Rules for completing a flight plan
Rules for completing a flight plan
The top, the header, is not padded. It is a space reserved for the ATS authority.
Box 7 "Aircraft identification": This is the aircraft's radiotelephone call sign and
consists of a maximum of 7 letters.
As a call sign you can use:
•The characters corresponding to the registration marks of the aircraft. Ex: ECLJM
•The telephone designator of the aircraft operating company, followed by the last four
characters of the aircraft registration marks.
Box 8 «Flight rules & Type of flight»: The flight rules and the type of flight will be
indicated.
Flight rules:
•I: The entire flight will be carried out by IFR (Instrumental) rules.
•V: The entire flight will be carried out by VFR (Visual) rules.
•Y: It starts in IFR and then changes to VFR. Ex: An IFR flight that leaves an IFR airport
and lands on a VFR.
•Z: It starts in VFR and then changes to IFR. Ex: An IFR flight that departs from a VFR
airport and lands at an IFR.
Type of flight:
•S: If it is a regular air service.
•N: If it is non-regular air transport.
•G: If it is general aviation.
•M: Yes, it is military.
•X: If it corresponds to any other category, other than those indicated. (Typical flight
example "X" is school flights)
Box 9 Number, Type of aircraft and wake turbulence cat: Indicate the number of
aircraft, the type of aircraft and the category of wake turbulence.
Number of aircraft: If only one aircraft is left blank, if there is more than one, the
number of aircraft is indicated. This is used for formation flights.
Aircraft type: ICAO aircraft designator. Eg for an Airbus 320 it would be A320.
If you do not have an aircraft designator or it is a formation flight, you will enter ZZZZ
and box 18 will indicate the type or types of aircraft.
Turbulent Wake Category
•"J" Super. It is a special category that only applies to the Airbus 380.
•Heavy "H" . For aircraft with a maximum certified take-off mass of more than 136,000
kg.
•"M" Average. For aircraft with a maximum certified take-off mass of between 7,000 kg
and 136,000 Kg.
•Light "L" . For aircraft with a maximum certified take-off mass of less than 7,000 Kg.
Box 10 , The navigation and communication equipment:
•«N»: If COM / NAV equipment and navigation aids and approach equipment are not
carried for the route considered, or if the equipment does not work.
•"S": If standard COM / NAV and navigation aids and approach equipment is carried for
the route considered and if such equipment works. (Note 1).
•«A» GBAS landing system.
•«B» LPV (APV with SBAS).
•«C» LORAN C.
•"D" DME.
•"F" ADF
•"G" GNSS
•"H" HF RTF.
•«I» Inertial navigation.
•«K» MLS
•"L" ILS
•"O" VOR
•«T» TACAN.
•"U" UHF RTF.
•"V" VHF RTF.
•«W» RVSM approval (Note 2).
•«X» MNPS approval (Note 3).
• VHF «Y» with 8.33 kHz channel spacing capability.
•«Z» Other equipment installed on board or other capacities (Note 4)
Note 1: VHF RTF, VOR and ILS equipment is considered COM / NAV standard equipment.
Note 2: The inclusion of the letter W indicates that the aircraft is approved for flight in
RVSM airspace. Box 18 must include the aircraft registration preceded by the REG /
indicator.
Note 3: The inclusion of the letter X indicates that the aircraft is approved for flight in
MNPS airspace. Box 18 must include the aircraft registration preceded by the REG /
indicator.
Note 4: If the letter Z is used, specify in box 18 any other type of equipment or
capabilities installed on board, preceded by COM /, NAV / and / or DAT /, as appropriate.
Monitoring equipment (Transponder)
•«N» If none is taken.
•«A» Transponder - Mode A (4 digits - 4096 codes).
•"C" Transponder - Mode A (4 digits - 4096 codes) and Mode C
Transponder Mode S SSR .
•«E» Transponder - Mode S, including aircraft identification, pressure altitude and
extended squitter capability (ADS-B).
•"H" Transponder - Mode S, including aircraft identification, pressure altitude and
enhanced surveillance capability.
•"I" Transponder - Mode S, including aircraft identification, but not pressure altitude
capability.
•"L" Transponder - Mode S, including aircraft identification, pressure altitude, extended
squitter capability (ADS-B) and enhanced surveillance.
•"P" Transponder - Mode S, including pressure altitude but not aircraft identification
capability.
•"S" Transponder - Mode S, including both aircraft identification capability and pressure
altitude.
•«X» Transponder - Mode S, without aircraft identification capacity or pressure altitude.
•«D» ADS function
Note: Enhanced Surveillance Capability is the aircraft's ability to transmit link data
extracted from the aircraft through the Mode S transponder.
Box 13 Departure aerodrome / Time.
Insert the four-letter ICAO location indicator at the departure aerodrome. If no location
indicator has been assigned, insert ZZZZ, and enter, in box 18, the name and location
of the aerodrome preceded by DEP /, or the first waypoint or the radiobeacon.
If the flight plan has been received from an aircraft in flight, insert AFIL, and enter in
box 18 the four-letter ICAO location indicator of the ATS unit from which supplemental
flight plan data can be obtained.
