International Flight Plan (FAA Form 7233-4)- IFR Flights (For Domestic or International Flights)
International Flight Plan (FAA Form 7233-4)- IFR Flights (For Domestic or International Flights)
A. General
Use of FAA Form 7233-4 (International Flight Plan) is recommended for domestic IFR flights, and is mandatory for all IFR flights that will depart U.S. domestic airspace.
Note-
1. Filers utilizing FAA Form 7233-1 (Flight Plan) will not be eligible for assignment of RNAV SIDs and STARs. Filers desiring assignment of these procedures should file using FAA Form 7233-4 (International Flight Plan), as described in this section.
2. When filing an IFR flight plan using FAA Form 7233-4, it is recommended that filers include all operable navigation, communication and surveillance equipment capabilities by adding appropriate equipment qualifiers as shown in Tables 5-1-3 and 5-1-4. These equipment qualifiers should be filed in Item 10 of FAAForm 7233-4.
3. ATC issues clearances based on equipment qualifiers filed in Items 10 and aircraft capabilities filed in Item 18 (NAV/) of FAA Form 7233-4. Operators should file all equipment qualifiers for which the aircraft is certified and capable. They should also file aircraft capabilities, following the NAV/ indicator in Item 18.
The filer is normally responsible for providing the information required in Items 3 through 19.
FIG 5-1-3
FAA International Flight Plan
Form 7233-4 (9-06)
1. Item 7. Aircraft Identification. Insert the full registration number of the aircraft, or the approved FAA/ICAO Company or organizational designator followed by the flight number.
Examples: N235RA, AAL3342, BONGO33
NOTE -
Callsigns filed in this item must begin with a letter and must consist of 2-7 alphanumeric characters.
2. Item 8. Flight Rules and Type of Flight
(a) Flight Rules. Insert one of the following letters to denote the category of Flight rules with which the pilot intends to comply:
I if IFR
V if VFR
Y if IFR first
Z if VFR first and specify in item 15 the point or points where a change of flight rules is planned.
(b) Type of Flight. Insert one of the following letters to denote the type of flight when so required by the appropriate ATS authority:
S if scheduled air service
N if non-scheduled air transport operation
G if general aviation
M if military
X if other than any of the defined categories above.
NOTE-3. Item 9. Number, Type of Aircraft and Wake Turbulence Category
Type of flight is optional for flights that will be conducted entirely within U.S. domestic airspace.
(a) Number. Insert the number of aircraft, if more than 1. (Maximum 99)
(b)Type of Aircraft.
Insert the appropriate designator as specified in ICAO Doc 8643, Aircraft Type Designators, OR, if no such designator has been assigned, or in case of formation flights comprising more than one type, Insert ZZZZ, and specify in Item 18, the (numbers and) type(s) of aircraft preceded by TYP/.
(c) Wake Turbulence Category. Insert an oblique stroke“/ “followed by one of the following letters to indicate the wake turbulence category of the aircraft:
H - HEAVY, to indicate an aircraft type with a maximum certificated take-off mass of 136 000 kg (300,000 lbs) or more;
M - MEDIUM, to indicate an aircraft type with a maximum certificated take-off mass of less than 136 000 kg (300,000 lbs) but more than 7 000 kg (15,500lbs);
L - LIGHT, to indicate an aircraft type with a maximum certificated take-off mass of 7 000 kg (15,500lbs) or less.
Examples:
-DC3/M
-B701/M
-2F27/M
-ZZZZ/L
-3ZZZZ/L
-B743/H
4. Item 10. Equipment
TBL 5-1-3
Aircraft Comm, Nav and Approach Equipment Qualifiers
INSERT one letter as follows:
N if no COM/NAV/approach aid equipment for the route to be flown is carried, or the equipment is unserviceable,
(OR)
S if standard COM/NAV/approach aid equipment for the route to be flown is carried and serviceable (see Note 1),
(AND/OR)
INSERT one or more of the following letters to indicate the COM/NAV/approach aid equipment available and
serviceable:
Equipment Qualifier |
Navigation Communication Equipment |
|---|---|
A |
(Not allocated) |
B |
(Not allocated) |
C |
LORAN C |
D |
DME |
E |
(Not allocated) |
F |
ADF |
G |
(GNSS) |
H |
HF RTF |
I |
Inertial navigation |
J |
(Data link) (see Note 3) |
K |
(MLS) |
L |
ILS |
M |
Omega |
O |
VOR |
P |
(Not allocated) |
Q |
(Not allocated) |
R |
RNP type certification (see Note 5) |
T |
TACAN |
U |
UHF RTF |
V |
VHF RTF |
W |
When prescribed by ATS (FAA ASSUMES RVSM) |
X |
When prescribed by ATS (FAA ASSUMES MNPS) |
Y |
When prescribed by ATS |
Z |
Other equipment carried (see Note 2) |
NOTE-
1. Standard equipment is considered to be VHF RTF, ADF, VOR and ILS, unless another combination is prescribed by the appropriate ATS authority.
