How to File an ICAO Flight Plan
June 24th, 2008 | 
Author: I don’t know about you, but an ICAO flight plan can be rather confusing and intimidating at first glance. However, once you go through it a couple of times, it really isn’t that bad. There are a couple of fields that are different and take a little explanation but that’s why I’m here!
In order to help you, I’ve created a short video tutorial describing and explaining the fields found on a FAA form 7233-4 or International Flight Plan form. I have to add a disclaimer. This is not a authoritative all encompassing, everything but the kitchen sink video. This is a very basic, here-is-how-I-did-it, kind of video. I ask that you check, use and consult all references provided by the FAA (not me).
Here are some links to references to use while watching the tutorial:
FAA Form 7233-4 International Flight Plan Form (pdf)
FAA Letter to Airman concerning the change (pdf)
Advisory Circular 90-100A – U.S. RNAV Operations (pdf)
Flight Services – ICAO Flight Plans (the FAA printed version of this tutorial)
Roger’s Runway – If you have a Garmin 430/530 there is some more information here pertaining to RNAV capability
Doc8643 – ICAO Aircraft Type Designators
Information about what to put in Box 18 when filing RNAV
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Hi Paul,
being a European pilot, I use the ICAO flight plan all the time, even when needed for VFR. So I developped a Microsoft Excel worksheet that mimics it.
You can dowload it from http://www.plasticpilot.net/blog/2008/06/26/free-excel-worksheet-for-icao-flight-plan/
Hope it will help.
We’ve been using them in Canada as well for a long time. VFR and IFR.
NavCanada has a good section on how to fill them out, with a few examples.
http://www.flightplanning.navcanada.ca/awws/html/doc/autres/InstructionsE.pdf
as well, a copy of a blank flight plan form:
http://www.flightplanning.navcanada.ca/awws/html/doc/autres/flight_plan.pdf
PlasticPilot: Thanks for the download. I’ll definitely be referencing that in the future
Blake: Thanks for including the links to the instructions.
I wonder if the FAA will eventually abandon ALL FAA flight plan forms in favor of the ICAO form? I would be in favor of it. It would make traveling overseas just that much easier. I am also in favor of switching to the metric system, but I think I’ll see an ICAO form before I see that.
Great job addressing this issue. I have heard flight plans getting rejected by the system for using the wrong transponder codes. Can we still call up a pop-up on the fly? What info do we give? 172/G?
WB,
Yes, I have heard that as well. If you were in a position where you had to file a pop-up flight plan because the weather deteriorated to IFR then most likely it would be done using a domestic flight plan form so the traditional transponder and equipment codes would be fine such as C172/G. Remember the ICAO flight plan is only required when you plan on using RNAV departures and arrivals. If you don’t need a RNAV arrival for your pop-up IFR, then you could use a traditional FAA domestic form.
Thanks for the comment.
dear sir/madam
if we i would like to fiel ICAO flight plan .my aircraft in TACasII equiped my TACAS iis US what do i put in my ICAO flght plan to indicat this.
What about the item 17? Can any one tell me any thing about item 17 of the flight plan?