Please insert for a flight plan submitted prior to departure, the Estimated Off-Block
Time (EOBT), in UTC time.
Box 15 Cruising speed / Level / Route.
•Cruise Speed (maximum 5 characters) Insert true speed into:
•Kilometers per hour: Using the letter K followed by 4 digits. Eg K0830.
•Knots: Using the letter N followed by 4 figures. Eg N0480.
•True Mach Number: Rounding to the nearest hundredth of a Mach unit, using the letter
M followed by 3 digits. Eg M082.
•Flight level. (maximum 5 characters). Insert the cruise level by:
•Flight level. Expressed by an F followed by 3 digits Ex. F085; F330.
•Metric level. In tens of meters, expressed by an S followed by 4 digits. Eg S1130.
•Altitude in hundreds of feet. Expressed by an A followed by 3 digits Ex. A045; A100
•Altitude in tens of meters. Expressed by an M followed by 4 digits Ex. M0840.
•For uncontrolled VFR flights. The letters VFR.
•Route. Including changes in speed, level and / or flight rules:
Flights along designated ATS routes:
Insert, if the departure aerodrome is located on or connected to the ATS route, the
designator of the first ATS route, or , if the departure aerodrome is not on or connected
to the ATS route, the letters DCT followed by the meeting point of the first ATS route,
followed by the ATS route designator; then insert each point at which a change of
speed and / or level is planned, or change of ATS route and / or change of flight rules.
Note: For flights outside the designated ATS routes: DCTs can only be placed if
between the 2 points there is no more than 30 min of flight time or 200 NM.
Box 16 Destination aerodrome / Total EET / ALTN Aerodrome.
•Destination aerodrome. Insert the four-letter ICAO location indicator of the destination
aerodrome, or, if no location indicator has been assigned, insert ZZZZ and indicate in
box 18 the name and location of the aerodrome, preceded by DEST /.
•Total expected duration. I inserted the total expected duration.
Note: In the case of a flight plan received from an aircraft in flight, the total expected
duration is counted from the first point in the route to which the flight plan applies to
the point of completion of the flight plan.
•Alternative airport. Insert the four-letter ICAO location indicator (s), of no more than
two destination alternate aerodromes, or, if a location indicator has not been assigned
to the destination alternative aerodromes, insert ZZZZ and indicate in box 18 the name
and location of the destination alternate aerodromes, preceded by ALTN /.
Box 18 Other data. Insert 0 (zero) if there is no other data, or any other necessary
information in the order indicated below, using the appropriate indicator selected from
those defined below, followed by a slash and the information to be reported:
•RFP / The indication "RFP / Qn" is used to identify a flight plan that it replaces, where
"n" is replaced by "1" for the first substitution, "2" for the second substitution, and so
on. Eg RFP / Q1, RFP / Q2, etc.
•STS / Reason for special treatment by ATS for example search and rescue mission, as
follows:
•ALTRV: For a flight operated in accordance with an altitude reserve.
•ATFMX: for a flight exempt from ATFM measures by the competent ATS authority.
•FFR: Fire extinguishing.
•FLTCK: Flight of calibration of aids to navigation.
•HAZMAT: For a flight carrying
dangerous goods .
•HEAD: Flight with treatment of head of state.
•HOSP: Medical flight specifically declared
by the health authorities.
•HUM: Flight that operates for humanitarian reasons
•MARSA: Flight for which a military entity assumes the responsibility of separation with
respect to
military aircraft;
•MEDEVAC: Life-threatening medical emergency evacuation flight.
•NONRVSM: Flight that does not meet the requirements
•RVSM and intend to operate in RVSM airspace.
•SAR: Flight in search and rescue mission.
•STATE: Flight that performs military,
customs or police services.
•EXM833: Flights that do not carry radio equipment with 8.33 kHz channel separation,
but have been exempt from the
mandatory transport requirement for such equipment.
•NAV / Important data related to navigation equipment.
•COM / Relating to communications.
•DAT / Applications or data capabilities will be indicated.
•SUR / Surveillance applications or capabilities will be included.
•DEP / Name and location of the departure aerodrome, when ZZZZ is inserted in box 13.
•DEST / Name and location of the destination aerodrome, when ZZZZ is inserted in box
16.
•DOF / Flight departure date, in six-digit format (YYMMDD).
•REG / The nationality or common mark and the registration mark of the aircraft, if they
differ from the aircraft identification that appears in box 7 and when
in box 10 the letters W or X are included.
•SEL / SELCAL Code, for aircraft thus equipped.
•TYP / Type (s) of aircraft (s), when ZZZZ is inserted in box 9.
•DLE / Delay or wait en route.
•OPR / ICAO Designator or name of the operator, if different from the aircraft
identification that appears in Box 7.
•ALTN / Name of destination alternate aerodromes, if ZZZZ is inserted in box 16.
•TALT / ICAO four-letter location indicators for take-off alternate aerodromes if no
indicator has been assigned to them.
•RMK / Any other observation in plain language, when required by the competent ATS
authority or deemed necessary.
Box 19 Supplementary information.
