What is VFR Flight Plan?

A VFR flight plan is a document filed by a commercial or private jet pilot or flight dispatcher before a flight commences. The document must be filed with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before departure to indicate the aircraft’s planned route or flight path.

VFR flight plans must be filed whenever an aircraft plans a cross-country flight and plans to operate under VFR flight rules.

VFR requires the pilot to see outside the cockpit, control the aircraft’s altitude, and navigate and avoid obstacles and other aircraft. Authorities establish specific requirements for VFR flight, including minimum visibility and distance from clouds, to ensure that VFR aircraft can be seen from a sufficient distance to ensure safety.

Why Should Pilots File a VFR Flight Plan?

First of all, a VFR flight plan is about safety. That’s why the VFR’s flight plans’ true purpose is to provide pertinent information should a search and rescue team be required. That means that rescue workers could find an aircraft and a staff of it in case of an air crash.

Air traffic control may also request this information when the aircraft flies through a special flight rules area.

Once a flight plan is filed, the pilot must open it with the help of the local FSS. Once the commercial or private jet pilot safely reaches their destination, they must close their flight plan. If left open, the FSS will assume the flight did not land and will forward the flight plan to a search and rescue operation.

International ICAO Flight Plan

The first airlines were born, and in 1944 many countries united by signing the Chicago Convention and creating the ICAO, an international organization that regulates flights. As a result, a modern legal basis for international flights has emerged.

The goal of ICAO is to meet the public’s need for safe, regular, efficient, and economical international air transport and to ensure international civil aviation’s safe and sustainable growth worldwide. It encourages the construction and operation of aircraft for peaceful purposes, as well as the creation and development of airlines, airports, and navigation equipment.

Functions of ICAO:

to take measures to minimize the impact of aviation on the environment by reducing emissions and limiting the noise level of aircraft;
to facilitate the movement of aircraft, passengers, crews, baggage, cargo, and mail across borders through the standardization of customs, immigration, health regulations, and other formalities;
to develop visual and instrument flight rules, as well as aeronautical charts used in international navigation;
to adopt international standards and recommendations applicable to the design and performance of aircraft and most of their equipment.

Do You Have to File a VFR Flight Plan to Fly VFR?

In fact, filing a VFR flight plan is not a mandatory item of execution without which you cannot fly. However, failure to do so can cost lives.

As stated above, this provides your aircraft with a search and rescue operation if the flight does not go according to plan and an air crash is unavoidable. Otherwise, no one can find the plane and save everyone on board. Therefore, we strongly recommend you take this fact into consideration when making a decision.

VFR flight plans are not required. However, there is one exception. It is strongly recommended by the FAA when an aircraft flies through class C and B airspace.

How to File a VFR Flight Plan?

You can file a VFR flight plan in some ways, as it greatly depends on your budget, comfort level, and other factors.

Here we will clarify some ways to file a VFR flight plan:

1. Call 1-800-WX-BRIEF

It’s maybe the easiest and most straightforward way to file a VFR flight plan. Call 1-800-WX-BRIEF (1-800-922-7433). First, indicate which state you are leaving from after the tone. Then a briefer comes on the line, and you are welcome to read the information on your form in the correct order. So, it’s better to have a completed printed flight plan ready. After that, the briefer rereads the data to check if your flight plan is correct. In the end, you hear the weather forecast.

2. 1800wxbrief online

You can also use this website to file a VFR flight plan. In the beginning, log into your account. Then, to get access to flight plans, you should click on “Plan & Brief” The digital flight plan form has an option in the top right to select either ICAO or Domestic. Finally, click on “File” to submit your flight plan after filling out the form.

This website has excellent advantages and the ability to open a list of current flight plans and save flight plans as favorites.

3. ForeFlight

There are some helpful apps to file a VFR flight plan. One of them is DoreFlight. The ForeFlight menu is very simplified. Getting to the desired button is enough to make a maximum of 2-3 touches. In ForeFlight, you will find many features that make the pilot’s life easier. Quick access to information, such as an approach pattern or information about the airspace, is essential in the work of a pilot. This app guides you step by step when planning a route so that you don’t miss anything when filling out the data.

4. SkyVector

This is another equally useful application for a VFR flight plan. Every GA pilot knows SkyVector. It allows you to estimate distances, wind, and magnetic variation. There are also complete VFR and IFR charts, weather (radar, SIGMETs, METARs, TAFs), and airfield maps for the USA.

How Do You Fill out a VFR Flight Plan?

Filling out the document should be as accurate as possible. All flight plans, including the VFR type, should include the following:

Pilot’s name;
A contact phone number (if you want to change something concerning your flight, you can just phone. But rescue workers can also call you in case you do not close your flight plan);
The intended flight path of the aircraft (file direct of your flight, as the main reason for a VFR, is to search and rescue);
True airspeed (to compute true airspeed, you can use the software);
Amount of fuel onboard (you must always have a supply of fuel due to your type of flight regime);
Estimated travel time (Foreflight and Fltplan.com can help you to estimate travel time. You need just to enter correct and complete information in the aircraft data section);
Alternate airports located along the planned route;
Number of passengers and crewmembers onboard;
Other pertinent information about the aircraft itself.

Conclusion

Visual flight rules (VFR) are a set of rules by which a pilot operates an aircraft aft under weather conditions that are generally clear enough for the pilot to see where the aircraft is flying. Filing a VFR flight plan isn’t a necessary condition before your flight. But it’s better to do it to feel safer.

There are several ways to file a VFR flight plan and many resources to help you with this process.