Flight Plans

[mcdonnellluke]

Hello
Is a flight plan mandatory for all international flights, even if such flight is by VFR? and for domestic flights on VFR no plan is required to be filed?
Luke

[bookworm]

Is a flight plan mandatory for all international flights, even if such flight is by VFR?

From the UK, yes. Some international agreements exist elsewhere to allow for short cross-border flights without FPLs.

and for domestic flights on VFR no plan is required to be filed?

In most cases, for UK domestic VFR an "abbreviated flight plan" can be filed as required, which in essence means passing your details over the radio to ATC when requesting a clearance.

[wobblyprop]

I think you must submit a flight plan if crossing an FIR (flight information region).

It is advisable to submit one when flying over sparsely populated areas/water so that they can look for you when you don't turn up.

[canberra]

the rule on flight plans for flights crossing national boundaries is a bit vague. in the uk they are mandatory unless you are under air defence control or on sar,some of you may remember a thing called the uk overland area this has been binned. i remember flying in the circuit at raf laarbruch, on one of the runways you went in to holland, unlike today(all flights in holland must file a flight plan in holland) we didnt file a flight plan.

[chiglet]

A "Filed" Flight Plan [VFR or IFR] is MANDATORY in the UK
IF crossing an "International" Boundary, [and also, I think, if the A/C is above 12500lbs/5700kgs auw] .
Unfortunately , a "Supplemental Flt Plan" isn't.
This means that you file a plan from EGXX to LFZZ . I know that you are going from A to B. No probs, BUT You don't have to tell me your "endurance" or "pax" or "emergency equipment".
So "A. Pilot" faxes a plan from a private strip near LlanfairPG to LFAC [Calais]
EG
FPL Gxxxx xx/l s/c
zzzz 0900
n0100 v dct
LFAC 0145 LFAT
THAT is a true example of a VFR plan. Unfortunately, it is completely LEGAL:mad:
we aim to please, it keeps the cleaners happy

[eyeinthesky]

Just a small point re Holland:

There are a few airfields which are close to the boundary with Germany and for which it would be impractical to file a flight plan every time. Therefore there are agreements that you may cross the FIR boundary without a flight plan between these airfields. Examples are Twenthe (EHTW) - Stadtlohn (EDLS) and Lelystad (EHLE) - Nordhorn (don't know).

[Bigears]

Extract from MATS Pt1 (http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP493__Part1.pdf)
Section 1 Chapter 2 Page 6
9 Filing of Flight Plans
9.1 Flight plans fall into two categories:
a) Full flight plans; the information required on Form CA 48/RAF2919.
b) Abbreviated flight plans; the limited information required to obtain a clearance for
a portion of flight (e.g: flying in a control zone, crossing an airway) filed either on
the RTF or by telephone prior to take-off.
9.2 The destination aerodrome will be advised of the flight only if the flight plan
information covers the whole route of the flight.
9.3 An airborne flight plan may be filed provided that the pilot leaves sufficient time for
the clearance to be issued before the aircraft reaches the boundary of the controlled
airspace (normally 10 minutes).
9.4 A pilot may file a flight plan for any flight.
9.5 A pilot is required to file a flight plan:
a) for all flights within controlled airspace, Class A–E, which are conducted in
accordance with IFR;
b) for flights within Class B, C and D airspace conducted in accordance with VFR;
c) when he wishes to receive an air traffic advisory service (Class F airspace);
d) for all flights which will cross a United Kingdom international FIR boundary;
e) for any flight where the destination is more than 40 km from the aerodrome of
departure and the aircraft’s maximum total weight authorised exceeds 5700 kg.
9.6 A pilot is advised to file a flight plan:
a) if his flight involves flying over the sea more than 10 miles from the UK coast or
flying over sparsely populated areas where search and rescue operations would be
difficult; or
b) if he intends to fly into an area in which search and rescue operations are in
progress. The flight plan should include the expected times of entering and leaving
the area and the details must also be passed to the parent ACC. The ACC is to
notify the ARCC concerned.
9.7 A pilot who has filed a flight plan to a destination without an ATSU and not connected
to the AFTN shall comply with the following procedure:
a) Nominate a responsible person at his destination and inform him of the planned
ETA. If the aircraft fails to arrive within 30 minutes of the ETA the responsible
person will notify the parent ATSU. That ATSU will then initiate alerting action; or
b) If no responsible person can be found, the pilot will contact the parent ATSU and
request that they act in the same capacity. The pilot is then required to inform the
parent ATSU of his arrival within 30 minutes of the notified ETA, otherwise alerting
action will automatically be initiated.

[Fred]

I have read this excerpt many times and have never resolved the following: section 9.5 does not specify in each of the cases a) to e) whether a full flight plan CA48 is necessary or whether an abbreviated one will suffice. For example we all know that to cross an international boundary it's a CA48 but to transit a class D zone VFR we just need to get clearance with an RT transmition. Now what about a non-airways IFR flight within the UK generally outside CAS but where an IFR transit in IMC will be requested enroute through a class D CTR? And what about if VMC conditions are expected but the flight is still IFR throughout? Answers very gratefully received.