Create Flight Plan

Viewing the Flight Plan page

To View the Flight Plan page

· On the Flight Plan menu, click Compute Flight Plan.

The Create Flight Plan page displays the following panes and is used to create a flight plan.

· Map View - Displays the selected/created flight plan on the map and lets you modify the flight plan route graphically (see Graphical Flight Planning for more information) . Several overlay options located above the map provide Weather, Airspace, and other information. You can click next to an overlay to view/hide its options.

· Search - This option searches for the following:

· Locate Nav Aid / Waypoint: - Locates a Nav Aid or Waypoint. You can type the identifier and click Go to select and plot a Nav Aid or Waypoint on the map. Clicking a plotted Nav Aid or Waypoint displays the Name, Frequency, and Type information.

· Airports - Displays and filters airports by ICAO identification, runway length and type, proximity to another airport, and airport classification (Civil, Military, Joint, Private, and Unknown). Each airport type is differentiated using a color code, see legend for more information.

· Distance & Bearing - This option helps to find the distance and magnetic bearing between two points. Clicking this option displays and markers on the map. You can move the markers to find the distance and bearing details. If the desired points are not visible, move the markers off the map, wait for the map to pan or zoom, and then place them on the desired locations.

· ETOPS - This option helps to graphically view the compliance of your flight plan with ETOPs regulations.

· Great Circle - This option plots the great circle route between the Departure and Destination airports on the map.

· SID - This option displays the standard instrument departures for the Departure airport.

· STAR - This option displays the standard terminal arrival routes for the Destination airport.

· Airspace Info - This option helps you to plot the following:.

· High Altitude En-route Airways/Low Altitude En-route Airways

· TFRs

· VHF Stations

· VHF Coverage

· Terminal Waypoints

· FIR (Flight Information Region)/UIR (Upper Information Region)

· VOR

· VOR/DME

· VORTAC

· TACAN

· NDB

· Enroute Waypoints (at map zoom level 8 and above)

· SUA (Special Usage Airspace) - Select the check box next to the following to plot them on the map.

· All

· Alert Areas

· ATC Assigned

· MOA

· Prohibited Areas

· Warning Areas

· Restricted Areas

Each item is represented as an icon. You can select the check boxes next to an item to plot it on the map.

· RADAR - This option plots the US continental RADAR on the map. Precipitation levels are differentiated by color code, which are displayed as a legend .

· Winds - This option plots wind speed/direction at various flight levels.

· Turbulence - This option plots turbulence at various flight levels. Turbulence levels are differentiated by a color code, which are displayed on the legend

· SIGMETs - This option plots SIGMETs on the maps. After plotting SIGMETs, you can click (SIGMET icon) to view additional information.

	Note:
	The Labels overlay option toggles waypoint names on and off. The overlay pane displays the Labels overlay option only when a flight plan is plotted on the map.

· Basic Information - This pane is selected by default when you open the page. It displays the following fields.

· Tail - Select an aircraft from the list.

· Departure - Type the ICAO/IATA ID of the departure airport.

· Takeoff Alternate - Type the ICAO/IATA ID of the alternate airport.

· Destination - Type the ICAO/IATA ID of the destination airport.

· Destination Alternate - Type the ICAO/IATA ID of the alternate airport.

· ETD - Type the Estimated Time of Departure. The time zone is defaulted to UTC, or you can select the local time zone in the list.

· Flight Date - Select the Departure date. By default the current date is displayed. You can select one day in the past and fourteen days in future.

· Payload - Type the payload. Entry of 20 or less is considered as a passenger count and is converted to a weight while computing the flight plan. There is also an option to itemize the payload in terms of cargo and passengers.

· Fuel - Type the Total fuel on board or select Max Fuel.

· Reserve - Select a Reserve fuel type; Fuel, Time or Contingency. Time is calculated using the Fuel Flow at TOD. Contingency displays predefined policies in which to chose from. The value can be changed in the Aircraft Profile.

· Holding - Select the Holding time in minutes. Holding will not be displayed if Contingency is selected from the Reserve section. The value is defaulted from the Aircraft Profile.

· Additional - Type additional fuel amount in Pounds/Kilograms. The value can be changed in the Aircraft Profile.

· Cruise Mode - Displays the list of available cruise modes of the selected tail, By default the Long Range cruise mode is selected.

· Flight Level - Type the Flight Level. This is a mandatory field when flying to or from an European airport.

· Optional Information – Performance Bias, PIC and FIR Avoidance Information - Displays the following optional fields.

· Wind Model - This is defaulted to National Weather Service Gridded Binary winds. You have the option of selecting National Weather Service Aviation winds, United Kingdom Meteorological Office winds or historical winds for any month.

· Wind Component - This field is required if ISA Deviation is provided. It is used to specify the Wind Component that can be used when calculating the Flight Plan. An entry of -5 indicates 5kt headwind and +5 indicates 5kt tailwind.

· ISA Deviation - This field is required if the wind component is provided. An entry of -3 indicates 3 degrees colder than standard deviation and +3 indicates 3 degrees warmer than standard deviation.

· Climb Schedule - The selected climb schedule is used to calculate the climb performance. The value is defaulted from the aircraft profile.

