Operational flight plan

An operator must ensure that the operational flight plan used and the entries made during flight contain
the following items:

1. aeroplane registration;
2. aeroplane type and variant;
3. date of flight;
4. flight identification;
5. names of flight crew members;
6. duty assignment of flight crew members;
7. place of departure;
8. time of departure (actual off-block time, take-off time);
9. place of arrival (planned and actual);
10. time of arrival (actual landing and on-block time);
11. type of operation (ETOPS, VFR, Ferry flight, etc.)
12. route and route segments with checkpoints/waypoints, distances, time and tracks;
13. planned cruising speed and flying times between check-points/waypoints. Estimated and actual
times overhead;
14. safe altitudes and minimum levels;
15. planned altitudes and flight levels;
16. fuel calculations (records of in-flight fuel checks);
17. fuel on board when starting engines;
18. alternate(s) for destination and, where applicable, take-off and en-route, including information
required in sub- paragraphs 12, 13, 14, and 15 above;
19. initial ATS flight plan clearance and subsequent re-clearance;
20. in-flight re-planning calculations; and
21. relevant meteorological information.

(b) Items which are readily available in other documentation or from another acceptable source or are
irrelevant to the type of operation may be omitted from the operational flight plan.
(c) An operator must ensure that the operational flight plan and its use are described in the Operations
Manual.
(d) An operator shall ensure that all entries on the operational flight plan are made concurrently and
that they are permanent in nature.
2. ICAO Model Flight Plan Form

Instructions for the completion of the flight plan form

2.1 General
Adhere closely to the prescribed formats and manner of specifying data.
Commence inserting data in the first space provided. Where excess space is available, leave unused
spaces blank.
Insert all clock times in 4 figures UTC.
Insert all estimated elapsed times in 4 figures (hours and minutes).
Shaded area preceding Item 3 — to be completed by ATS and COM services, unless the responsibility for
originating flight plan messages has been delegated.
Note. The term “aerodrome” where used in the flight plan is intended to cover also sites other than
aerodromes which may be used by certain types of aircraft, e.g. helicopters or balloons.

2.2 Instructions for insertion of ATS data

Complete Items 7 to 18 as indicated hereunder.
Complete also Item 19 as indicated hereunder, when so required by the appropriate ATS authority or
when otherwise deemed necessary.
Note. Item numbers on the form are not consecutive, as they correspond to Field Type numbers in ATS
messages.

ITEM 7: AIRCRAFT IDENTIFICATION (MAXIMUM 7 CHARACTERS)Insert one of the

following aircraft identifications, not exceeding 7 characters:

• a) the registration marking of the aircraft (e.g. EIAKO, 4XBCD, N2567GA), when:

• 1) in radiotelephony the call sign to be used by the aircraft will consist of this
identification alone (e.g. OOTEK), or preceded by the ICAO telephony designator for the
aircraft operating agency (e.g. SABENA OOTEK);

2) the aircraft is not equipped with radio;

OR b) the ICAO designator for the aircraft operating agency followed by the flight identification
(e.g. KLM511, NGA213, JTR25) when in radiotelephony the call sign to be used by the aircraft
will consist of the ICAO telephony designator for the operating agency followed by the flight
identification (e.g. KLM511, NIGERIA 213, HERBIE 25).
Note. Provisions for the use of radiotelephony call signs are contained in Annex 10, Volume II, Chapter
5. ICAO designators and telephony designators for aircraft operating agencies are contained in Doc 8585
— Designators for Aircraft Operating Agencies, Aeronautical Authorities and Services.
ITEM 8: FLIGHT RULES AND TYPE OF FLIGHT (ONE OR TWO CHARACTERS)

Flight rules
INSERT one of the following letters to denote the category of flight rules with which the pilot intends to
comply:

• I if IFR V if VFR

• Y if IFR first) and specify in Item 15 the point or

Z if VFR first) points where a change of flight rules is planned.

Type of flight
INSERT one of the following letters to denote the type of flight when so required by the appropriate
ATS authority:

• S if scheduled air service

• N if non-scheduled air transport operation

• G if general aviation

• M if military

X if other than any of the defined categories above.

ITEM 9: NUMBER AND TYPE OF AIRCRAFT AND WAKE TURBULENCE CATEGORY
Number of aircraft (1 or 2 characters)

INSERT the number of aircraft, if more than one.