•Autonomy. After E / insert a group of 4 digits to indicate the fuel autonomy in hours
and minutes.
•People on board. After P / insert the total number of people (passengers and crew) on
board. Insert TBN (To Be Notified) if the total number of people is not known at the
time of submitting the flight plan.
•Emergency and survival equipment.
•R / (Radio)
•Cross out U if the 243.0 MHz UHF frequency is not available.
•Strike out V if the 121.5 MHz VHF frequency is not available.
•Cross out E if there are no emergency radio beacons for aircraft location (ELBA).
•S / (Survival Kit)
•Cross out all indicators if survival gear is not carried.
•Cross out P if polar survival equipment is not carried.
•Cross out D if desert survival equipment is not carried.
•Cross out M if maritime survival equipment is not carried on board.
•Cross out J if jungle survival gear is not carried.
•J / (Vests)
•Cross out all indicators if life jackets are not carried on board.
•Cross out L if life jackets are not fitted with lights.
•Cross out F if life jackets are not equipped with fluorescence.
•Strike out U or V or both, as indicated in R / to indicate the radio communication media
that the vests wear.
•D / (Inflatable boats)
•Number: Cross out indicators D and C if no inflatable boats are carried on board, or
insert the number of inflatable boats on board.
•Capacity: Insert the total capacity, number of people, of all the inflatable boats that
are carried on board.
•Cover: Cross out indicator C if the inflatable is not covered.
•Color: Insert the color of the inflatable boats, if carried on board.
•A / (Color and markings of the aircraft)
•Insert the aircraft color and important markings.
•N / (Observations)
•Delete indicator N if there are no observations, or indicate all other survival equipment
on board and any other observations relating to that equipment.
•C / Piloto. Insert the name of the pilot-in-command.
Presented by: Insert the name of the agency, company or person presenting the flight
plan.
Messages associated with the flight plan
•Modification Message (CHG)
When a change to the previously transmitted FPL or RPL flight plan data is to be made,
a CHG message will be transmitted.
There are certain fields in the flight plan that cannot be modified by a CHG message.
These fields are as follows:
•Identification of the aircraft.
•Departure aerodrome.
•Destination aerodrome.
•Estimated date of outside chocks.
•Estimated time of out chocks (*).
(*) For any advance in the EOBT of more than 15 minutes, it will be necessary to cancel
the previous flight plan and originate a new one; but if the modification of the EOBT
supposes
a delay with respect to that contained in the FPL, it will imply the transmission of a
DLA message.
•Cancellation Message (CNL)
After the submission and transmission of an FPL, any modification in the following
fields will generate a cancellation message (CNL) of the original FPL and the
presentation of a new one:
•Identification of the aircraft.
•Departure aerodrome.
•Destination aerodrome.
•Flight date.
•EOBT (only in case of advance).
It is very important that the originator of a FPL cancel this:
•As soon as you know that the flight is not going to operate.
•Before submitting a flight plan that replaces it.
•Delay Message (DLA)
In the event that there is a delay of more than fifteen (15) minutes with respect to the
expected off-block time for an IFR flight (except if the IFR flight has an assigned SLOT),
or thirty (30) minutes for a controlled VFR flight, or sixty (60) minutes for an
uncontrolled VFR flight, such circumstance shall be communicated by means of a DLA
message.
After this period of time, if the originator of the flight plan does not take any action, the
FPL will be automatically canceled. IFR flights with assigned SLOT:
a) If they experience a delay of more than 30 minutes on their EOBT, a delay message
(DLA) will be sent.
b) If they suffer a delay greater than 15 minutes not greater than 30 minutes, the
originator must generate a SLOT review request (SRR)
DATA TO BE ENTERED IN THE FMS OF THE RADIO COM TO ATC
- callsign (tail or flight number)
- airline name (if haven't, your name)
- departure airport ICAO code
- departure airport formal name
- arrival airport ICAO code
- arrival airport formal name
- arrival airport latitude
- arrival airport N/S
- arrival airport longitude
- arrival airport E/W
- arrival airport altitude (in feet)
- arrival airport RWY (N,S,E,W)
- Flight type (IFR or VFR)
- Aircraft type ICAO code
- Aircraft type formal name
- Wake (L,M,H)
- Transponder number (SQ)
- Flight level (in feet)
- Waypoints (last data is TDZ point)
- Estimated Time of Departure (four digits)
- Estimated Time of Arrival (four digits)
- Passengers (number).
EXAMPLE 1:
N1234C,DELTA,SLNH,New Horizons,SLHA,Hollywood,52,N,139,E,71,N,IFR,E50P,Phenom
100,M,4432,700,48E>131N>51E>139N>110,1040,1100.2
EXAMPLE 2:
IBE45YT,IBERIA,SLHA,Hollywood,SLAI,Aleksandr,45,N,116,E,331,S,VFR,F2TH,Falcon
2000,M,8809,1000,>80,1530,1555.1
PUT YOUR FLIGHT PLAN IN THE ABOVE FORMAT HERE AND THEN COPY IT AND PASTE
IT INTO THE FMC BOX