· Descent Schedule - The selected descent schedule is used to calculate the descent performance. The value is defaulted from the aircraft profile.

· Secondary FPs - This option enables calculation of three automatic Secondary Flight Plans.

· Secondary 1 - Next Highest Flight Level

· Secondary 2 - Next Lowest Flight Level

· Secondary 3 - Next Lowest Flight Level

This value comes from the Aircraft Profile.

· Bias - Biasing helps to change the fuel consumption by a fixed or percentage amount for various phases of flight. The default values are displayed from the Aircraft Profile.

· Pilot In Command - Type the name of the PIC. The details are displayed on the filing page

· FIR Avoidance - This option helps to create a route that avoids up to 3 FIRs. The option next to this field helps to view the adjacent FIR and Center names.

· TOC/TOD/ETP - The selections in this field results in the inclusion/ exclusion of the event as a waypoint in the body of the flight plan. The default values are displayed from the Aircraft Profile. ETP points are calculated based on the Depressurization (Basic) cabin scenario. (The event(s) does not uplink in the Datalinked flight plan).

· RAIM - This option helps to enable computing and appending of the enroute RAIM report to the flight plan. The values are defaulted based on the Aircraft Profile.

· Routes & Performance - This pane helps to perform the following:

· Select Route - Select a route from various options and compute a flight plan using multiple cruise modes. The routing options include Customer routes, Frequently/ Recently Cleared routes, ATC/GDC/NAT Tracks/CDR routes, Winds and Temperature Optimized route, and User defined routes. Euro control routes are available if any portion of the flight operates or is likely to overfly the European airspace.

· ETP/ETOPs – This pane helps to provide the criteria for computing ETP/ETOPs. The default values are displayed from the Aircraft Profile.

· ETP - ETPs can be calculated for a maximum of three pairs of diversion airports for the following scenarios.

· Cabin Depressurization - All engines at 10000ft or 15000ft / Selected cruise mode.

· One Engine inoperative - At optimum flight level / Selected cruise mode.

· On-board Medical Emergency - All engines at Current flight level / Current Cruise.

The performance data under the depressurization scenario can be computed for 'Basic' or 'Enhanced' data calculation by clicking the options provided on the Web Flight Panning page. The Basic computation provides you with performance data for all of the above scenarios for descent to a specified flight level (FL100/FL150) under depressurization.

The Enhanced ETP computation provides an option to compute a plan for an intermediate Flight Level while passengers are on Oxygen for a specified period of time before descending to the final level off altitude. This helps in less fuel burn and better ETP calculations for the depressurization scenario.

· ETOPs – ETOPs enables you to check whether the route complies with ETOPS requirements. The ETOPS certified minutes and TAS values are displayed from the Aircraft profile and can be edited in this pane. A maximum of 12 suitable airports can be entered. You can view the compliance graphically in the Map pane and textually at the top of the flight plan. Additional information such as Earliest Possible Arrival and Latest Possible Arrival times at the selected ETOP airports is also computed.

· Select Cruise Mode – In the Cruise Mode section, you can vertically profile your flight for three step climbs by stipulating the crossing Flight Level at different waypoints. You can also compute the performance data for any or all of the defaulted cruise modes and either specify the Flight Level or leaving it blank to have it optimized. You can also add a cruise mode if rquired. The performance data computed contains the following:

· Mach number

· Average TAS

· Time (enroute)

· Fuel (required)

· Flight Level

· Max Shear (Determined using the wind vector difference 2,000ft above and 2,000ft below the indicated flight level. The outcome is expressed in Knots per 1,000ft of Vertical Wind Shear.)

· Cost

· Validity (Flight plan details for aircraft flying through European airspace are validated with Euro Control. Validation results are displayed Under Valid onmouse over of the icon.)

· RAIM (A Red satellite image appears if RAIM outages exist while a green satellite image appears if no outages exists.)

· Add to Flight Plan - This pane helps to add RAIM, CDR, Frequencies, Runway analysis computation, Route weather brief and FBO details to the flight plan.

You can create a flight plan in one of the following ways.

· Quick Flight Plan - This is the easiest/quickest way of creating a flight plan. The flight plan can be created with optimized routes and basic information (Tail, Departure, Destination and ETD), A quick flight plan is computed with the GRIB wind model and default climb and descent schedules.

· Detailed Flight Plan - You can choose to customize the flight plan by using the following options.

· Optional Information such as Wind model, FIR avoidance, Climb and Descent Schedules and Bias options.

· Routes - You can choose suitable route from multiple options available.

· ETP and ETOPS - You can specify the parameters for computing up to three ETPs and check for ETOPs compliance.

· Cruise mode calculation – You can calculate multiple cruise modes, specify the vertical profile and have the route checked for RAIM and Euro Control compliance.

· You can add multiple information summaries to the Flight Plan including CDR, FBO details, Runway analysis, RAIM report and Route weather briefing.

· Generic Flight Plan - The flight plan can be created using the generic data provided by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) by clicking Use a Generic Profile in the Basic Information pane.

Note:

· Flight profile is not required when creating a Generic Flight plan.