Type of aircraft (2 to 4 characters)

INSERT the appropriate designator as specified in ICAO Doc 8643, Aircraft Type Designators,
OR, if no such designator has been assigned, or in case of formation flights comprising more than one
type, INSERT ZZZZ, and SPECIFY in Item 18, the (numbers and) type(s) of aircraft preceded by TYP/

Wake turbulence category (1 character)

INSERT an oblique stroke followed by one of the following letters to indicate the wake turbulence
category of the aircraft:
H — HEAVY, to indicate an aircraft type with a maximum certificated take-off mass of 136 000 kg or
more;
M — MEDIUM, to indicate an aircraft type with a maximum certificated take-off mass of less than 136
000 kg but more than 7 000 kg;
L — LIGHT, to indicate an aircraft type with a maximum certificated take-off mass of 7 000 kg or less.
ITEM 10: EQUIPMENT
Radiocommunication, navigation and approach aid equipment

INSERT one letter as follows:

 N if no COM/NAV/approach aid equipment for the route to be flown is carried, or the equipment
is unserviceable,

OR

S if standard COM/NAV/approach aid equipment for the route to be flown is carried and
serviceable (see Note 1),

AND/OR

INSERT one or more of the following letters to indicate the COM/NAV/approach aid equipment
available and serviceable:

• A (Not allocated)

• B (Not allocated)

• C LORAN C

• D DME

• E (Not allocated)

• F ADF

• G (GNSS)

• H HF RTF

• I Inertial navigation

• J (Data link) (see Note 3)

• K (MLS)

• L ILS

• M Omega

• O VOR

• P (Not allocated)

• Q (Not allocated)

• R RNP type certification (see Note 5)

• T TACAN

• U UHF RTF

• V VHF RTF

• W, X, Y When prescribed by ATS

Z Other equipment carried (see Note 2).

Note 1. Standard equipment is considered to be VHF RTF, ADF, VOR and ILS, unless another
combination is prescribed by the appropriate ATS authority.
Note 2. If the letter Z is used, specify in Item 18 the other equipment carried, preceded by COM/ and/or
NAV/ , as appropriate.
Note 3. If the letter J is used, specify in Item 18 the equipment carried, preceded by DAT/ followed by
one or more letters as appropriate.
Note 4. Information on navigation capability is provided to ATC for clearance and routing purposes.
Note 5. Inclusion of letter R indicates that an aircraft meets the RNP type prescribed for the route
segment(s), route(s) and/or area concerned.

Surveillance equipment

INSERT one or two of the following letters to describe the serviceable surveillance equipment carried:

SSR equipment

• N Nil

• A Transponder — Mode A (4 digits — 4 096 codes)

• C Transponder — Mode A (4 digits — 4 096 codes) and Mode C

• X Transponder — Mode S without both aircraft identification and pressure-altitude

transmission

P Transponder — Mode S, including pressure-altitude transmission, but no aircraft identification

transmission I Transponder — Mode S, including aircraft identification transmission, but no
pressure-altitude transmission S Transponder — Mode S, including both pressure-altitude and
aircraft identification transmission.

ADS equipment

D ADS capability
ITEM 13: DEPARTURE AERODROME AND TIME (8 CHARACTERS)

INSERT the ICAO four-letter location indicator of the departure aerodrome,

OR, if no location indicator has been assigned,

INSERT ZZZZ and SPECIFY, in Item 18, the name of the aerodrome preceded by DEP/ ,

OR, if the flight plan is received from an aircraft in flight,

INSERT AFIL, and SPECIFY, in Item 18, the ICAO four-letter location indicator of the location of the
ATS unit from which supplementary flight plan data can be obtained, preceded by DEP/ ,

THEN, WITHOUT A SPACE,

INSERT for a flight plan submitted before departure, the estimated off-block time,

OR, for a flight plan received from an aircraft in flight, the actual or estimated time over the first point of
the route to which the flight plan applies.
ITEM 15: ROUTE
INSERT the first cruising speed as in (a) and the first cruising level as in (b), without a space between
them.

THEN, following the arrow, INSERT the route description as in (c).

(a) Cruising speed (maximum 5 characters)

INSERT the True airspeed for the first or the whole cruising portion of the flight, in terms of:
Kilometres per hour, expressed as K followed by 4 figures (e.g. K0830), or
Knots, expressed as N followed by 4 figures (e.g. N0485), or
True Mach number, when so prescribed by the appropriate ATS authority, to the nearest hundredth of
unit Mach, expressed as M followed by 3 figures (e.g. M082).

(b) Cruising level (maximum 5 characters)

INSERT the planned cruising level for the first or the whole portion of the route to be flown, in terms of:
Flight level, expressed as F followed by 3 figures (e.g. F085; F330), or
When so prescribed by the appropriate ATS authorities: Standard metric level in tens of metres,
expressed as S followed by 4 figures (e.g. S1130), or
Altitude in hundreds of feet, expressed as A followed by 3 figures (e.g. A045; A100), or
Altitude in tens of metres, expressed as M followed by 4 figures (e.g. M0840), or
for uncontrolled VFR flights, the letters VFR.

