Task:IFR Cross-Country Flight Planning

Definition:A flight plan depicting all available information such as weather, performance, course, heading, fuel requirements, weight and balance, communication, airspace, terrain clearance and destination airport information.

Objective:To use available resources to make a safe flight.

When:

Where:

Preflight Discussion:

ROUTE

1. General flow of traffic

  1. In on corners
  2. Out on sides
  1. DPs and STARs
  2. Preferred Routes (AFD or in Jep charts)
  3. May not have exact city pair
  4. Use Boston – NY route for Bedford to Teterboro
  5. Must be able to get to destination from last enroute fix
  6. Last fix is IAF
  7. Transition on approach plate from last fix to IAF

ALTITUDE

  1. MEAs
  2. MORAs
  3. Most airports not on airways
  4. Must transition at safe altitudes
  5. Direction of flight based on magnetic course
  6. East (3,000 or 5,000)
  7. West (4,000 or 6,000)
  8. Weather
  9. Headwind/tailwind
  10. Icing
  11. MCAs or MRAs

ALTERNATES

  1. 1-2-3 Rule
  2. Minimums necessary for alternate
  3. Precision 600-2
  4. Non-precision 800-2
  5. For lost com only – don’t have to go to alternate in event that destination is below minimums – asked ATC where planes are getting in

LOST COM

  1. If VFR, stay VFR and land as soon as practicable (then call)
  2. Fly plane first (Aviate – navigate – communicate)
  3. Go back to previous frequency and try to call
  4. Transponder to 7600
  5. Continue to broadcast in blind
  6. Route
  7. A assigned
  8. V ectored
  9. E xpected
  10. F iled
  11. Altitude (highest of three)
  12. M inimum Enroute Altitude
  13. E xpected
  14. A ssigned
  15. When to leave clearance limit
  16. If IAF, at EFC time, if received, else per ft plan ETA
  17. If not IAF, at EFC time, else proceed to IAF, hold

and descend for approach at ETA

FUEL

  1. Reserve = 45 minutes past alternate at cruise power setting (day/night)
  2. Plan fuel based on most conservative expected route (i.e., ATC most likely would not send a small plane right over Logan – plan fuel to go around)

Instructor Demonstration:

  1. Perform cross-country flight plan.

- Demonstrate and explain.

  1. Quiz student as lesson progresses.

Student Practice:

  1. Have student do X-C plan for next flight.
  2. Watch for errors – correct immediately.
  1. Selects wrong altitude for course.
  2. Expired charts.
  3. Poor selection of alternate airport.
  4. Not conservative with fuel plan
  5. ETA not accurate
  6. Route inaccurate

-No way to get to airport from last enroute fix

-Did not consult preferred routes/DPs/STARs

5. Review performance.

  1. Save critique until performance complete.
  2. Have student repeat as necessary.

Evaluation:

Ensure student understands key elements of cross-country flight planning and the safety elements involved.