Computer flight plans

[Alex Whittingham]

We're putting together our training material for the full ATPL(H)IR and have come across requirements for checking fuel.

• Compare the actual and the planned fuel consumption by means of calculation or flight progress chart
• Assess the remaining range and endurance by means of calculation or flight progress chart

At the risk of looking stupid, on a fixed wing type you'd normally do the fuel checks against a computer flight plan. Do helicopters use the same thing? If so, could anyone send me a sample, please? If not, how do you do it?

[puntosaurus]

HaHaHa. Good one Alex ! When the CAA on a recent audit asked to see our operational flight plans, the cupboard was bare ! We argued them down to IFR flights only, and agreed to do them in future, but the few I've seen look like a spider has had one too many and crawled across the page. Fuel planning involves looking at the gauge from time to time, and seeing if 3Kg/min will get there. This is all onshore charter, can't speak for the offshore sector which I'm sure is more methodical.

Hope things are good down in Cheddar.

[Bravo73]

Originally Posted by Alex Whittingham

At the risk of looking stupid, on a fixed wing type you'd normally do the fuel checks against a computer flight plan. Do helicopters use the same thing? If so, could anyone send me a sample, please? If not, how do you do it?

In essence, yes.

Our OFP produces a planned flight time and planned fuel burn. As part of our initial cruise checks, we compare these numbers against those numbers generated by the FMS.

These numbers are then periodically cross checked during the flight.


HTH

[EN48]

could anyone send me a sample, please?

Not sure how to send a sample, but I have used Jeppesen FliteStar for Windows for about 10 years for both FW and helicopters. Prints a nice flight log in kneeboard size which shows calculated fuel used and remaining at each waypoint. Fuel calculations are based on a performance model for the particular make/model acft as entered by the user.It also has many other flight planning and wx functions, and is available in both VFR and IFR versions; the IFR version is integrated with other Jepp products such as enroute charts and approach plates. I wouldnt leave home without it! Highly recommended. It takes a relatively few key strokes to set up and print a trip log. However, it may not be available for areas outside North America. See www.jeppesen.com for more info.

[Alex Whittingham]

Thanks for the interesting replies. Out of interest, JAR OPS 3 says:

JAR-OPS 3.1060 Operational flight plan

(a) An operator must ensure that the operational flight plan used and the entries made during flight contain the following items:

(1) Helicopter registration;
(2) Helicopter type and variant;
(3) Date of flight;
(4) Flight identification;
(5) Names of flight crew members;
(6) Duty assignment of flight crew members;
(7) Place of departure;
(8) Time of departure;
(9) Place of arrival (planned and actual);
(10) Time of arrival;
(11) Type of operation (VFR, HEMS, etc.);
(12) Route and route segments with checkpoints/waypoints, distances, time and tracks;
(13) Planned cruising speed and flying times between check-points/way-points. Estimated and actual times overhead;
(14) Safe altitudes and minimum levels;
(15) Planned altitudes and flight levels;
(16) Fuel calculations (records of inflight fuel checks);
(17) Fuel on board when starting engines;
(18) Alternate(s) for destination and, where applicable, take-off and en-route, including information required in subparagraphs (12), (13), (14), and (15) above;
(19) Initial ATS Flight Plan clearance and subsequent re-clearance;
(20) In-flight re-planning calculations; and
(21) Relevant meteorological information.

(b) Items which are readily available in other documentation or from an acceptable source or are irrelevant to the type of operation may be omitted from the operational flight plan.

(c) An operator must ensure that the operational flight plan and its use is described in the Operations Manual.

(d) An operator shall ensure that all entries on the operational flight plan are made concurrently and that they are permanent in nature.

Hence presumably the CAA's request. I gather they're not particularly common in the heli world. I wonder if the CAA will try to enforce this? If anyone has an old OFP I could have I'd be most grateful. [email protected]