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3 Answers

Flight Plan – Route of Flight

Asked by: 3961 views Instrument Rating

On the FAA Flight Plan form, how detailed should we get with finishing off section 8, Route of Flight?  Looking to flight plan into an airport with a VOR nearby and an IAP off it to the airport, but no STAR.  Would I include the IAF for the IAP in Section 8 on the flight plan form, then the VOR, or simply just the VOR?

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3 Answers



  1. Matthew Waugh on Jan 17, 2015

    Typically you would not assume you were going to fly a specific approach at an airport (they may be using a different approach, runway or it may be visual) – so you don’t include elements of the approach in the route of flight. So just the VOR.

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  2. Dan S. on Jan 17, 2015

    You can file whatever you want. Chances are you will be on vectors before you arrive at the IAF if you filed it, so it wouldn’t be a factor anyway. In non-radar environment, you can file an IAF on the expected approach and it would probably create a lower stress situation if you were to lose comms at any point. In that case you could either shoot the approach if you arrive at ETA or hold at the IAF until ETA, and then shoot the approach. Usually we just file direct to the airport or the VOR though.

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  3. Mark Kolber on Jan 18, 2015

    There is a school of thought that one should file to a likely IAF (based on forecast wind conditions) so, in the event of radio failure you have been cleared to a fix from where you can start an approach. Whether it’s really necessary or a leftover from days with limited equipment I don’t know.

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