✈️ The Essential Guide to Flight Planning: Plan Your Flight, Fly Your Plan
Flight planning is the systematic process of preparing for an air journey. It is a mandatory requirement for all cross-country flights and the cornerstone of aviation safety. By meticulously planning your flight in advance, you move from a reactive pilot to a proactive pilot, ready for any situation the sky throws at you.
Here is a breakdown of the four main phases of a comprehensive flight plan.
Phase 1: The Initial Assessment (The “W-R-A-F-T” Check)
Before you draw a single line on a chart, you must assess the mission and the aircraft. A good mnemonic for the pre-flight requirements is W.R.A.F.T.:
| Element | Check | Why it Matters |
| Weather | Check METARs, TAFs, and area forecasts for departure, en-route, and destination. | Determines if the flight is safe and whether you must fly Visual Flight Rules (VFR) or Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). |
| Runway | Determine the required Takeoff and Landing Distances (TOLD) at all airports. | Ensures the aircraft can safely take off and land given the density altitude (air temperature and pressure) and runway length. |
| Alternates | Identify suitable alternate airports along the route. | Provides a safe diversion option if the destination weather deteriorates or the runway is blocked. |
| Fuel | Calculate minimum required fuel, including reserves. | Ensures you carry enough usable fuel to complete the trip safely (see Phase 4). |
| Time & NOTAMs | Check Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) and Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs). Notice to Airmen (sometimes called Notice to Air Missions) | Alerts you to active military airspace, closed runways, inoperative aids, or events that restrict your flight path. |
Phase 2: Navigation and Route Selection
This phase involves charting your course on an Aeronautical Chart (Sectional or similar VFR chart).
- Draw the Course Line: Use a plotter to draw a direct line between your departure and destination airports.
- Identify Checkpoints: Select easily recognizable landmarks (towns, major roads, lakes, distinct airports) every 10–20 Nautical Miles (NM). These are your visual references for Pilotage.
- Check Airspace and Terrain:
- Ensure your planned altitude clears all terrain and obstacles by a safe margin (e.g., 2,000 feet).
- Verify that your route avoids restricted airspace (e.g., MOAs, Restricted Areas) or that you plan to request proper clearance.
- Determine True Course: Use the plotter to measure the true course (TC) of each leg against the lines of longitude on the chart.
Phase 3: The Navigation Log (Nav Log)
The Nav Log is the pilot’s in-flight checklist and worksheet. For each leg of the journey, you calculate the following:
| Calculation | Description | Tools Used |
| Wind Correction Angle (WCA) | The offset angle required to counteract the wind and keep the aircraft flying directly over the intended ground track. | E6B Flight Computer (Manual or Electronic) |
| True Airspeed (TAS) | The speed of the aircraft relative to the air mass, corrected for altitude and temperature. | POH Performance Charts |
| Ground Speed (GS) | The actual speed of the aircraft over the ground (TAS ± wind component). | E6B Flight Computer |
| Estimated Time En Route (ETE) | The estimated time it will take to fly the distance of that specific leg (Distance ÷ Ground Speed). | Basic math / E6B |
Phase 4: Performance, Fuel, and Weight & Balance
These calculations ensure the aircraft is safe to fly before you even start the engine.
1. Weight and Balance (W&B)
This calculation is vital for safety, as an overloaded or improperly balanced aircraft can be unstable and dangerous.
- Process: Using data from your aircraft’s Pilot Operating Handbook (POH), you calculate the total Weight and the aircraft’s Center of Gravity (CG) location.
- Formula (Core Concept): Weight×Arm (distance from datum)=Moment
- Safety Check: The calculated total weight and CG position must fall within the specific, safe operating envelope provided in the POH.
2. Fuel Requirements
Always calculate fuel conservatively and ensure you meet legal minimums:
| Fuel Type | Calculation | Legal Minimum (VFR Day) |
| Trip Fuel | Fuel required to fly from departure to destination. | N/A |
| Reserve Fuel | Extra fuel for unexpected delays or errors. | Trip fuel + 30 minutes (day VFR) or 45 minutes (night VFR). |
| Contingency | Extra fuel for taxi, start-up, diversions, or holding. | N/A (Based on POH/operator policy) |
The Golden Rule: Complete your flight plan meticulously on the ground, then adjust, monitor, and fly the plan safely in the air. – Removebeforeflight.club