Activating a flight plan
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Activating a flight plan
Hello all,
My flying instructor says that once you submit a flight plan, it doesn't really give anyone prior notice of your impending arrival or whatever it may be unless you activate it by calling ATS.
For example you submit a flight plan departing from a non controlled aerodrome, you should then contact Brisbane Centre (for example) saying that you have filed a flight plan and would like it to be activated.
I can't find this anywhere in the AIP and after I am taught something I always comb the regs looking for evidence.
Thanks
My flying instructor says that once you submit a flight plan, it doesn't really give anyone prior notice of your impending arrival or whatever it may be unless you activate it by calling ATS.
For example you submit a flight plan departing from a non controlled aerodrome, you should then contact Brisbane Centre (for example) saying that you have filed a flight plan and would like it to be activated.
I can't find this anywhere in the AIP and after I am taught something I always comb the regs looking for evidence.
Thanks
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Sounds like a bum steer to me.
The only time I'll do something after submitting a flight plan is call the arrival airfield to let them know and arrange parking and other admin stuff. Never called Brisbane or Melbourne briefing.
The only time I'll do something after submitting a flight plan is call the arrival airfield to let them know and arrange parking and other admin stuff. Never called Brisbane or Melbourne briefing.
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Working with air traffic control | Airservices
Step 2 and 3 suggest that once you submit a flight plan, it needs activating?
Step 2 and 3 suggest that once you submit a flight plan, it needs activating?
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By "calling" ATC do you mean via radio or phone? Using the radio to do so is required so they can pull up your flight plan, find out your details and identify you (which is what your link explains). At a towered aerodrome, once a flight plan is submitted your details come up on their screen prior to your ETD and they prepare a strip. Maybe some ATCOs on the forum can give a better description - mine comes from experience and tower/centre visits.
Only time I've phoned is when I was planning to do some photography work very close to a capital city airport and wanted to discuss the logistics with them.
Only time I've phoned is when I was planning to do some photography work very close to a capital city airport and wanted to discuss the logistics with them.
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I mean by radio, naturally you tell them when about to enter controlled airspace, but my instructor suggests that when in class G or entering controlled airspace further down the track to just contact the area service to let them know you have filed a flight plan.
Perhaps doing so, area frequency could alert ATC before you are 10mins away when you would normally contact ATC for that airspace?
Perhaps doing so, area frequency could alert ATC before you are 10mins away when you would normally contact ATC for that airspace?
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The following assumes you are VFR and in radar coverage.
In this sense 'activating' a flight plan refers to waking it up in the TAAATS system. If you're just bimbling along, squawking 1200 and not talking to anyone, you're not receiving an ATS service and there is no need for your plan to be activated. ATC will only activate a flight plan if you call them on the radio asking for some sort of service: you might be wanting a clearance through controlled airspace, for example, or be requesting flight following or a traffic snapshot or something. VFR plans are not always sent to the console in advance (in fact usually they are not), but it's not difficult to retrieve them when a pilot calls.
What your instructor might be getting at is to call if you will be requesting a service of some kind from ATC soon. In that case a little bit of notice is a good thing but make sure you're clear about what you are requesting. ATC aren't really interested in VFR departure calls 'out of the blue' so until they work out that you want something they might sound a little puzzled: the easier you make it for them the far more likely it is that you'll get what you ask for.
As suggested on the page you linked to, put a plan in the system first. If you haven't it can be time-consuming to get all the required information from the pilot, enter it into the system and then activate the plan. The 'Area service' IS ATC these days and the controller will also be dealing with scheduled traffic in CTA, so if the controller is busy there's a good chance you'll be knocked back if they need to submit a plan for you. It's far easier to call up a plan that's already there, even if something's changed and it's not entirely correct: it's easier to amend an existing plan than it is to create a new one if that makes sense.
If you do not anticipate requiring a service of some kind, it's still a good idea to submit a plan anyway. It costs nothing to do and that way it's lurking in the background should you need it. But more importantly, your VFR SARTIME is attached to the plan - that part goes automatically to CENSAR whether the flightplan has been activated in TAAATS or not - and if the worst then happens and someone has to go looking for you, the details in your flightplan will tell the authorities where to start. Also speak up if you divert enroute: the controller won't necessarily go into your flightplan in the computer to change it but they will log the change so, again, if someone has to start looking for you they have a fighting chance of starting in the right spot.
That probably just confused matters more!!
BST
In this sense 'activating' a flight plan refers to waking it up in the TAAATS system. If you're just bimbling along, squawking 1200 and not talking to anyone, you're not receiving an ATS service and there is no need for your plan to be activated. ATC will only activate a flight plan if you call them on the radio asking for some sort of service: you might be wanting a clearance through controlled airspace, for example, or be requesting flight following or a traffic snapshot or something. VFR plans are not always sent to the console in advance (in fact usually they are not), but it's not difficult to retrieve them when a pilot calls.
