ICAO Flight Plan Filing Overview

FAA Headquarters Letter to Airmen No. 08-01 (PDF)
Subject: Flight Plan Filing Changes for Pilots Desiring Area Navigation (RNAV) Arrival or Departure Routes.

 

On June 29, 2008, the FAA implemented changes in all en route Host computer systems.  These changes permit automatic assignment of  RNAV Standard Instrument Departures (SID), Standard Terminal Arrivals (STAR) and preferential routes, based on the airborne equipment and capabilities filed in an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Filed Flight Plan (FPL).  These changes were made to facilitate the transition from the current Host computer system to the planned En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) system at the 20 domestic Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC).  The first ERAM is planned to be operational at Salt Lake City ARTCC in early 2009.

Since eligibility for assignment of RNAV procedures is now based on information filed in the ICAO flight plan, these procedures will only be available to operators filing FPLs.  However, those operators who continue to file the NAS Flight Plan (FP) will remain eligible for assignment of non-RNAV SIDs, STARs and preferential routes.

Flight Plan Filing Topics

Updated: 1:58 pm ET November 24, 2008