AIM
5/19/22
with a flight service station, or use an assumed
departure time procedure clearly communicated with
the flight plan filing service.
g.
Although position reports are not required for
VFR flight plans, periodic reports to FSSs along the
route are good practice. Such contacts permit
significant information to be passed to the transiting
aircraft and also serve to check the progress of the
flight should it be necessary for any reason to locate
the aircraft.
h.
Pilots flying VFR should fly an appropriate
cruising altitude for their direction of flight.
i.
When filing a VFR Flight plan, indicate the
appropriate aircraft equipment capability as pre-
scribed for an IFR flight plan.
REFERENCE
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AIM, Para 5
−
1
−
6, IFR Flights.
j.
ATC radar history data can be useful in finding
a downed or missing aircraft; therefore, surveillance
equipment should be listed in Item 18. Pilots using
commercial GPS tracking services are encouraged to
note the specific service in Item 19 N/ (survival equip
remarks) of FAA Form 7233
−
4 or DD Form 1801.
5
−
1
−
6. Flight Plan
−
IFR Flights
(See Appendix 4, FAA Form 7233
−
4 – International
Flight Plan)
a. General
1.
Use of FAA Form 7233
−
4 or DD Form 1801
is mandatory for:
(a)
Assignment of RNAV SIDs and STARs or
other PBN routing,
(b)
All civilian IFR flights that will depart
U.S. domestic airspace, and
(c)
Domestic IFR flights except military/
DOD and civilians who file stereo route flight plans.
(d)
All military/DOD IFR flights that will
depart U.S. controlled airspace.
2.
Military/DOD flights using FAA Form
7233
−
1, or DD Form 175, may not be eligible for
assignment of RNAV SIDs or STARs. Military flights
desiring assignment of these procedures should file
using FAA Form 7233
−
4 or DD 1801, as described in
this section.
3.
When filing an IFR flight plan using FAA
Form 7233
−
4 or DD Form 1801, it is recommended
that filers include all operable navigation, communi-
cation, and surveillance equipment capabilities by
adding appropriate equipment qualifiers as shown in
Appendix 4, FAA Form 7233
−
4, International Flight
Plan.
4.
ATC issues clearances based on aircraft
capabilities filed in Items 10 and 18 of FAA Form
7233
−
4 or DD 1801. Operators should file all
capabilities for which the aircraft and crew is
certified, capable, and authorized. PBN/capability
must be filed in Item 18, Other Information. When
filing a capability, ATC expects filers to use that
capability; for example, answer a SATVOICE call
from ATC if code M1 or M3 is filed in Item 10a.
5.
Prior to departure from within, or prior to
entering controlled airspace, a pilot must submit a
complete flight plan and receive an air traffic
clearance, if weather conditions are below VFR
minimums. IFR flight plans may be submitted to an
FSS or flight plan filing service.
6.
Pilots should file IFR flight plans at least 30
minutes prior to estimated time of departure to
preclude possible delay in receiving a departure
clearance from ATC.
7.
In order to provide FAA traffic management
units’ strategic route planning capabilities, nonsched-
uled operators conducting IFR operations above FL
230 are requested to voluntarily file IFR flight plans
at least 4 hours prior to estimated time of departure
(ETD).
8.
To minimize your delay in entering Class B,
Class C, Class D, and Class E surface areas at
destination when IFR weather conditions exist or are
forecast at that airport, an IFR flight plan should be
filed before departure. Otherwise, a 30
−
minute delay
is not unusual in receiving an ATC clearance because
of time spent in processing flight plan data.
9.
Traffic saturation frequently prevents control
personnel from accepting flight plans by radio. In
such cases, the pilot is advised to contact a flight plan
filing service for the purpose of filing the flight plan.
10.
When requesting an IFR clearance, it is
highly recommended that the departure airport be
identified by stating the city name and state and/or the
airport location identifier in order to clarify to ATC
the exact location of the intended airport of departure.
5
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1
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10
Preflight