What your instructor might be getting at is to call if you will be requesting a service of some kind from ATC soon. In that case a little bit of notice is a good thing but make sure you're clear about what you are requesting. ATC aren't really interested in VFR departure calls 'out of the blue' so until they work out that you want something they might sound a little puzzled: the easier you make it for them the far more likely it is that you'll get what you ask for.
As suggested on the page you linked to, put a plan in the system first. If you haven't it can be time-consuming to get all the required information from the pilot, enter it into the system and then activate the plan. The 'Area service' IS ATC these days and the controller will also be dealing with scheduled traffic in CTA, so if the controller is busy there's a good chance you'll be knocked back if they need to submit a plan for you. It's far easier to call up a plan that's already there, even if something's changed and it's not entirely correct: it's easier to amend an existing plan than it is to create a new one if that makes sense.
If you do not anticipate requiring a service of some kind, it's still a good idea to submit a plan anyway. It costs nothing to do and that way it's lurking in the background should you need it. But more importantly, your VFR SARTIME is attached to the plan - that part goes automatically to CENSAR whether the flightplan has been activated in TAAATS or not - and if the worst then happens and someone has to go looking for you, the details in your flightplan will tell the authorities where to start. Also speak up if you divert enroute: the controller won't necessarily go into your flightplan in the computer to change it but they will log the change so, again, if someone has to start looking for you they have a fighting chance of starting in the right spot.
That probably just confused matters more!!
BST
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When departing a controlled aerodrome you should be including in your start call '..as per flight plan..', ATC Tower would then activate it for you.
If you are doing an uncontrolled aerodrome departure, then when making a airborne radio call with some controlling authority at first point of contact you would say something similar as above. -If you had not already made a phone call to ATC on the ground before take off.
By activating it your ETAs and progress etc are communicated down the line.
If you don't activate it you then rely on someone matching your reg on the radio call to the strip/computer info they have by chance, if at all, and you are not being 'flight followed' until this happens. You can argue that the final destination and enroute points would have your ETA as per the flight plan, but nothing to match up with you from in flight they are non the wiser.
As for Radar, someone has to initially tag you electronically on their screen with the associated flight plan for it then to stay with the target.
Happy to be corrected on the above.
If you are doing an uncontrolled aerodrome departure, then when making a airborne radio call with some controlling authority at first point of contact you would say something similar as above. -If you had not already made a phone call to ATC on the ground before take off.
By activating it your ETAs and progress etc are communicated down the line.
If you don't activate it you then rely on someone matching your reg on the radio call to the strip/computer info they have by chance, if at all, and you are not being 'flight followed' until this happens. You can argue that the final destination and enroute points would have your ETA as per the flight plan, but nothing to match up with you from in flight they are non the wiser.
As for Radar, someone has to initially tag you electronically on their screen with the associated flight plan for it then to stay with the target.
Happy to be corrected on the above.
Last edited by DeltaT; 4th Jul 2013 at 12:39.
Most controllers don't have VFR plans readily available in the pending windows (some enroute or TMA guys might correct me there) so basically when you call them, they look up your plan in the system. It's there in the background, just not really doing anything other than existing.
Once you call them, they look it up and get it active (or controlled as the system knows it) so the computer knows about you. I think this is perhaps what you are getting at? A simple call for a clearance will get them looking at this for you.
As for towers, we tend to write up all the plans we get (Class D non metro) or print up (Capital city/radar towers) all plans on strips so it's ready to go. I can't recall exactly what the display shows in a radar tower but I am pretty sure the VFR stuff is in the mix there.
Once you call them, they look it up and get it active (or controlled as the system knows it) so the computer knows about you. I think this is perhaps what you are getting at? A simple call for a clearance will get them looking at this for you.
As for towers, we tend to write up all the plans we get (Class D non metro) or print up (Capital city/radar towers) all plans on strips so it's ready to go. I can't recall exactly what the display shows in a radar tower but I am pretty sure the VFR stuff is in the mix there.
Flight Plans in TAAATS change to Preactive 45mins prior to ETD. Flight plans that are not then changed to coordinated disappear from TAAATS at ETD + 3 or 4 hours (can't remember which). Change to Coordinated requires manual input by ATC. This is done for VFR mostly when you call for clearance. So, if you don't need to call for a clearance until a long time after departure or a shorter time if you are late departing, your plan will disappear. It can be recovered from the system, but it will take a couple of minutes to do this. Towers still use printed strips, so they will have details, but Approach and Enroute only use electronic strips.
If I was departing Birdsville for Cairns, I would give a departure report to ATC and request they activate my plan. Any controller can do this at any time, but I can't guarantee they will do it.
If I was departing Birdsville for Cairns, I would give a departure report to ATC and request they activate my plan. Any controller can do this at any time, but I can't guarantee they will do it.
