Are flight plans mandatory?

In most countries, flight plans are required for flights under IFR, but may be optional for flying VFR unless crossing international borders. Flight plans are highly recommended, especially when flying over inhospitable areas such as water, as they provide a way of alerting rescuers if the flight is overdue.



People Also Ask

VFR flight plans must be filed whenever an aircraft plans a cross-country flight and plans to operate under VFR flight rules. However, VFR flight plans are not required, only strongly recommended by the FAA, when an aircraft flies through class B airspace.

MORE DETAILS

A visual flight rules (VFR) aircraft on a long, straight-in approach for landing never enters the traffic pattern unless performing a go-around or touch and go after landing (see paragraph 9.5). referring to the AIM and the PHAK.

MORE DETAILS

Prudent pilots typically set higher weather minimums for night VFR flights. FAR 91.157—In order to get a Special VFR clearance at night, you must have an instrument rating, an instrument-equipped airplane, 1 mile visibility, be able to remain clear of clouds, and a Special VFR clearance from air traffic control.

MORE DETAILS

Where a flight plan is required, it must be submitted before departure to an air traffic services reporting office or, during flight, transmitted to the appropriate air traffic services unit or air-ground control radio station, unless arrangements have been made for submission of repetitive flight plans (RPLs).

MORE DETAILS

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires commercial aircraft in the US to have four pieces of paperwork onboard before it can fly. These are the airworthiness certificate, registration certificate, operating manual, and weight & balance. The regulatory authorities use the acronym AROW for this requirement.

MORE DETAILS

(a) No person may take off an aircraft unless the pilot in command has filed a flight plan, containing the appropriate information required by part 91, with the nearest FAA communication station or appropriate military station or, when operating outside the United States, with other appropriate authority.

MORE DETAILS

While not illegal, intentionally skipping segments on an itinerary does almost always violates airlines' contracts of carriage.

MORE DETAILS

Yes. The autopilot, while often associated with IFR flight, really doesn't have anything to do with IFR or VFR flight. The autopilot's primary function is to relieve the pilot of the mundane, redundant, fatiguing effects of the constant minor control inputs that are required f...

MORE DETAILS

When flying under VFR rules, you can use an ILS to help guide you to land. Typically, at an airport with an ILS, you cannot just jump onto it yourself when flying under VFR rules, but instead you can request Approach / Tower, that as VFR, for premission to fly a Practice ILS approach under VFR flight rules.

MORE DETAILS