2. If the letter Z is used, specify in Item 18 the other equipment carried, preceded by COM/ and/or NAV/, as appropriate.
3. If the letter J is used, specify in Item 18 the equipment carried, preceded by DAT/ followed by one or more letters as appropriate.
4. Information on navigation capability is provided to ATC for clearance and routing purposes.
5. Inclusion of letter R indicates that an aircraft meets the RNP type prescribed for the route segment(s), route(s) and/or area concerned.
TBL 5-1-4
Aircraft Surveillance Equipment
INSERT one or two of the following letters to describe the serviceable surveillance
equipment carried:
Surveillance Qualifier |
Surveillance Equipment |
|---|---|
N |
Nil |
A |
Transponder - Mode A (4 digits — 4 096 codes) |
C |
Transponder - Mode A (4 digits — 4 096 codes) and Mode C |
X |
Transponder - Mode S without both aircraft identification and pressure-altitude transmission |
P |
Transponder - Mode S, including pressure-altitude transmission, but no aircraft identification transmission |
I |
Transponder - Mode S, including aircraft identification transmission, but no pressure-altitude transmission |
S |
ransponder - Mode S, including both pressure-altitude and aircraft identification transmission. |
Surveillance Qualifier |
Surveillance Equipment |
D |
ADS capability |
5. Item 13. Departure Aerodrome/Time
Insert the ICAO four-letter location indicator of the departure aerodrome, or, if no location indicator has been assigned, insert ZZZZ and specify, in Item 18, the identification or location and name of the aerodrome preceded by DEP/, Then, without a space Insert the estimated off-block time.
Examples: DEP/E06 LOVIGNTON
DEP/PNH125034 LAZY J RANCH
6. Item 15. Cruise Speed, Level and Route
(a) Cruise Speed (maximum 5 characters). Insert the true airspeed for the first or the whole cruising portion of the flight, in terms of knots, expressed as N followed by 4 digits (e.g. N0485), or Mach number to the nearest hundredth of unit Mach, expressed as M followed by 3 digits (e.g. M082), or Kilometers per Hour, expressed as K followed by 4 figures (e.g. K0830).*
*Note: Kilometers per hour is not acceptable for filing within U.S Airspace.
(b) Cruising level (maximum 5 characters)
Insert the planned cruising level for the first or the whole portion of the route to be flown, in terms of: Flight level, expressed as
F followed by 3 figures (e.g. F085; F330), or *Standard metric level in tens of meters, expressed as S followed by 4 figures (e.g. S1130), or
Altitude in hundreds of feet, expressed as A followed by 3 figures (e.g. A045; A100), or Altitude in tens of meters, expressed as M followed by 4 figures (e.g. M0840), or for uncontrolled VFR flights, the letters VFR.
* When so prescribed by the appropriate ATS Authority. Note-Filing of Metric Levels are not acceptable for filing within U.S. Airspace.
(c) Route
(c) Route (including changes of speed, level and/or flight rules)
Flights along designated ATS routes:
Insert, if the departure aerodrome is located on or connected to the ATS route, the designator of the first ATS route, or, if the departure aerodrome is not on or connected to the ATS route, the letters DCT followed by the point of joining the first ATS route, followed by the designator of the ATS route. Then insert each point at which either a change of speed or level, a change of ATS route, and/or a change of flight rules is planned, followed in each case by the designator of the next ATS route segment, even if the same as the previous one, or by DCT, if the flight to the next point will be outside a designated route, unless both points are defined by geographical coordinates.
Note: When a transition is planned between a lower and upper ATS route and the routes are oriented in the same direction, the point of transition need not be inserted.
Flights outside designated ATS routes
Insert points normally not more than 30 minutes flying time or 370 km (200 NM) apart, including each point at which a change of speed or level, a change of track, or a change of flight rules is planned. or, when required by appropriate ATS authority (ies).
Define the track of flights operating predominantly in an east-west direction between 70°N and 70°S by reference to significant points formed by the intersections of half or whole degrees of latitude with meridians spaced at intervals of 10 degrees of longitude. For flights operating in areas outside those latitudes the tracks shall be defined by significant points formed by the intersection of parallels of latitude with meridians normally spaced at 20 degrees of longitude. The distance between significant points shall, as far as possible, not exceed one hour’s flight time. Additional significant points shall be established as deemed necessary.