In over 13 years of flying, I've never once heard of this "activating my flight plan" rubbish. Just call for a clearance if you're approaching controlled airspace with enough time for them to sort it out.
Not all towers these days use paper strips. Pretty sure Sydney doesn't, and I know that the new Class D towers (Rocky, Broome) and Adelaide and Melbourne don't use paper strips.
morno
Not all towers these days use paper strips. Pretty sure Sydney doesn't, and I know that the new Class D towers (Rocky, Broome) and Adelaide and Melbourne don't use paper strips.
morno
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The airfield I fly from in the UK is Air/Ground, so very little in the way of ATC facilities.
On a recent trip to France, once we were airborne, we contacted London Info and asked them to activate our flight plan which they did.
As I understand it, this is the done thing when flying oversees from an uncontrolled airfield in the UK as your flightplan is not active until done so by ATC. IMO, the best way to do it would be to either contact London/Scottish Info or the enroute controlled airport that you will be talking to, nearest to your departure airfield.
If you're flying from a controlled airfield with full ATC services, they will normally activate your flightplan for you during your ground clearance.
This is what I understand to happen, but someone more experienced than myself may know different.
On a recent trip to France, once we were airborne, we contacted London Info and asked them to activate our flight plan which they did.
As I understand it, this is the done thing when flying oversees from an uncontrolled airfield in the UK as your flightplan is not active until done so by ATC. IMO, the best way to do it would be to either contact London/Scottish Info or the enroute controlled airport that you will be talking to, nearest to your departure airfield.
If you're flying from a controlled airfield with full ATC services, they will normally activate your flightplan for you during your ground clearance.
This is what I understand to happen, but someone more experienced than myself may know different.
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So to the ATC-ers of Australia, does 'activating' your flight plan with Brisbane/Melbourne centre allow you to get prior warning of an aircraft that will be approaching a controlled aerodrome? Or do you only get notified when the aircraft calls the controlled aerodrome direct on the radio?
It really depends on what service you are receiving. Here in Karratha we get coordinated all IFR arrivals, nothing on VFR unless you are doing AWK (surveys usually) and are actually getting in the way of IFR aircraft.
I "activate" all IFR departures by telling centre you are taxiing. VFR we do nothing with them other than fill out the departure strip.
The activating you speak of is a purely administrative thing done by the controller. Your plan will be lurking in the system, it's just not readily visible. Just make your normal call and the ATC will dig it out for you. That's why it's recommended you call before, not at, the boundary.
Basically if you are being controlled (ie subject to an airways clearance) then the next person along the line will know about you. Once you go into G (or E for VFR) then that's it unless you are getting Flight Following.
Have a read through AIP Gen 3.4 for all the phraseologies. You won't find activating a plan anywhere
I "activate" all IFR departures by telling centre you are taxiing. VFR we do nothing with them other than fill out the departure strip.
The activating you speak of is a purely administrative thing done by the controller. Your plan will be lurking in the system, it's just not readily visible. Just make your normal call and the ATC will dig it out for you. That's why it's recommended you call before, not at, the boundary.
Basically if you are being controlled (ie subject to an airways clearance) then the next person along the line will know about you. Once you go into G (or E for VFR) then that's it unless you are getting Flight Following.
Have a read through AIP Gen 3.4 for all the phraseologies. You won't find activating a plan anywhere
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Assuming you're VFR, you do not have to concern yourself with "activating" anything, that's something we (ATC) do in the background when we hear from you requesting flight following or clearance etc.
Last edited by wasbones; 5th Jul 2013 at 04:21.
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requesting flight following or clearance etc
I think what is mucking people up in this discussion is being in controlled and uncontrolled airspace. If you only ever fly in controlled you may never notice.
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I think we may be on the same page.. but for clarity (talking Australia only):
There is no use / procedure to call up and "activate" your flight plan. It is purely something ATC do behind the scenes when required.
If you wanted a service (such as flight following or entry to CTA) then it is helpful if you have a notification submitted already so we can process your request more quickly.
If you didn't want a service from us, then your submitted notification will remain unused and unseen by ATC.
If you want someone to "care" about you (from a SAR Alerting perspective), lodge a SARTIME or fly IFR.
There is no use / procedure to call up and "activate" your flight plan. It is purely something ATC do behind the scenes when required.
If you wanted a service (such as flight following or entry to CTA) then it is helpful if you have a notification submitted already so we can process your request more quickly.
If you didn't want a service from us, then your submitted notification will remain unused and unseen by ATC.
If you want someone to "care" about you (from a SAR Alerting perspective), lodge a SARTIME or fly IFR.
Last edited by wasbones; 5th Jul 2013 at 10:27.
Where I work, we regularly get requests for inbound clearance from VFR pilots whose flight plan has disappeared from the system due to the long time after ETD that they are requesting clearance.
