IFR X/C Flight Plan Forms

Planedriver28

Well-Known Member
Ok, guys and gals, who has the best flight planning sheets for an IFR X/C. I like the ASA one.... but I don't want to buy a whole pad. just need one for my binder.
 
Ok, guys and gals, who has the best flight planning sheets for an IFR X/C. I like the ASA one.... but I don't want to buy a whole pad. just need one for my binder.

Did you try using excel to create a personal sheet that works for you? That will even give you the option of making it bigger than the kneeboard size ones (for easier reading), but smaller then a whole sheet of paper (for easier organization). Not to mention you will have it saved on your computer for easy printout and adjustments should you wish to do things a little differently or find something you like, maybe a field you want to add, later.
 
I'm not being grumpy or trying to be, but as a flight instructor you will need more than one unless it is just for show...which it shouldn't be. :)
 
What do you put on an IFR flight log?

Seriously, I'm not being sarcastic...I've honestly never used one.

I teach people to stick their route in to their favorite flight planner on the computer to figure out time enroute. Then use their favorite weather site to make their go/no-go decision. Then use DUATS or a phone briefing to make it official, check NOTAMs, and file the flight plan. If they want to take notes on anything during the process, write it on a notepad or print it off the computer. This is how I fly when I'm personally taking a trip as well.

I've sent instrument applicants to multiple examiners and never been criticized for doing it this way. YMMV.
 
What do you put on an IFR flight log?

Seriously, I'm not being sarcastic...I've honestly never used one.

I teach people to stick their route in to their favorite flight planner on the computer to figure out time enroute. Then use their favorite weather site to make their go/no-go decision. Then use DUATS or a phone briefing to make it official, check NOTAMs, and file the flight plan. If they want to take notes on anything during the process, write it on a notepad or print it off the computer. This is how I fly when I'm personally taking a trip as well.

I've sent instrument applicants to multiple examiners and never been criticized for doing it this way. YMMV.

It works, it's practical. It is simple. I have an excel sheet on my site that I could teach with but I've moved away from it in favor of fltplan.com and AOPA's program.

No need to complicate the agenda!
 
I teach people to stick their route in to their favorite flight planner on the computer to figure out time enroute. Then use their favorite weather site to make their go/no-go decision. Then use DUATS or a phone briefing to make it official, check NOTAMs, and file the flight plan. If they want to take notes on anything during the process, write it on a notepad or print it off the computer.
All of this can be done with www.fltplan.com

One stop shopping! You might want to review radar images, so you'd probably have to head to www.aviationweather.gov or something, but you can get a QICP "official" briefing, file, plan, print weather and NOTAMS, etc. all on fltplan.com.

-mini
 
All of this can be done with www.fltplan.com

One stop shopping! You might want to review radar images, so you'd probably have to head to www.aviationweather.gov or something, but you can get a QICP "official" briefing, file, plan, print weather and NOTAMS, etc. all on fltplan.com.

Yeah, I know a lot of pilots use FltPlan.com, but I've never seen what's so great about it. To me it seems powerful, but really hard to navigate through. Not user friendly at all. It's like a high school kid designed it back in the mid-90's before anyone really thought about "style" on web sites. And I don't like the way it displays weather charts. I can never get the level of detail I want without going directly to Aviationweather.gov.

I keep trying FltPlan.com out after I hear amazing reviews from other pilots, but every time I go back, it only pisses me off like the last time. Aviationweather.gov and AOPA's flight planning tools seem much more user friendly, powerful, and relevant. I use those for my go/no-go decision, then DUATS.com to check NOTAMs and file a flight plan.

Maybe I'm just getting old and stuck in my ways.
 
Yeah, I know a lot of pilots use FltPlan.com, but I've never seen what's so great about it. To me it seems powerful, but really hard to navigate through. Not user friendly at all. It's like a high school kid designed it back in the mid-90's before anyone really thought about "style" on web sites.
I agree with all of that, but all it takes is a little time playing with it and you can figure out what you're doing. I was reluctant for a while but now I'm not sure what I'd do without it. The FBO fax briefing is a great tool! Someone really should have come up with that years ago.

...and free!!!

-mini
 
All of this can be done with www.fltplan.com

One stop shopping! You might want to review radar images, so you'd probably have to head to www.aviationweather.gov or something, but you can get a QICP "official" briefing, file, plan, print weather and NOTAMS, etc. all on fltplan.com.

-mini

Without a doubt, the greatest thing out there. It does take a little bit to get proficient navigating through the site. But once you learn it it is AMAZING! It even works on my blackberry (sorta), and I have put in flight plans on the run with my phone.

And on another note, I have never used an IFR nav log. Dont see the point. Especially when fltplan.com prints you out one if you want it. And I usually print it out when going to unfamiliar areas, but have never pulled it out of my bag to look at it. I guess if I was going somewhere that fuel was critical I prabably still wouldn't look at it, I would make a fuel stop somewhere.
 
Without a doubt, the greatest thing out there. It does take a little bit to get proficient navigating through the site. But once you learn it it is AMAZING! It even works on my blackberry (sorta), and I have put in flight plans on the run with my phone.

fltplan.com is pretty cool. Love it.

Navlog for IFR? Never done one. The FMS is so much better at it than me :)
We all know how, but there are so many variables IFR - I've never flown exactly what I've filed. So I always end up re-computing fuel burn and ETE in the air anyway. I run the 'back of the napkin' numbers on the ground first, but not leg-by-leg.

The fltplan.com numbers have always been better than I could figure by hand anyway.
 
fltplan.com is pretty cool. Love it.

Navlog for IFR? Never done one. The FMS is so much better at it than me :)
We all know how, but there are so many variables IFR - I've never flown exactly what I've filed. So I always end up re-computing fuel burn and ETE in the air anyway. I run the 'back of the napkin' numbers on the ground first, but not leg-by-leg.

The fltplan.com numbers have always been better than I could figure by hand anyway.

Exactly... Thats why I think its pointless.
 
You all have good points, and I agree, the nav log is well, obsolete. I haven't filled one out either, since my Instrument checkride in 2001. However, the examiner I am using is old school, and wants me to bring one filled out for my flight down there, and I have to fill out another one while there as if I was teaching an IFR student. In reality, I will be teaching duats, and G1000 with paper backups, but I still have to do the log for my CFII ride here in a couple weeks.

To be honest, until this post, I had never heard of fltplan.com. After visiting the site, it seems pretty practical. I think I will spend some more time navigating on there.
 
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