(c) Route (including changes of speed, level and/or flight rules)

Flights along designated ATS routes
INSERT, if the departure aerodrome is located on or connected to the ATS route, the designator of the
first ATS route,
OR, if the departure aerodrome is not on or connected to the ATS route, the letters DCT followed by the
point of joining the first ATS route, followed by the designator of the ATS route.
THEN
INSERT each point at which either a change of speed or level, a change of ATS route, and/or a change
of flight rules is planned,Note. When a transition is planned between a lower and upper ATS route and
the routes are oriented in the same direction, the point of transition need not be inserted.

FOLLOWED IN EACH CASE

by the designator of the next ATS route segment, even if the same as the previous one,

OR

by DCT, if the flight to the next point will be outside a designated route, unless both points are
defined by geographical coordinates.
Flights outside designated ATS routesINSERT points normally not more than 30 minutes flying time
or 370 km (200 NM) apart, including each point at which a change of speed or level, a change of track,
or a change of flight rules is planned.

OR, when required by appropriate ATS authority(ies),

DEFINE the track of flights operating predominantly in an east-west direction between 70°N and 70°S
by reference to significant points formed by the intersections of half or whole degrees of latitude with
meridians spaced at intervals of 10 degrees of longitude. For flights operating in areas outside those
latitudes the tracks shall be defined by significant points formed by the intersection of parallels of
latitude with meridians normally spaced at 20 degrees of longitude. The distance between significant
points shall, as far as possible, not exceed one hour’s flight time. Additional significant points shall be
established as deemed necessary.
For flights operating predominantly in a north-south direction, define tracks by reference to significant
points formed by the intersection of whole degrees of longitude with specified parallels of latitude
which are spaced at 5 degrees.

INSERT DCT between successive points unless both points are defined by geographical coordinates or
by bearing and distance.

USE ONLY the conventions in (1) to (5) below and SEPARATE each sub-item by a space.
(1) ATS route (2 to 7 characters)

The coded designator assigned to the route or route segment including, where appropriate, the coded
designator assigned to the standard departure or arrival route (e.g. BCN1, Bl, R14, UB10, KODAP2A).

Note. Provisions for the application of route designators are contained in Annex 11, Appendix 1,
while guidance material on the application of an RNP type to a specific route segment(s), route(s)
or area is contained in the Performance-based Navigation Manual (Doc 9613).
(2) Significant point (2 to 11 characters)

The coded designator (2 to 5 characters) assigned to the point (e.g. LN, MAY, HADDY),
or, if no coded designator has been assigned, one of the following ways:

— Degrees only (7 characters):

2 figures describing latitude in degrees, followed by “N” (North) or “S” (South), followed by 3 figures
describing longitude in degrees, followed by “E” (East) or “W” (West). Make up the correct number of
figures, where necessary, by insertion of zeros, e.g. 46N078W.

— Degrees and minutes (11 characters):

4 figures describing latitude in degrees and tens and units of minutes followed by “N” (North) or “S”
(South), followed by 5 figures describing longitude in degrees and tens and units of minutes, followed by
“E” (East) or “W” (West). Make up the correct number of figures, where necessary, by insertion of
zeros, e.g. 4620N07805W.

— Bearing and distance from a navigation aid:

The identification of the navigation aid (normally a VOR), in the form of 2 or 3 characters, THEN the
bearing from the aid in the form of 3 figures giving degrees magnetic, THEN the distance from the aid in
the form of 3 figures expressing nautical miles. Make up the correct number of figures, where necessary,
by insertion of zeros — e.g. a point 180° magnetic at a distance of 40 nautical miles from VOR “DUB”
should be expressed as DUB180040.

(3) Change of speed or level (maximum 21 characters)

The point at which a change of speed (5% TAS or 0.01 Mach or more) or a change of level is planned,
expressed exactly as in (2) above, followed by an oblique stroke and both the cruising speed and the
cruising level, expressed exactly as in (a) and (b) above, without a space between them, even when only
one of these quantities will be changed.

