IFR Flight Plan
FAR 91.173 – ATC Clearance and Flight Plan Required
No person may operate an aircraft in controlled airspace under IFR unless that person has filed an IFR flight plan and received an appropriate ATC clearanceFiling
FAR 91.169(a) – IFR Flight Plan: Information Required
Information required under FAR 91.153 – VFR Flight Plan: Information Required- Aircraft tail number and call sign
- Aircraft type
- Formation – number of aircraft and type of each
- PIC full name and address
- Formation –
- Departure point and time
- Proposed route, altitude and cruising speed
- First point of intended landing, time enroute
- Fuel in hours
- Number of Occupants
- Necessary info for ATC
- Except FAR 91.169(a)(2) 123 Rule
AIM 5-1-6 –
- File at least 30 minutes prior to estimated departure
- Non- scheduled flights above FL230 should be filed at least 4 hours before est. departure time
How to File
- By phone 1-800-WX-BRIEF
- Online Leidos 1800wxbrief.com
- EFB ForeFlight
- ATC radio
- Pop-Up IFR radio
- Allows pilots to transition from VFR to IFR without a previously filed flight plan
- Must climb to minimum IFR altitude, subject to ATC workload
Preferred Routes
AIM 5-1-6 IFH 1-5
Chart Supplement
- Guides pilots in planning their routes of flight, minimizing route changes, and aiding in the orderly management of air traffic
Altitudes
- IFR cruising altitudes are assigned by ATC
- Uncontrolled airspace below FL290 –
- 0° – 179° ODD thousands or FL
- 179° – 359° EVEN thousands or FL
Alternates
FAR 91.169(b) No Alternate
An alternate airport is not needed if destination airport has an available published instrument approach procedure and for 1 hour before and 1 hour after estimated arrival time weather reports indicate ceiling > 2,000' AGL and visibility ≥ 3 sm123 Rule Alternate Not Needed If...
For 1 hour before and after ETACeiling > 2,000' AGLVisibility ≥ 3 smFAR 91.169(c) Weather Minimums
To use an airport as an alternate, weather reports at the estimated time of arrival must indicate –- Precision Approaches – ceiling ≥ 600' / visibility ≥ 2 sm
- Nonprecision Approaches – ceiling ≥ 800' / visibility ≥ 2 sm
- No Approach Procedure – ceiling / visibility allow descent from MEA, approach and landing under Basic VFR
Choosing Alternates
- Check for IAP
- Check weather at ETA
- Precision approach – weather ≥ 600' / 2 sm
- Nonrecision approach – weather ≥ 800' / 2 sm
- A on plate – use nonstandard alternate minimums TPP
- A NA on plate – alternate not allowed
GPS Considerations
AIM 1-1-17b.5 – GPS Instrument Approach Procedures
AIM 1-1-18c.9 – WAAS Alternate Requirements
AIM 1-2-3d – RNAV Alternate Considerations
No WAAS
- Flight plan can be based on GPS approach availability at either the destination or the alternate, but not at both
WAAS without baro-VNAV
- Flight plan may be filed based on LNAV or circling minimas at the alternate (regardless of available approaches)
WAAS with baro-VNAV
- LNAV/VNAV or RNP 0.3 are allowed as basis for the flight plan’s alternate (Requires Special Authorization & RNP availability)
Fuel Requirements
FAR 91.167 – Fuel Requirements
Departure to destination + alternate + 45 minutes at cruiseDeparture Clearance
CRAFT
Clearance limitRouteAltitudeFrequency departureTransponder codeAIM 5-2-6 Abbreviated Departure Clearance
- "Cleared ––– as filed ––– "
Clearance Void Time
- Time at which clearance is void and you may not takeoff
- You must notify ATC within 30 min after the void time if you did not depart
Hold for Release
- You may not takeoff until being released for IFR departure
Release Time
- The earliest time the aircraft may depart under IFR
Expect Depeature Clearance Time
- A runway release time given under traffic management programs in busy airports
- Aircraft are expected to depart no earlier and no later than 5 minutes from the EDCT
Mandatory Reports
AIM 5-3-3 – Additional Reports
MARVELOUS VFR C500
Missed approach
Airspeed change ±10kn or ±5%
Reaching a holding fix
VFR-on-top altitude change
ETA change more than 3 minutes no radar
Leaving a holding fix
Outer marker inbound no radar
Unforecasted weather FAR 91.183
Safety of flight issues FAR 91.183
Vacating an altitude
Final approach fix inbound no radar
Radio or nav failure
Compulsory reporting points no radar FAR 91.183
500 FPM climb or descent unable
Cancellation
FAR 91.169(d) – IFR Flight Plan: Cancellation
When a flight plan has been activated, the pilot in command, upon canceling or completing the flight under the flight plan, shall notify an FAA Flight Service Station or ATC facilityAIM 5-1-15
Pilots can cancel anytime in flight if out of IMC and class A airspaceTowered Airport
Automatically cancelled by ATC upon landingUntowered Airport
Pilots must contact ATC or FSS by radio or phone