracks
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280:Operating Certificate
215:, and the country of
113:Airway or flight path
101:Route or flight paths
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395:Flight plan timeline
375:is the groundspeed,
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197:Special Use Airspace
187:Special use airspace
744:Aircraft operations
241:transition altitude
94:air traffic control
86:visual flight rules
30:For the movie, see
573:Nautical mile (NM)
536:Above Ground Level
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270:Alternate airports
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709:Aviation glossary
507:on an IFR flight.
471:would use MU2/G.
379:is the airspeed,
66:flight dispatcher
16:(Redirected from
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690:, UK, July 1952.
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598:Zero-Fuel Weight
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58:Flight plans
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18:Flight plans
465:transponder
381:θ = Φ +/- d
209:White House
179:A STAR, or
119:Flight path
78:flight path
72:(e.g., the
40:Flight-Plan
738:Categories
649:References
257:step climb
201:Restricted
172:A SID, or
32:Flightplan
688:Air Clues
334:θ
331:
325:∗
319:∗
236:altimeter
608:See also
622:(ACARS)
410:Holding
383:(where
107:Chicago
670:
639:(FANS)
363:where
155:Direct
143:Navaid
633:(FSS)
616:(ATN)
600:(ZFW)
589:ROFOR
567:(MSL)
538:(AGL)
422:NOPAC
62:pilot
668:ISBN
558:(Kt)
556:Knot
546:ICAO
505:STAR
467:and
455:DVFR
286:Fuel
264:RVSM
217:Cuba
503:or
501:SID
469:GPS
451:IFR
447:VFR
328:sec
211:in
149:VOR
136:VOR
84:or
74:FAA
64:or
740::
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389:d
385:Φ
377:A
373:O
369:D
365:C
348:,
345:A
342:2
338:/
322:O
316:D
313:=
310:C
46:.
20:)
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