Question about flight plans
 

Question about flight plans

In section 19 Supplementary Information, Survival Equipment, the -> S in a box before Polar, Desert and Maritime.

What does this S in a box being crossed out of left uncrossed signify.

We are carrying Life jackets with lights attached to them and are leaving the J and the L box uncrossed.

Do we put a cross in the S box at the beginning or not?? What does this S box mean.

It means what it says - survival equipment. The sort of kit that would enable you to survive in the environments stated (Arctic clothing, Jungle equipment, Fishing tackle etc etc etc).

If you don't have it then cross out the 'S' which states you have none of the above.

On a slightly different track to EGCC.......

Can a scheduled passenger carrying IFR flight who has filed a flight plan and been in the airways system cancel their flight plan having left controlled airspace and elect to continue VFR towards their destination aerodrome?

Yes




.

to expand on Spitton's paragon of brevity!!

on leaving Class A airspace you can cancel an IFR flight - AIP ENR 1-10-7 1.10.1 refers.
You can also specify your intentions in the flight rule field (field 8) by using a 'Y' for IFR followed by VFR or a 'Z' for VFR followed by IFR and stating VFR at the appropriate point in the route (field 15)

However note the caveat in AIP ENR 1-10-5 3.2.2 concerning the way the integrated flight plan processing system (IFPS) handles only the IFR part of the plan, and note that the plan must be fully addressed to get the benefit of 'flight following' and possible overdue action during the VFR part of the route.

Phew!
Tori:ooh:

As we are carrying life jackets with lights attached and are leaving the J and the L uncrossed, are we also correct in leaving the S uncrossed as we are carrying some survival equipment.

As you've already stated the only stuff you're carrying is light equipped life jackets then no. The S refers to equipment in addition to those (unless you've got something onboard you haven't mentioned).

Can a scheduled passenger carrying IFR flight who has filed a flight plan and been in the airways system cancel their flight plan having left controlled airspace and elect to continue VFR

As far as the flight plan rules go the answer is yes. Why cancel the plan, simply change the plan to VFR!!

However, that operator's operations manual will have a clearly laid down policy regarding operations outside controlled airspace and operations under anything other than IFR.

If the flight has left the airways system in the UK there is nothing to be gained from cancelling a flight plan or even cancelling IFR...........simply make one's way to destination.

Outside the UK, there can be some advantages depending on the class of airspaces within which the flight will operate after leaving the airway structure........for example some military restricted areas can be crossed VFR but not IFR thus, the rules do show an advantage if one can shortcut through such airspace under VFR. But, few operators have the ability to do such because of limitations in their operations manuals.

When talking about shortcuts, one must considder the speed restrictions in lower classes of airspace compared to being able to keep the speed up on the airway.

Not a simple decision really!

Regards,

DFC

NB - Just because a flight leaves controlled airspace, it doesn't mean that you must fly VFR and that it isn't possible to continue flying IFR. It happens every day in the UK. The increased risk of coming gnats-whisker close to other aircraft outside Class A is usually a key factor that companies don't like.

To be able to fly VFR only through areas such as military airspace, is done for a very good reason. We all know company pressures can, on occasion, lead to cutting corners. I make sure that I don't fly with operators who allow the (passenger-paying and unaware) white-knuckle ride through the middle half a dozen fighters carrying out vis-idents or simulated combat intercepts!

Further to the replies so far about cancelling IFR:

Most company Ops Manuals, and in fact JAR, require that the weather must actually be and be forecast to remain at or above VFR minima for the whole route and at destination to be able to operate VFR.

It is far simpler, as some have already said, to continue IFR outside CAS.

Actually - there is.

Scenario. Two or three IFR aircraft inbound to a non-radar airport outside CAS, estimating the airport within a few minutes of each other. As IFR separation still needs to be applied then no matter what the conditions the first aircraft will get no delay for a procedural approach, the subsequent ones will get EAT's issued and sent to the hold with the possibility of a wait, which could be up to twenty minutes depending on how many ahead and what the approach interval is. (this is not hypothetical - it does happen).

Cancel IFR and the above does not apply of course.

Cheers for the replies guys, you've managed to clear up a misconception I had.