Filing IFR with multiple Destinations...

Murdoughnut

Murdoughnut

Well sized member
So I'm looking to file IFR for my required 250-mile cross country. I'm planning on flying to Gainesville, doing an approach there, then to Cross City with an approach, and then back to St. Pete with an approach there as well.

So how do I file that route? Do I include all of the airports in the routing and list my departure airport (KPIE) as the arrival airport? Or do I file to my first airport of intended landing and get amendments from there?

Thanks!
 
Murdoughnut said:
So how do I file that route? Do I include all of the airports in the routing and list my departure airport (KPIE) as the arrival airport?
Click to expand...

That's one way. You can specify a "delay" at each destination, something like 20 minutes. ATC will likely ask what you have in mind once you get in the vicinity.
 
For mine for the route I just filed the route including the airports I wanted to shoot approaches at than my destination as the same as my departure than in the remarks section I put which airports I wanted approaches
 
Are you planning on landing after the approaches and spending a few minutes on the ground, or are you just doing approaches then going missed and on to your next destination?
 
Coming from my experience, our local controllers always chew out our flight instructors who make an IFR round robin. They said they need separate flight plans for every leg. If the controllers get a round robin they said it is a pain to go into the NAS computer and fix them, especially if the aircraft is looking for an IFR clearance in the air from a satelite airport because now the controller is having to work radar as well as fix this issue. The problem is, if you have the same destination and same departure airport, only that airport or ATC sector will get a flight progress strip and handoff information. So for instance if I want to fly from Indy to Louisville bowman and then fly back to just do approaches and file a round robin, only Indy approach will get a strip. Not other facilities along the route such as indy center, louisville approach, or bowman tower. If you want to go missed or do a quick touch n go, just let the controller who is issuing your approach know and usually they will give you missed instructions for when you check back on with them.

I have had good luck though with using the remarks section for approach requests. Only a few busy frequencies will they assign a visual or ask my request rather than assign me the one "remarked". If you forget, just check in on your final APP or Center frequency with "n12345 level 6,000 with Info Bravo and a request". Then give your approach requested.
 
From talks that I've had with controllers, they would prefer that you not file a round robin, for the reasons mentioned above.

Just to ask a question, but why would you only go missed and then just fly back home? Pick somewhere cool that you'd like to see, and at the very least have lunch while you're on the ground at one of those stops.

When I do longer cross countries with students we always flight plan to somewhere cool, file, go do something there, and then file back.
 
PatrickCPS said:
From talks that I've had with controllers, they would prefer that you not file a round robin, for the reasons mentioned above.

Just to ask a question, but why would you only go missed and then just fly back home? Pick somewhere cool that you'd like to see, and at the very least have lunch while you're on the ground at one of those stops.

When I do longer cross countries with students we always flight plan to somewhere cool, file, go do something there, and then file back.
Click to expand...

Usually I do - but it's on a Sunday and my old lady will get upset if I return home too late. I may stop for a bit, though.

Thanks!
 
Murdoughnut said:
Planning on just going missed
Click to expand...

To qualify as a cross country flight you will need to land...




(3) Cross-country time means—

(i) Except as provided in paragraphs (b)(3)(ii) through (b)(3)(vi) of this section, time acquired during flight—

(A) Conducted by a person who holds a pilot certificate;

(B) Conducted in an aircraft;

(C) That includes a landing at a point other than the point of departure; and

(D) That involves the use of dead reckoning, pilotage, electronic navigation aids, radio aids, or other navigation systems to navigate to the landing point.

(ii) For the purpose of meeting the aeronautical experience requirements (except for a rotorcraft category rating), for a private pilot certificate (except for a powered parachute category rating), a commercial pilot certificate, or an instrument rating, or for the purpose of exercising recreational pilot privileges (except in a rotorcraft) under §61.101 (c), time acquired during a flight—

(A) Conducted in an appropriate aircraft;

(B) That includes a point of landing that was at least a straight-line distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and
 
I've been doing these... for a number of years. It seems every time I do one approach/center tells me to do it a different way in the future. As a matter of fact, in the military there was a very specific way of doing this... that usually drove the FSS crazy figuring out what we actually wanted.
 
I had to file all three legs separately. It was good practice though, writing down a clearance and reading it back while flying the missed approach!
 
Center Hates Round Robin here, and won't allow it. because they have to block that airspace for you for a very long time, pretty much becomes a through clearance which they don't want to give either.

just file all 3.

remember the whole purpose of an IAP is to LAND, not go missed, so go somewhere cool and LAND!!
 
As was said previously, file to an intermediate IAF, ask for a terminal delay of whatever amount of time (prob 10-15 mins for an approach), then file a new line for the next leg. Repeat as needed. Once you get into the terminal environment and check in with your request, tell them the approach will terminate with a low approach and that you would like to pick up your clearance to xxx after that. To be honest, your flight plan is more of a lost comms procedure than what you actually have to do. Talk to ATC enroute and let them know what you want. It doesn't absolutely have to be on your FP, though it of course can make things go more smoothly if it is.
 
It might take some extra time on the ground, but when I do IFR flights like this, I usually just file 3 separate plans.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top