For flights operating predominantly in a north-south direction, define tracks by reference to significant points formed by the intersection of whole degrees of longitude with specified parallels of latitude which are spaced at 5 degrees.
Insert DCT between successive points unless both points are defined by geographical coordinates or by bearing and distance. Use only the conventions in (1) to (5) below and separate each sub-item by a space.
(1) ATS route (2 to 7 characters)
The coded designator assigned to the route or route segment including, where appropriate, the coded designator assigned to the standard departure or arrival route (e.g. BCN1, B1, R14, UB10, KODAP2A).
(2) Significant point (2 to 11 characters)
The coded designator (2 to 5 characters) assigned to the point (e.g. LN, MAY, HADDY), or, if no coded designator has been assigned, one of the following ways:
— Degrees only (7 characters):
2 figures describing latitude in degrees, followed by “N” (North) or “S” (South), followed by 3 figures describing longitude in degrees, followed by “E” (East) or “W” (West). Make up the correct number of figures, where necessary, by insertion of zeros, e.g. 46N078W.
— Degrees and minutes (11 characters):
4 figures describing latitude in degrees and tens and units of minutes followed by “N” (North) or “S” (South), followed by 5 figures describing longitude in degrees and tens and units of minutes, followed by “E” (East) or “W” (West). Make up the correct number of figures, where necessary, by insertion of zeros, e.g. 4620N07805W.
— Bearing and distance from a navigation aid:
The identification of the navigation aid (normally a VOR), in the form of 2 or 3 characters, then the bearing from the aid in the form of 3 figures giving degrees magnetic, then the distance from the aid in the form of 3 figures expressing nautical miles. Make up the correct number of figures, where necessary, by insertion of zeros — e.g. a point 180° magnetic at a distance of 40 nautical miles from VOR “DUB” should be expressed as DUB180040.
(3) Change of speed or level (maximum 21 characters).
The point at which a change of speed (5% TAS or 0.01 Mach or more) or a change of level is planned, expressed exactly as in (2) above, followed by an oblique stroke “/ “and both the cruising speed and the cruising level, expressed exactly as in (a) and (b) above, without a space between them, even when only one of these quantities will be changed.
Examples: LN/N0284A045
MAY/N0305Fl80
HADDY/N0420F330
4602N07805W/N0500F350
46N078W/M082F330
DUB180040/N0350M0840
(4) Change of flight rules (maximum 3 characters)
The point at which the change of flight rules is planned, expressed exactly as in (2) or (3) above as appropriate, followed by a space and one of the following:
VFR if from IFR to VFR
IFR if from VFR to IFR
Examples: LN VFR
LN/N0284A050 IFR
(5) Cruise climb (maximum 28 characters)
The letter C followed by an oblique stroke; then the point at which cruise climb is planned to start, expressed exactly as in (2) above, followed by an oblique stroke; then the speed to be maintained during cruise climb, expressed exactly as in (a) above, followed by the two levels defining the layer to be occupied during cruise climb, each level expressed exactly as in (b) above, or the level above which cruise climb is planned followed by the letters plus, without a space between them.
Examples: C/48N050W/M082F290F350
C/48N050W/M082F290PLUS
Item 16. Destination Aerodrome, Total EET, Alternate and 2nd Alternate Aerodrome
Destination aerodrome and total estimated elapsed time (8 characters)
Insert the ICAO four-letter location indicator of the destination aerodrome followed, without a space, by the total estimated elapsed time, or, if no location indicator has been assigned, insert ZZZZ followed, without a space, by the total estimated elapsed time, and specify in Item 18 the identification or location and name of the aerodrome, preceded by DEST/.
Examples: DEST/E06 LOVINGTON
DEST/PNH125034 LAZY J RANCH
Note: For a flight plan received from an aircraft in flight, the total estimated elapsed time is the estimated time from the first point of the route to which the flight plan applies.
Alternate aerodrome(s) (4 characters)
Insert the ICAO four-letter location indicator(s) of not more than two alternate aerodromes, separated by a space, or, if no location indicator has been assigned to the alternate aerodrome, insert ZZZZ and specify in Item 18 the name of the aerodrome, preceded by ALTN/.
