Filing a flight plan (VFR)

Milesar

Milesar

Well-Known Member
Its been a couple years, so could someone run through some of the hoops? I’ve got the FAA flight plan form here and that’s no prob… I don’t even remember the phone number! Yikes.

Where can I find a listing for the “Special equipment”

How often do you file a VFR flight plan?
 
Milesar said:
Its been a couple years, so could someone run through some of the hoops? I’ve got the FAA flight plan form here and that’s no prob… I don’t even remember the phone number! Yikes.

Where can I find a listing for the “Special equipment”

How often do you file a VFR flight plan?
Click to expand...
1-800-WXBRIEF

Google is your friend

Never.
 
1-800-WXBRIEF to file.

I usually file one if I am doing a night VFR cross country in crappy old 172.

Just remember to close it or else SAR will be dispatched.
 
Milesar said:
Where can I find a listing for the “Special equipment”

How often do you file a VFR flight plan?
Click to expand...

The special equipment should be in your POH. I file a VFR flight plan every time the flight can be counted as Cross country (the 50nm from point of origin rule).
 
mikecweb said:
1-800-WXBRIEF
Click to expand...

Thanks, I just remembered that as I posted... now If I could only figure out those letters/numbers on my rotary phone :sarcasm:

...Call the #, file the plan, then I open it once airborn on the frequency local to my area.... close it by phone (or in air) when I am done. Thats about it eh?
 
Milesar said:
...Call the #, file the plan, then I open it once airborn on the frequency local to my area.... close it by phone (or in air) when I am done. Thats about it eh?
Click to expand...

Depending on terrain you can also call in position reports. I did that when I was criss-crossing the rockies - in the winter - in a piston - in aircraft on a ferry permit. Yowza.
 
Thanks for the help, I've found some more info in the AIM.

Once the flight plan has been opened, do you continue to monitor the FSS during the flight?
 
I_Money said:
Flight following and Filing Flight Plans are two very different things.
Click to expand...

I know that. One will get the SAR launched immediately when you report trouble. The other will get it launched in about 8 hours after they figure out you didn't make it.
 
Milesar said:
Thanks for the help, I've found some more info in the AIM.

Once the flight plan has been opened, do you continue to monitor the FSS during the flight?
Click to expand...
No. The VFR flight plan is merely a cheap insurance policy - nobody even looks at it again unless prompted to or you are overdue. So, you don't need to monitor.

But if the whole idea is SAR, periodic position reports can serve to continually limit the search area. These don't have to be formal. Even calling for weather updates and giving a PIREP gives them a new time and location for you. I teach that to my students and we use this procedure all the time when flying in the mountains (often below radar and communications coverage).
 
Tell me when and where you are flying. If you're struggling with this then I want a mental TFR around your probable bumbling. Just kidding, but not really.
 
I've been lucky in that I've always been able to get Flight Following out of Tampa on any cross country. As such, I haven't filed a VFR flight plan since my primary training.
 
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