Examples:

• LN/N0284A045

• MAY/N0305Fl80
 • HADDY/N0420F330

• 4602N07805W/N0500F350

• 46N078W/M082F330

DUB180040/N0350M0840
(4) Change of flight rules (maximum 3 characters)

The point at which the change of flight rules is planned, expressed exactly as in (2) or (3) above as
appropriate, followed
by a space and one of the following: VFR if from IFR to VFR
IFR if from VFR to IFR

Examples:

• LN VFR

LN/N0284A050 IFR
(5) Cruise climb (maximum 28 characters)

The letter C followed by an oblique stroke; THEN the point at which cruise climb is planned to start,
expressed exactly as in (2) above, followed by an oblique stroke; THEN the speed to be maintained
during cruise climb, expressed exactly as in (a) above, followed by the two levels defining the layer to be
occupied during cruise climb, each level expressed exactly as in (b) above, or the level above which
cruise climb is planned followed by the letters PLUS, without a space between them.

Examples:

• C/48N050W/M082F290F350

• C/48N050W/M082F290PLUS

C/52N050W/M220F580F620.
ITEM 16: DESTINATION AERODROME AND TOTAL ESTIMATED ELAPSED TIME,
ALTERNATE AERODROME(S)
Destination aerodrome and total estimated elapsed time (8 characters)

INSERT the ICAO four-letter location indicator of the destination aerodrome followed, without a space,
by the total estimated elapsed time,

OR, if no location indicator has been assigned,

INSERT ZZZZ followed, without a space, by the total estimated elapsed time, and SPECIFY in Item 18
the name of the aerodrome, preceded by DEST/ .

Note.— For a flight plan received from an aircraft in flight, the total estimated elapsed time is the
estimated time from the first point of the route to which the flight plan applies.
Alternate aerodrome(s) (4 characters)

INSERT the ICAO four-letter location indicator(s) of not more than two alternate aerodromes, separated
by a space,
OR, if no location indicator has been assigned to the alternate aerodrome,

INSERT ZZZZ and SPECIFY in Item 18 the name of the aerodrome, preceded by ALTN/ .
ITEM 18: OTHER INFORMATION

INSERT 0 (zero) if no other information,

OR, any other necessary information in the preferred sequence shown hereunder, in the form of the
appropriate indicator followed by an oblique stroke and the information to be recorded:

EET/ Significant points or FIR boundary designators and accumulated estimated elapsed times to such
points or FIR boundaries, when so prescribed on the basis of regional air navigation agreements, or by
the appropriate ATS authority.
Examples:

• EET/CAP0745 XYZ0830

EET/EINN0204

RIF/ The route details to the revised destination aerodrome, followed by the ICAO four-letter location
indicator of the aerodrome. The revised route is subject to re-clearance in flight.
Examples:

• RIF/DTA HEC KLAX

• RIF/ESP G94 CLA YPPH

RIF/LEMD

REG/ The registration markings of the aircraft, if different from the aircraft identification in Item 7.

SEL/ SELCAL code, if so prescribed by the appropriate ATS authority.

OPR/ Name of the operator, if not obvious from the aircraft identification in Item 7.

STS/ Reason for special handling by ATS, e.g. hospital aircraft, one engine inoperative, e.g. STS/HOSP,
STS/ONE ENG INOP.

TYP/ Type(s) of aircraft, preceded if necessary by number(s) of aircraft, if ZZZZ is inserted in Item 9.

PER/ Aircraft performance data, if so prescribed by the appropriate ATS authority.

COM/ Significant data related to communication equipment as required by the appropriate ATS
authority, e.g. COM/UHF only.

DAT/ Significant data related to data link capability, using one or more of the letters S, H, V and M, e.g.
DAT/S for satellite data link, DAT/H for HF data link, DAT/V for VHF data link, DAT/M for SSR
Mode S data link.

NAV/ Significant data related to navigation equipment as required by the appropriate ATS authority.

DEP/ Name of departure aerodrome, if ZZZZ is inserted in Item 13, or the ICAO four-letter location
indicator of the location of the ATS unit from which supplementary flight plan data can be obtained, if
AFIL is inserted in Item 13.
DEST/ Name of destination aerodrome, if ZZZZ is inserted in Item 16.

ALTN/ Name of destination alternate aerodrome(s), if ZZZZ is inserted in Item 16.

RALT/ Name of en-route alternate aerodrome(s).

CODE/ Aircraft address (expressed in the form of an alphanumerical code of six hexadecimal characters)
when required by the appropriate ATS authority. Example: “F00001” is the lowest aircraft address
contained in the specific block administered by ICAO.

RMK/ Any other plain-language remarks when required by the appropriate ATS authority or deemed
necessary.
ITEM 19: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
Endurance

After E/ INSERT a 4-figure group giving the fuel endurance in hours and minutes.

Persons on board

After P/ INSERT the total number of persons (passengers and crew) on board, when required by the
appropriate ATS authority. INSERT TBN (to be notified) if the total number of persons is not known at
the time of filing.

