Flight Plan Filing FAQs
For additional information on the questions below, or to suggest inclusion of additional questions, please contact…
Don Schraub
940-845-4896
donald.ctr.schraub@faa.gov
ICAO Flight Plans (General Questions) |
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Q: Can a user file ICAO FPLs for all operations, including domestic only, if the filing conventions are followed? Q: Will flights that enter Canadian airspace be required to file an FPL with each/all Canadian Flight Information Regions (FIR)? Q: Will DUATS handle ICAO flight planning? Q: Point-to-Point (PTP), RNAV and “T” routes can be auto assigned today using a NAS FP; will filing an ICAO FPL provide the same service? Q: Do we continue to follow current procedures for PTP, RNAV and the CDR Playbook? Q: Do we file an ICAO FPL from Alaska to destination within the conterminous U.S.? Q: Should the ICAO FPL be addressed to each U.S. Flight Information Region (FIR)/ARTCC? Q: Why is FAA diverging from ICAO standards? Q: What about proposed changes to the ICAO FPL which replace “NAV/” with “PBN/”?
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NAS Flight Plans (General Questions) |
Q: Can we still file a NAS FP. Q: What NAS equipment suffixes cannot be derived from equipment filed in an ICAO FPL?
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Questions Concerning ICAO FPL Item 3 (Message type, number & reference data) |
Q: Can filers include the proposed departure time in an ICAO Modification (CHG) message? Q: How do filers ensure a reply is sent to the responding terminal as currently done with a domestic Flight Plan (FP)? Q: Will an FPL be automatically rejected or is that a manual function? Q: Does FAA plan to change guidance issued in 2003/2004 regarding ICAO FPL message assurance using Item 3b/c? How will FAA handle the “CHG” message? Q: Should filers continue to follow current procedures for advanced flight plan filing (e.g., 30 minutes prior to proposed departure time)? How will FAA handle “DLA” and “ACK” inside this parameter?
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Questions Concerning ICAO FPL Item 7 (Aircraft Identification & SSR Mode & Code) |
Q: Can we file call signs beginning with a number?
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Questions Concerning ICAO FPL Item 8 (Flight rules & type of flight) |
Q: Is it required that filers include ICAO Items 8a/b in a domestic FPL?
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Questions Concerning ICAO FPL Item 9 (Number/type of aircraft & wake turbulence category) |
Q: Can filers continue to use the National Airspace System (NAS) aircraft designator? What about type designator “ZZZZ”? Q: Will FAA resolve the differences between ICAO documents and FAA handbooks regarding the Wake Turbulence Category (WTC) for Heavy (H) and Medium (M); in particular, what about differing WTC for the B757-200 series aircraft? Q: Have the A388 and B748 been designated as a 'Super Heavy' (/J) wake turbulence category, or should we continue filing them as 'Heavy' (H/)?
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Questions Concerning ICAO FPL Item 10 (Equipment) |
N/A
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Questions Concerning ICAO FPL Item 13 (Departure aerodrome & Time) |
Q: Currently, if an FP is filed and there is no activity with respect to the flight two (2) hours after the proposed departure time (“P time”), the FP will drop out of the system. Is that also the case for an ICAO FPL? Q: Should we file a 3-letter or 4-letter location identifier (LOCID) (e.g., W66)? Currently each center has a unique identifier table. Will they all be configured the same with the 4-letter LOCID?
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Questions Concerning ICAO FPL Item 15 (Route) |
Q: Filing latitude/longitude (lat/long) coordinates is different for a domestic FP and an ICAO FPL; the domestic FP requires a slash (“/”) between the lat and the long. Will ERAM implementation resolve the discrepancy? Q: Will users be able to file “T-routes” using the ICAO FPL and using DUATS (e.g., Caribbean)?
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Questions Concerning ICAO FPL Item 16 (Destination, EET & Alternate Aerodromes) |
N/A
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Questions Concerning ICAO FPL Item 18 (Other Information) |
Q: Will including domestic EET/ data cause an FPL to be rejected? Q: Will ERAS accept an "EET/" in Item 18 with no associated data included? Q: If the flight goes into Canadian airspace should "EET/" data be included? Q: Is there any scenario where a user would insert “NAV/D1E99A1” in Item 18 as an RNAV value? Q: How do users comply with differing requirements for data in Item 18? For example, WATRS+ requires RNP-qualified operators to file an ICAO FPL with equipment codes “R” and “Z” in Item 10 and “NAV/RNP 10” in Item 18. Non-RNP 10 operators must insert “STS/NONRNP10” in Item 18. If a flight operates TJSJ/KJFK/KLAX, will ERAS accept such an FPL and keep the RNP 10 remarks in the FPL for all legs of the flight, both oceanic and domestic? Q: In order to be assigned RNAV PTP, do you file RNVE99 or RNVE2? Q: Will the system accept RNAV arrival data only? Do you have to file values for all RNAV flight segments (i.e., D1, E2 or E99, A1) in every FPL? Q: We have seen examples of both E1 and E2 in the NAV/RNV string of an FPL; can E1 be filed and will it be shown as E1? Q: What is meant when you say RNAV preferential routes will be "automatically assigned by Host/ ERAM"?
In each case, the appropriate route/procedure assigned may be the route requested; however, in cases where the route requested is not active or is otherwise not appropriate ERAS will automatically assign a different one. Q: Does ICAO FPL Item 18 have a character limitation? Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP) have varying requirements.
information for multiple ANSPs. Q: Does use of ICAO Item 18 solve the current “pass-back” problem wherein RNAV-equipped aircraft are taken off an RNAV route by a subsequent Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) because the equipment suffix presented to the controller does not indicate RNAV capability? Q: What process do we use to modify Item 18? Q: Can “RMK/” be filed anywhere in Item 18 of an ICAO FPL? Q: Will FAA guidance change regarding information currently filed in the Remarks section of a NAS FP?
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Questions Concerning ICAO FPL Item 19 (Suplementary Information) |
Q: Host rejects Item 19 data if filed in the ICAO FPL. Will ERAM do the same?
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Miscellaneous Questions |
Q: Is there a list of critical DME facilities? Q: Is ETMS able to process early intent filing in the new format? Q: What is the difference between “preferred routes” and “preferential routes”? Q: Do filing requirements change for automatic assignment of Preferential Departure Arrival Routes (PDAR) and Preferred Arrival Routes (PAR)? Q: Will FAA documents relating to ICAO FPLs be updated?
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