VFR FLIGHT PLANS

• (FROM FAA AVIATION NEWS)

• SEARCH AND RESCUE PLAN

• NOT REQUIRED BY FAA, BUT RECOMMENDED FOR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHTS; REQUIRED BY MILITARY FOR ALL FLIGHTS

• CAN BE FILED WITH FSS OR DUATS (OR BASE OPS AT MILITARY BASE)

VFR FLIGHT PLANS

• HOW IT IS USED:– FLIGHT ARRIVAL TIME SENT TO

DESTINATION FSS (COMPUTED BY TAKING ACTUAL TIME ACTIVATED PLUS TIME ENROUTE)

– 30 MINUTES AFTER ETA, CONSIDERED OVERDUE IF NO CANCELLATION RECEIVED

VFR FLIGHT PLANS

• DESTINATION FSS RESPONSIBLE FOR LOCATING OVERDUE AIRCRAFT

• REQUEST FOR INFO. SENT TO EVERY FAA FACILITY AT AN AIRPORT ALONG ROUTE, AND TO EVERY AIR ROUTE TRAFFIC CONTROL FACILITY

• EACH FACILITY REQUIRED TO SEND RESPONSE

VFR FLIGHT PLANS• IF ALL RESPONSES ARE NEGATIVE, DEST.

FSS TRANSMITS INFO REQUEST TO EVERY FLIGHT WATCH FSS ALONG ROUTE, TO ARTCC’S ALONG ROUTE, AND TO AIR FORCE RESCUE COORD. CENTER (LANGLEY AFB, VA)

• IF REPLIES FROM ALL FACILITIES NEGATIVE, OR 1 HOUR AFTER REQUEST, ALERT NOTICE SENT TO EVERY FAA FACILITY WITHIN 50 MILES OF ROUTE

VFR FLIGHT PLANS• THOSE FACILITIES CONDUCT

COMMUNICATION SEARCH OF EVERY AIRPORT IN VICINITY

• FBO, AIRPORT MANAGER, ETC CONDUCT VISUAL SEARCH OF FIELDS/RAMPS

• IF NO ONE AVAVAILABLE AT AIRPORT, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL SENT TO CHECK

• FSS’S AND ATCC’S REQUEST ALL AIRCRAFT TO MONITOR 121.5 FOR VOICE OR ELT SIGNAL

VFR FLIGHT PLANS

• ONE HOUR AFTER ALERT NOTICE SENT, IF NO RESPONSE, DESTINATION FSS TURNS RESPONSIBILITY OVER TO AIR FORCE

• GROUND AND AIR SEARCH INITIATED , USING CIVIL AIR PATROL

• INCREASING NUMBER OF FATAL FLIGHTS OCCURRING WHERE SEARCH AND RESCUE NEVER FIND MISSING AIRCRAFT BECAUSE FLIGHT PLAN NOT FILED

VFR FLIGHT PLANS• EVEN WHEN AIRCRAFT NOT ON FLIGHT

PLAN IS LOCATED, SOMETIMES IT’S TOO LATE TO SAVE PILOT/PASSENGERS BECAUSE OF TOO MUCH TIME ELAPSED SINCE ACCIDENT

• BOTTOM LINE - FLIGHT PLANS CAN MEAN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH AND COMFORT TO BOTH PILOT ONBOARD AND FAMILIES AT HOME

VFR FLIGHT PLANS

• CAVEATS:– SEARCH AND RESCUE ONLY AS

ACCURATE AS DEFINITION OF FLIGHT ROUTE ON THE FLIGHT PLAN!

– FLIGHT PLANS MUST BE CLOSED AFTER SAFELY ARRIVING AT DESTINATION!