IFR Flight Planning Study Notes

IFR Flight Planning

Introduction and Homework Review

  • Objective: To ensure safe and efficient operation of aircraft during IFR flights.

  • Key Topics:

    • Regulations Pertaining to IFR Preflight Action

    • Regulations Regarding IFR Alternate Requirements

    • Regulations Regarding IFR Fuel Requirements

    • Applicable Regulations for IFR Flight Operations

    • IFR Flight Planning Practice

    • Overview of IFR Flight

    • Navigation Log specifics

    • Filing an IFR Flight Plan

    • Conclusion and Review Plan for the session

Purposes of Flight Planning

  • Safety: This is the TOP reason for proper planning. Ensuring safety minimizes risks during the flight.

  • Fuel Requirements: Proper fuel planning ensures being SAFE and LEGAL.

  • Other Considerations:

    • Weather considerations impacting routing and timings (adjustments if delays occur).

    • Terrain considerations for avoiding hazards.

    • Efficiency of routing and operations, especially for airlines needing specific aircraft location at particular times.

Barriers to Effective IFR Flight Planning

  • Common issues identified include:

    • Improper Planning

    • Poor Communication

    • Lack of Knowledge

    • Aircraft Database Currency and Capabilities

    • Rushed Planning

    • Ignoring key factors such as differences in equipment on board, personal minimums, personal currency and proficiency, and various limitations (pilot capabilities, aircraft status, scheduling, weather, routing, ATC restrictions).

Flight Planning Process

Steps to Effective Flight Planning:

  1. Gather: Collect all relevant information related to your flight, including charts, weather data, and NOTAMs.

  2. Analyze: Examine the gathered information to formulate an adequate flight plan.

  3. Plan: Develop the route, consider alternates, and prepare for contingencies. Select the best routing based on analysis.

  4. File: Ensure proper filing of the ICAO Flight Plan and review all safety and legality considerations.

  5. Evaluate: Continuously assess your plan for potential changes due to varying flight conditions.

Tools and Materials for Gathering Information:

  • Charts (all current):

    • L charts, IAPs, SID, DP, STAR, Sectionals

  • Weather Briefings: Essential to check prevailing weather for route.

  • Flight Computing Tools: Electronic Flight Bags (EFB), plotters, and XC IFR planning forms.

  • Environmental and Time Considerations: Influence of time of day and seasonal conditions on planning.

Statistical Context

  • Since 2002, 86% of fixed-wing VFR into IMC accidents have been fatal. Key takeaways:

    • Importance of being knowledgeable, current, and proficient in operations.

Risks Impacting IFR Flights

  • Various factors can jeopardize IFR flight safety:

    • Thunderstorm activity and wind shear

    • Midair collisions

    • System failures

    • Fuel exhaustion or contamination

    • Operations conducted in IMC

    • Low altitude operations leading to risks

    • Powerplant failure

    • Loss of control in flight

Risk Assessment Considerations

  • Evaluating all potential information for a comprehensive risk assessment involves:

    • Personal minimums,

    • Recency of experience,

    • Weather severity,

    • Routing concerns (airspace restrictions, etc.),

    • Fuel considerations (including reserves).

    • Alternate airports for departure, destination, and enroute, and aircraft capabilities.

    • Personal “IMSAFE” checklist (Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Emotion).

    • The “PAVE” checklist: assessing Pilot, Aircraft, enVironment, External factors.

    • Time and seasonal factors (like night, winter, water, and mountainous conditions).

The Poor Judgment Chain

  • Concept: A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

  • Characteristics of poor judgment:

    • One bad judgment can often lead to another.

    • Difficulty in rectifying a series of poor judgments increases risk of an incident.

Accident Causes and Risk Assessment

  • Accidents frequently occur from:

    • Failing to file for IFR when required.

    • Prematurely canceling IFR status and attempting VFR in IFR conditions.

    • FAASTeam’s “57 Seconds” case demonstrating the risks of controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) within seconds.

Identifying Risk Factors: The PAVE Checklist

  • Consider named risks in each category:

    • Pilot: Health, experience, and currency.

    • Aircraft: Maintenance and performance capabilities.

    • Environment: Weather and airspace conditions.

    • External factors: Other air traffic, navigational aids.

Hazardous Attitudes in Aviation

  • Dangerous Mindsets and Antidotes:

    • Anti-Authority: Recognizing rules are generally correct; adhere to regulations.

    • Impulsivity: Take time to think before acting.

    • Invulnerability: Understanding that accidents can happen to anyone.

    • Macho: Avoid taking unnecessary risks; prioritize safety.

    • Resignation: Acknowledge that pilots have control and can influence outcomes.

Flight Plan Considerations

  • Take Time to Plan: Include contingencies and check routing options (Preferred Routes and Possible Routes).

  • Filing: Flight plans can be filed by phone or advanced tools (e.g., 1-800-WX-BRIEF).

Charting and Navigation

  • Required Charts: Familiarization with current charts required for route planning, such as:

    • Terminal Procedures, Area Charts, and Enroute charts.

  • Navigational Aids: Understanding the role of different aids in navigation such as VORs (VHF Omnidirectional Range) and RNAV (Area Navigation).

Communication and Workload Management

  • Effective communication is essential to position reporting and safety checks.

  • Barriers to communication be addressed for better management of workload:

    • Mindset issues, clarity of language, and setting expectations.

  • Employ automation effectively to aid situational awareness and manage workload efficiently.

Aeronautical Decision-Making (ADM)

  • Framework for making decisions:

    • Detect changes in conditions.

    • Estimate response needs.

    • Choose the best outcome to pursue.

    • Identify potential actions to take.

    • Do the actions selected.

    • Evaluate the effectiveness of the actions taken.

IFR Regulations - Selected

Pre-Flight Requirements

  • As per FAR 91.103 (Preflight Action requirements):

    • NOTAMs, weather reports and forecasts, known traffic delays, runway lengths, alternatives, fuel requirements, and performance-related details must be accounted for prior to flight.

    • Altitudes: Understanding minimum and maximum cruising altitudes, as well as associated regulations (91.177, 91.179, etc.).

    • Alternates: Development of an alternate flight plan is crucial, requiring acceptable conditions at the alternate airport (2000' ceilings and 3 miles visibility needed for specific approaches).

Fuel Requirements for IFR Operations

  • Specific guidance on IFR fuel requirements per FAR 91.167 involving fuel calculation for flights, including appropriate reserves for conditions.

  • Requirement of minimum fuel for continued operation based on departure to destination plus additional time.

Filing Flight Plans

  • Options include non-tower airport contact through FSS, and electronic filing options.

  • Procedures for canceling IFR plans or closing out after flight must be known and accessible.