Flight Plan Instructions

FAA accepts two different flight plan formats:

FAA Form 7233-1, Flight Plan (NAS FP) and
FAA Form 7233-4, International Flight Plan (ICAO FPL).

Flight plan guidance is provided below for Domestic Flights and International Flights.

Guidance for Domestic Flights		Guidance for International Flights

A Domestic Flight is defined as one which is conducted within domestic U.S. airspace (i.e., the conterminous 48 states, Alaska, Hawaii and/or Puerto Rico), and does not fly through any international or foreign airspace. International airspace includes oceanic airspace controlled by FAA Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC) at Oakland, New York and/or Anchorage. For Domestic Flights, operators may file flight plans using either FAA Form 7233-1, Flight Plan, or FAA Form 7233-4, International Flight Plan.		An International Flight is defined as one which does not meet the definition of a Domestic Flight; it departs or arrives from other than the conterminous 48 states, Alaska, Hawaii and/or Puerto Rico and/or flies through any international or foreign airspace, including oceanic airspace controlled by Oakland, New York and/or Anchorage ARTCCs. For International Flights, operators are required to file FAA Form 7233-4, International Flight Plan.
Click on the links below for FAA Form 7233-1 filing guidance: Flight Plan Filers Pilots		Click on the links below for FAA Form 7233-4 filing guidelines: Acceptance/Rejection of Domestic ICAO Messages Filing Requirements for Assignment of RNAV Routes FAA ICAO Flight Planning Interface Reference Guide Guidelines for Use of ICAO Messages for Domestic Flight Guidelines for addressing guidance for ICAO Flight Plans
Operators who file using FAA Form 7233-1 will be eligible for assignment of conventional (i.e. non-RNAV) procedures, only. Use of FAA Form 7233-4 is required if assignment of any of the following Area Navigation (RNAV) routes is desired: RNAV Standard Instrument Departure (SID); RNAV Standard Terminal Arrival Route (STAR); RNAV Point-to-Point (PTP).		Operators who file FAA Form 7233-4 will need to file additional information, if any of the following Area Navigation (RNAV) routes is desired within US Domestic airspace: RNAV Standard Instrument Departure (SID); RNAV Standard Terminal Arrival Route (STAR); RNAV Point-to-Point (PTP).