Filing a Flight Plan

[GAHorn]

With the changes in procedure over the last few years I thought it might be helpful to post a thread on “How Do YOU FIle?”

In the “Good OL’ Days”…. I’d call FSS 800-WX-BRIEF… and tell them “I’d like to file a flight plan” and they’d respond “Go ahead, Ready to Copy” and I’d say:

1-IFR,N1234A, BAe125/G
2-Departing KAUS
3-At 1700Z
4-FL350 400 kts
5-Direct (or via blah blah blah)
6-KSFO
7-3 Hrs 30 Mins
8-5 Hours Fuel
9-4 persons
10-My name & contact info & Base/Ops
11-Red over Aluminum
12- Remarks (such as ADCUS etc)

They’d ask if I needed wx, I’d tell them what I needed and thank them and go Fly.

Not that simple any more. (And they’ve also complicated sequence-reports too! Grrrr).

What’s the details of YOUR favorite method of Filing?

[Coolin170]

Filing seems fairly simple since I’m spoiled by using iFly GPS on my devices. To me it seems like the easiest to learn, just about the least expensive and operates on up to four devices for same price. Iphone, Ipad, laptop & desk computer. Can file on any.
I put in flight plan route, hit the brief button, get full briefing, more than I believe I would get with Flight Service, and at my own pace. I also check weather at most airports along route of flight, and usually other weather sites just to confirm.

I then pencil in filing info on FAA form 7233-1 and give FSS a call to file, nice to talk with someone, but usually I’ve already briefed myself on weather.

If any holding or delay with FSS, then I just hit the file flight plan button with iFly and done.

[rnealon1]

FltPlan.com. Free certified weather, NavLog, filing. I use the FltPlan Go on the iPad in flight. I used to use a portable ADS-B but now have a Garmin unit in the plane which connects by bluetooth.

Bob

[TFA170]

Foreflight. It is the standard of the industry.

I brief at my own pace. It's tailorable. And filing is totally electronic. I get an acknowledgement and a briefing via email if I want it. I actually switched to foreflight a few years ago for this feature alone.

I've been filing international flight plans (DD1801) for almost 30 years by hand, so the format isn't problematic for me, but Foreflight does it all once you input your aircraft data.

[hilltop170]

Days before the trip and right before I file, I use Windy.com to get the most complete idea of conditions out to 10 days in the future. The items I use most are winds, cloud base, visibility, radar, and satellite. Click on the three bars on the right side of the opening screen for the options. It is the most easily understood and easy to use of any weather product I have found.

For filing, nothing beats Foreflight. Easy, fast, complete briefing in plain language. I have never had an issue with filing VFR or IFR flight plans, domestic and international. They are always in the system when I activate them, or the program will tell you if there is a problem up front when you try to file.

[mmcmillan2]

Garnin Pilot EFB. Plan route, create trip, internal Leidos WX brief, file all in same app. Have it on my iPad and iPhone.

I am however planning to switch to Foreflight since that is what my new company uses on their iPads.

I got two free years of Garmin, so that’s why I was using it instead of FF.

[GAHorn]

Foreflight is certainly a popular service and most of the clients I served when I worked as a simulator I.P. used it (companies like XOJet, Flight Options, etc. and most corporate ops) … but our fellow Member Karl Towle talked me into trying Fly-Q because they offered a subscription to CFIs for only $20/year.

Fly-Q appealed to me as a competitor to the Boeing/Jeppesen/Foreflight “monopoly” anyway. Then a truly remarkable program was developed by Fly-Q for CFIs… a lifetime subscription for $300… and I took advantage of that. I really enjoy using it in conjunction with the ADS-B IN on my I-pad also overlaid upon the charts. (the charts and updates include all of north and Central America, Gulf and Carribean.)
(Last nite I was giving instruction to a student pilot and we shot approaches and was able to utilize the chart plan-view to follow progress on the approach-plate-proceedure.)

Anyway…as for flight planning….. Fly-Q provides the same flight planning service as Foreflight does… the only requirement being to open an acct with Leidos (FSS) and then link/authorize Fly-Q access to your account.

Of course, once you have a Leidos acct you can also get the briefing and flight plan filed via that online site: 1800wxbrief.com

(while on that topic…. there’s a “glitch” at 1800wxbrief.com / Leidos …. in that when you register your aircraft data …. you’ll get “invalid” warnings when you enter cruising speeds and altitudes …and they don’t give you ANY help on Format. The answer I got by finally getting in touch with a specialist: Speed and altitudes must be Four-Digits… And the speed will be in “knots”. (DOH) .. indicated with a “N” in front of the digits.
so 105 kts is entered thusly: N0105
Altitude is entered thusly: A0750 (for 7500’) etc .

Hope this helps.

[wabuchanan]

George,

When I started using Fly-Q they were still pretty new, and would offer lifetime subscriptions every Black Friday for subscribers to their newsletter. I bought one several years ago and love it.
Same reasons as you...Foreflight is a Boeing product etc. Has worked very well for me over the years.

[rnealon1]

FltPlan.com/FltPlan Go. Subscription $0/year

iPad/iPhone/Android charts/moving map/ADS-B/filing/weather/weight and balance etc.

Did I mention free?

[GAHorn]

FltPlan.com/FltPlan Go. Subscription $0/year

iPad/iPhone/Android charts/moving map/ADS-B/filing/weather/weight and balance etc.

Did I mention free?

If you like Garmin (and I generally do…)… but ain’t nothin’ “free”. (1800wxbrief.com is taxpayer supported but “free” to users.)