8. Item 18. Other Information
Insert 0 if no other information or any other necessary information in the preferred sequence in form of the appropriate indicator followed by an oblique stroke and the information to be recorded:
EET/Significant points or FIR boundary designators and accumulated estimated elapsed times to such points or FIR boundaries, when so prescribed on the basis of regional air navigation agreements, or by the appropriate ATS authority. Examples: EET/CAP0745 XYZ0830 EET/EINN0204
RIF/ The route details to the revised destination aerodrome, followed by the ICAO four-letter location indicator of the aerodrome. The revised route is subject to re-clearance in flight.
Examples: RIF/DTA HEC KLAX
RIF/ESP G94 CLA YPPH
RIF/LEMD
REG/ The registration markings of the aircraft, if different from the aircraft identification in Item 7.
SEL/ SELCAL code, if so prescribed by the appropriate ATS authority.
OPR/ Name of the operator, if not obvious from the aircraft identification in Item 7.
STS/ Reason for special handling by ATS, e.g. hospital aircraft, one engine inoperative, e.g. STS/HOSP, STS/ONE ENG INOP.
TYP/ Type(s) of aircraft, preceded if necessary by number(s) of aircraft, if ZZZZ is inserted in Item 9.
PER/ Aircraft performance data, if so prescribed by the appropriate ATS authority.
COM/ Significant data related to communication equipment as required by the appropriate ATS authority, e.g. COM/UHF only.
DAT/ Significant data related to data link capability, using one or more of the letters S, H, V and M, e.g. DAT/S for satellite data link, DAT/H for HF data link, DAT/V for VHF data link, DAT/M for SSR Mode S data link.
NAV/ Significant data related to navigation equipment as required by the appropriate ATS authority.
DEP/ Identification or location, and name of departure aerodrome if ZZZZ is Inserted in item 13, or the ICAO four-letter location indicator of the location of the ATS unit from which supplementary flight plan data can be obtained, if AFIL is inserted in Item 13.
DEST/ Identification or location, and name of destination aerodrome if ZZZZ inserted in Item 16.
ALTN/ Name of destination alternate aerodrome(s), if ZZZZ is inserted in Item 16.
RALT/ Name of en-route alternate aerodrome(s).
CODE/ Aircraft address (expressed in the form of an alphanumerical code of six hexadecimal characters) when required by the appropriate ATS authority. Example: “F00001” is the lowest aircraft address contained in the specific block administered by ICAO.
RMK/ Any other plain-language remarks when required by the appropriate ATS authority or deemed necessary.
9. Item 19. Supplementary Information
Note: Item 19 Data is not defined for filing an ICAO Filed Flight Plan (FPL). ERAS will reject the flight plan. If filing electronically the Last required field is Item 18 followed by the end of field “)”. Even though Item 19 is a required field on the form it should not be transmitted as part of the FPL to US Automated Systems.
Endurance
After E/ insert a 4-figure group giving the fuel endurance in hours and minutes.
Persons on board
After P/ insert the total number of persons (passengers and crew) on board, when required by the appropriate ATS authority. Insert TBN (to be notified) if the total number of persons is not known at the time of filing.
Emergency and survival equipment
R/ (RADIO) CROSS OUT U if UHF on frequency 243.0 MHz is not available.
CROSS OUT V if VHF on frequency 121.5 MHz is not available.
CROSS OUT E if emergency locator transmitter (ELT) is not available.
S/ (SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT) CROSS OUT all indicators if survival equipment is not carried.
CROSS OUT P if polar survival equipment is not carried.
CROSS OUT D if desert survival equipment is not carried.
CROSS OUT M if maritime survival equipment is not carried.
CROSS OUT J if jungle survival equipment is not carried.
J/ (JACKETS) CROSS OUT all indicators if life jackets are not carried.
CROSS OUT L if life jackets are not equipped with lights.
CROSS OUT F if life jackets are not equipped with fluorescein.
CROSS OUT U or V or both as in R/ above to indicate radio capability of jackets, if any.
D/ (DINGHIES) (NUMBER)
CROSS OUT indicators D and C if no dinghies are carried, or number insert of dinghies carried; and (CAPACITY) to insert total capacity, in persons, of all dinghies carried; and (COVER) CROSS OUT indicator C if dinghies are not covered; and (COLOUR) insert color of dinghies if carried.
A/ (AIRCRAFT COLOR AND MARKINGS)
Insert color of aircraft and significant markings.
N/ (REMARKS) CROSS OUT indicator N if no remarks, or INDICATE any other survival equipment carried and any other remarks regarding survival equipment.
C/ (PILOT) INSERT name of pilot-in-command.
Filed By Insert the name of the unit, agency or person filing the flight plan.
Page Last Modified: 10/06/09 14:34 ET