IFR Flight Planning

Flight Overview
Weather Considerations
Completion of Navigation Log and
Flight Plan

Instrument Ground School 2015

 Consideration for IFR flights
In VFR flights are planning is considerably less than IFR flights. Why? We have much more
preparation with regards to weather, aircraft performance and equipment, and your instrument
proficiency level.

Meteorological conditions
Before considering a route, you must determine “Can I get there”? You must evaluate weather with
much greater scrutiny for IFR than VFR. With VFR its simply GO-NO GO but with IFR flights you
have detailed evaluation of arrival time weather conditions at your destination-primarily ceilings and
visibilities not only at the destination but at a possible alternate airport. Where will you get that
information?

Aircraft Performance and Equipment

These relate to the airports of intended use and the terrain over which you fly. Your aircraft must
have the capabilities relative to the flight. You will also need specific performance information like
fuel consumption and takeoff and landing distances when planning the flight. If you have GPS, then
you might want to consider direct instead of transit on victor airways dependent but you must
carefully evaluate terrain if going direct. Where will you get that information?

Proficiency
Is the flight too difficult to complete-are your skills up to the task. If not you may need to refresh
your skills with the help of an instructor.

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 IFR Route
Several factors can influence your route selection including the availability of rout
alternatives, aircraft performance, and fuel economy.

Preferred Routes
Preferred IFR routes beginning or ending with a fix indicate that aircraft may be routed
to or from these fixes via a DP, radar vector or STAR. Preferred routes are listed in the
Enroute section of the Jeppesen Airways Manual and in the Airport/Facility Directory.
When no preferred route is available, you will have to consult the enroute chart to
select the most practical route for the flight.

Other Considerations
• Check for applicable MEAs along the route.
• Make sure of altitudes in case those flights require oxygen.
• Make sure your aircraft is capably of the climb requirements.
• Consider using GPS for “direct” routing
• Carefully evaluate departure and arrival procedures. You should also consider arrival
procedures at your departure airport should you need to return to the airport shortly
after takeoff.
• If no arrival or departure procedures are available, you will need to determine how to
transition from the enroute to the approach segment of the flight. ATC will likely handle
arrival transition but look at all the options.
• Carefully consider alternatives-weather, distance (fuel required), & available
approaches.
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 Flight Information Publications

Either and/or carefully consider NOTAMs for navaid, lighting outages, runway closures,
limitations on instrument approach procedures.

Review the A/FD for specific information about your departure, destination, and
alternate airports. (runway lengths, fuel availability, lighting, hours of operation, and
navigation, communications, and radar facilities.

Make sure your aircraft’s equipment meets FAR 91.171, 91.103 inspection
requirements (VORs, transponder, ELT) and you have the latest GPS data.

Periodically check the AIM to review current procedures. It also provides information on
items like navigation aids, lighting and airport markings, airspace, ATC, emergency
procedures, safety of flight, medical factors and charts

Create a Navigation Log

List the routes, courses, distances, checkpoints, and necessary communication and
navigation information as well as any additional information you feel is important. The
bulk of your flight plan cannot be completed until you have collected updated weather
information for your route of flight. You can always start it with a “template” for
repeated flights along the same route, and complete the template copy after weather
data is received.
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 Any Questions on Completing Your Navlog?

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ICAO FLIGHT PLANS

The FAA has implemented flight

plan filing for civil aircraft using a
format that aligns with International
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
standards. Built into Foreflight 
TUTORIAL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfe3ZxuQlrw

Flight Plan Filling - SKYbrary Aviation Safety.html

FAR Part 91.169 requires that you close

the flight plan. You can cancel an IFR
flight plan anytime you are operating in
VFR conditions below 18,000 MSL.
However if IFR conditions are again
encountered you must receive an IFR
clearance before proceeding into those
conditions. If you land at an uncontrolled
airport (no tower) than you are
responsible for closing your own IFR flight
plan.

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 Flight Planning Summary Checklist

• When you begin the IFR flight panning process, take a preliminary look at factors like weather,
airplane performance and equipment, potential routes, and your instrument proficiency that may
prevent you from making the flight.
• Availability of preferred IFR routes, aircraft performance considerations, and fuel economy will
influence route selection.
• Check for published departure or arrival procedures relevant to your intended flight.
• NOTAMs should be reviewed for items like navaid and lighting outages or runway closures that
can significantly affect your flight.
• Review the A/FD for specific information about departure and arrival airports as well as possible
alternate airports.
• Begin gathering weather data several days before your flight in order to obtain a general overview
of weather patterns.
• Although weather information may be obtained from numerous sources including newspapers,
television and the internet, these source should not be considered suitable alternatives to a flight
service station or DUATS standard briefing.
• In case the weather at your destination is forecast to have a ceiling less than 2,000 feet or visibility
less than 3 miles, you need to file an alternative.
• A good alternate airport should be far enough away to be unaffected by weather at your
destination, be equipped with appropriate communications and weather reporting capability, and
have more than 1 approach.
• Once your weather briefing is complete, you can make your go/no-go decision and begin planning
the flight if conditions are favorable.

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 Flight Planning Summary Checklist

• The navigation log is a convenient way for you to complete your preflight planning, organize your
flight, and provide you with a concise textual description of your flight.

• Before filing your flight plan, ensure you have all the blocks in the flight plan filled in correctly,
including the aircraft special equipment code in block 3.

• If you are flying to an airport that does not have an operating control tower, you are responsible for
closing your won IFR flight plan by phone through FSS or by direct communication with ATC.

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 Your IFR Route Exam
Use a NAVLOG and Flight Plan to complete a flight from Saint
Petersburg International Airport to Dayton Beach International Airport
Indicate no DP or STARs on the flight plan. Plan on route using Victor
Airways.

• You are flying N128Q, a Cessna I82/U (Equipment code indicates

transponder with Mode C capability)
• Your climb rate is 800 fpm, climbing to 7,000 MSL at a climb speed of 100
KTS
• Your planned cruise and descent airspeed is 140 KTs.
• Fuel burn on climb out is 14 GPH, and 10 GPH during cruise. Note: Add 3
Gals for taxi and run-up.
• You are carrying 75 G of usable fuel.
• You are the sole occupant

You will be provided a NAVLOG, FLIGHT PLAN, and image of the L-21 Low
Enroute Chart to prepare the flight.
Instrument Ground School 2015
Instrument Ground School 2015
Instrument Ground School 2015
Instrument Ground School 2015