Emergency and survival equipment

R/ (RADIO)
CROSS OUT U if UHF on frequency 243.0 MHz is not available. CROSS OUT V if VHF on frequency
121.5 MHz is not available. CROSS OUT E if emergency locator transmitter (ELT) is not available.

S/ (SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT)
CROSS OUT all indicators if survival equipment is not carried. CROSS OUT P if polar survival
equipment is not carried. CROSS OUT D if desert survival equipment is not carried. CROSS OUT M if
maritime survival equipment is not carried. CROSS OUT J if jungle survival equipment is not carried.

J/ (JACKETS)
CROSS OUT all indicators if life jackets are not carried. CROSS OUT L if life jackets are not equipped
with lights. CROSS OUT F if life jackets are not equipped with fluorescein. CROSS OUT U or V or
both as in R/ above to indicate radio capability of jackets, if any.

D/ (DINGHIES) (NUMBER)
CROSS OUT indicators D and C if no dinghies are carried, or INSERT number of dinghies carried; and

(CAPACITY)
INSERT total capacity, in persons, of all dinghies carried; and

(COVER)
CROSS OUT indicator C if dinghies are not covered; and

(COLOUR)
INSERT colour of dinghies if carried.

A/ (AIRCRAFT COLOUR AND MARKINGS)

INSERT colour of aircraft and significant markings.
N/ (REMARKS)
CROSS OUT indicator N if no remarks, or INDICATE any other survival equipment carried and any
other remarks regarding survival equipment.

C/ (PILOT)
INSERT name of pilot-in-command.

2.3 Filed by
INSERT the name of the unit, agency or person filing the flight plan.

2.4 Acceptance of the flight plan

Indicate acceptance of the flight plan in the manner prescribed by the appropriate ATS authority.

2.5 Instructions for insertion of COM data

Items to be completed
COMPLETE the top two shaded lines of the form, and COMPLETE the third shaded line only when
necessary, in accordance with the provisions in PANS-ATM, Chapter 11, 11.2.1.2, unless ATS prescribes
otherwise.

3. Instructions for the transmission of a filed flight plan (FPL) message

Correction of obvious errors
Unless otherwise prescribed, CORRECT obvious format errors and/or omissions (i.e. oblique strokes) to
ensure adherence as specified in Section 2 (Instructions for insertion of ATS data).

Items to be transmitted
TRANSMIT items as indicated hereunder, unless otherwise prescribed:

• a) the items in the shaded lines, above Item 3;

• b) commencing with <<≡ (FPL of Item 3:

• all symbols and data in the unshaded boxes down to the )<<≡ at the end of Item 18,

• additional alignment functions as necessary to prevent the inclusion of more than 69

characters in any line of Items 15 or 18. The alignment function is to be inserted only in
lieu of a space so as not to break up a group of data,

• letter shifts and figure shifts (not preprinted on the form) as necessary;

• c) the AFTN Ending, as described below:

• End-of-Text Signal
 • a) one LETTER SHIFT

• b) two CARRIAGE RETURNS, one LINE FEED

• Page-feed Sequence Seven LINE FEEDS

End-of-Message Signal Four of the letter N.

4. Instructions for the transmission of a supplementary flight plan (SPL) message

Items to be transmitted
Transmit items as indicated hereunder, unless otherwise prescribed:

• a) AFTN Priority Indicator, Addressee Indicators <<≡, Filing Time, Originator Indicator
<<≡ and, if necessary, specific identification of addressees and/or originator;

• b) commencing with <<≡ (SPL:

• all symbols and data in the unshaded areas of boxes 7, 16 and 18, except that the ‘)’ at the
end of box 18 is not to be transmitted, and then the symbols in the unshaded area of box 19
down to and including the )<<≡ of box 19,

• additional alignment functions as necessary to prevent the inclusion of more than 69

characters in any line of Items 18 and 19. The alignment function is to be inserted only in
lieu of a space so as not to break up a group of data,

• letter shifts and figure shifts (not preprinted on the form) as necessary;

• c) the AFTN Ending, as described below:

• End-of-Text Signal

• a) one LETTER SHIFT

• b) two CARRIAGE RETURNS, one LINE FEED

 • Page-feed Sequence Seven LINE FEEDS

End-of-Message Signal Four of the letter N.

Example of a completed flight plan form

An ICAO format flight plan must be used when (FAA):

• The flight will enter international airspace (including Oceanic airspace controlled by FAA
facilities)
• The flight expects routing or separation based on Performance Based Navigation, e.g. RNAV 1
• The flight will enter RVSM airspace
• The flight expects services based on ADS-B

Source: ICAO doc 4444, FAA