· Generic profiles are not stored in the database for further reference.

Computing a flight plan

	Note:
	· Fields marked with an * (Asterisk) are mandatory.

To compute a flight plan

1. In the Basic Information* pane

a. Select a Tail*.

The values in the Reserve, Cruise Mode, Wind Model, Climb Schedule, Descent Schedule fields appear based on the profile of the selected aircraft.

Tip:

· To view the profile of the selected aircraft, click next to the Tail list.

· Click Use a Generic Profile to compute flight plans with generic data provided by the OEMs.

b. Type the Departure* airport.

Tip:

· When you click the Departure* field, the Locate Airport options appear on the right of the page. You can search an airport using these options.

· Click next to the Departure field, to view the airport details (Weather, Airfield Information, TFR Information, FAA Delays, Passenger Weather),

· Click Takeoff ALTN to add a Take Off alternate to the flight plan.

c. Type the Destination* airport.

Tip:

· When you click the Destination* field, the Locate Airport options appear on the right of the page. You can search an airport using these options.

· Click next to the Destination field, to view the airport details (Weather, Airfield Information, TFR Information, FAA Delays, Passenger Weather),

d. Type the Destination ALTN airport.

Tip:

· When you click the Destination ALTN, the Alternate Airport Options appear on the right of the page. You can search an alternate airport using these options.

· Click next to the Destination ALTN field, to view the airport details (Weather, Airfield Information, TFR Information, FAA Delays, Passenger Weather),

e. Type the ETD*.

f. Select the Flight Date.

g. Type the Payload.

	Tip:
	Click Itemize Payload next to this field to calculate the payload.

h. Select a Holding.

i. Type the Fuel.

	Tip:
	Select the Max Fuel check box to get the default values from aircraft profile.

j. Type the Reserve.

k. Type the Flight Level.

	Tip:
	Click Compute Quick Flight Plan to compute a flight plan with out providing details in the Optional Information, Routes and Performance, and Add to Flight Plan pane..

2. In the Optional Information - Performance Bias, PIC and FIR Avoidance Information pane

a. Type the Wind Component.

b. Type the ISA Deviation.

c. Select a Bias (Percentage/Fixed), and provide the details as applicable.

d. Type the Pilot in Command.

e. Type the FIR Avoidance.

	Tip:
	Click next to FIR Avoidance to get the adjacent FIRs and Center names.

f. Type the TOC/TOD/ETP.

g. Select the check box corresponding to RAIM as applicable.

3. In the Routes & Performance pane, select the check boxes next to the following as applicable.

· Customer Routes

· Frequently/ Recently Cleared Routes

· EUROCONTROL Routes

· Other Routes

· Winds and Temperature Optimized

· User Defined

Tip:

· Selecting the check boxes next to different routes under SELECT ROUTE displays the respective routes on the right of the page.

· EUROCONTROL Routes option is enabled only if the planned route operates or is likely to overfly European airspace.

· Click the Show All Routes check box to view all the routes on the right of the page.

· Click Map All Routes to plot all the routes on the map.

· Specify the ETP and ETOPS parameters to compute a maximum of three ETPs and check for ETOPs compliance.

· You can calculate multiple cruise modes, specify the vertical profile and have the route checked for RAIM and Euro Control compliance.

4. In the Add to Flight Bag pane, select the check boxes corresponding to the following options as applicable to append them to the flight plan.

· RAIM

· CDR (when available)

· Frequencies

· Runway Analysis

· Route Weather Brief

· FBO

	Tip:
	Click View Summary to view the summary of the flight plan.

5. Click Generate Flight Plan.

The Flight Plan Summary page appears and displays the details of the flight plan. The Flight Plan is generated in the format specified in the aircraft profile. You also have an option to select a different format. The selection is saved when viewing the same flight plan at later point of time.

The following options are also available after generating the flight plan.

· Filing form – View the Filing form, pre-populated with the details from the flight plan computation and Aircraft Profile.

· File the Flight plan – File the flight plan with the ATC.

· Recompute Performance – Recomputes the performance details for the existing flight plan. Inputs parameters except for the Tail, Departure, Destination and Route can be changed when re-computing the performance.

· Add to Flight Bag – Add the flight plan to the Flight Bag.

· Next Flight Plan – Compute the next flight plan for the same aircraft. Destination of the previously computed flight plan is considered as departure for the new flight plan.

· Reload – Compute a new flight plan with the input parameters loaded from the existing flight plan.

· Weather – View terminal weather information for the specified city pair.

· Route weather – View the route weather information for the flight.

· RAIM – Compute enroute RAIM for the flight plan.

· Travel Itinerary – View travel itinerary information for the flight.

· FMS version – View the flight plan in FMS format.

· Route Map – View the flight plan route on a map with various overlay options.

· APIS – Initiate manifest creation. This operation is enabled only when the arrival/departure airport is in the United States of America.

· RA & WB – Compute runway analysis and weight and balance for that flight plan. This option is enabled only when the tail is registered for Runway Analysis and Weight and Balance.

The following icons on the Flight Plan Summary page helps you to:

· - Send the information through email.

· - Export the information to a PDF file.

· - Print the information.