One man band ‘airline’ flight planning problems.

[Lima Xray]

Up to now I have been able to use PPS for our private flight and route planning. I also use AutoRoute as an atlas and to locate customer’s destinations + airports. I use a Dell laptop, which I can take ‘on tour’. Very useful I find also ‘The Corporate Pilot’s International Airport/FBO Directory.

Flights are West Europe, IFR and VFR when possible to avoid airway charges.

Can any of you advice on the following: -

1/ We operate only the one aircraft. For this makes PPS a very expensive option. The alternative is to do everything long hand. The question is, have any of your people have experience to the same and what do you use for your flight planning?

2/ Also is there an flight plan form available as a template on the PC which than can be faxed electronically direct to Briefing in Brussels or any AIC.

Thanks

L X-

[deing]

Don't know about a cheap flightplanningsystem. We use an airlinesystem but you can send your flightplans direct to the briefing in Brussels via <a href="http://www.belgocontrol.be" target="_blank">www.belgocontrol.be</a>

You can also test your IFR flightplans on the CFMU website:
<a href="http://www.cfmu.eurocontrol.be/chmi_public/ciahome.jsp?serv1=ifpuvs" target="_blank">http://www.cfmu.eurocontrol.be/chmi_public/ciahome.jsp?serv1=ifpuvs</a>

Are you operating out of Kortrijk?

Rgds
Deing

[Harvy]

If heavy aircraft then try <a href="http://www.flightdeck.co.za" target="_blank">flightdeck</a>

[Sabre Aviator]

You will find that producing a ATC flightplan that will not be rejected umpteen times in Brussels will be very difficult if you try manually. The cost of PPS may be high but try filing manually a couple of times and see if you like it ...
Have fun.

[Daifly]

We used to file them manually in the old days! It's not the difficult, assuming you have an up to date set of charts (as every operator does!)

We have been using Jeppesen JAS for Windows for the best part of ten years. About two years ago we started to look at PPS as it seemed a far more user friendly system and we didn't have to pay for each flight plan we ran (which we do with Jepps). However, since the recent advent of <a href="http://www.jetplan.com," target="_blank">www.jetplan.com,</a> Jeppesen's internet portal, the decision has not been easy.

However, this was a topic about making flight planning cheaper. I've not used them, but what about the FlightStar that Jepps make - I've no idea about price though.

Sabre Aviator's post is quite true, although I've yet to find a system that is 100% correct. Even 75% would be a bonus!

The other alternative is to get the CFMU access (any commercial operator can get it), and then use the route database function to get your route. Then just write your own fuel plan. Or keep a record of your standard routes and then just construct a new flight plan on a new route. Should take about 20 mins per route, unless things go really badly! You can also get your handling agent to file it, any self respecting one will give you a decent route...

Hope my ramblings help!