Pilot Guidance

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| Updated: 9:57 am ET November 13, 2009

FAA Headquarters Letter to Airman No. 08-01
Subject: Flight Plan Filing Changes for Pilots Desiring Area Navigation (RNAV) Arrival or Departure Routes.

A pilot needs the following information available to file a Domestic Flight with a Flight Plan Filer.

Information Needed for Basic Domestic Flights (No RNAV Desired)

Information needed when filing FAA Form 7233-1, Flight Plan, with no RNAV is described in the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), Section1, Paragraph 5-1-8. The needed information includes such items as aircraft identification, special equipment, departure/arrival points, cruising altitude and route of flight.

NOTE: Please consult ICAO Document 8643 http://www.icao.int/anb/ais/8643/index.cfm before providing your approved 2 - 4 character aircraft type to avoid rejection of your flight plan.

Information Needed for Domestic Flights Desiring RNAV Routes

Additional information needed when filing FAA Form 7233-4, International Flight Plan, with an RNAV Standard Instrument Departure (SID), RNAV Standard Terminal Arrival Route (STAR) and/or RNAV Point-to-Point (PTP) route is outlined below and described in FAAO 7110.10, Flight Services, Appendix A, ICAO Flight Plans.

Information	Description
Type of Flight	Per FAAO 7110.10, Appendix A, ICAO Flight Plans, Item 8: Scheduled Air Service (S); Non-Scheduled Air Transport Operation (N); General Aviation (G); Military (M); or Other (X)
Wake Turbulence Category (WTC)	Per ICAO Document 8643 http://www.icao.int/anb/ais/8643/index.cfm, the *approved* ICAO WTC based on your aircraft’s certificated maximum take-off weight, as follows: Heavy (H) = > 300,000 lbs Medium (M) = < 300,000 lbs but > 15,000 lbs Light (L) = < 15,000 lbs
Equipment	Per FAAO 7110.10, Flight Services, Appendix A, ICAO Flight Plans, Item 8, identify all available and serviceable communication, navigation, approach aid and surveillance equipment carried on your aircraft; each equipment type or capability is represented by a separate letter.
RNAV 1 & RNAV 2 Capability	Per Advisory Circular (AC) 90-100A, U.S. Terminal and En Route Area Navigation (RNAV) Operations, provide positive indication of RNAV 1 or RNAV 2 capability if filing for RNAV SIDs, STARs or routes. Filing Requirements for Assignment of RNAV Routes provides guidance on information required by FAA for assignment of RNAV SIDs and STARs.
RNAV Point to Point (PTP) Capability	Per AC 90-45A, Approval of Area Navigation Systems for Use in the U.S. National Airspace System, provide positive indication of PTP capability if filing for RNAV PTP. Filing Requirements for Assignment of RNAV Routes provides guidance on information required by FAA for assignment of RNAV PTP.

How to File a Flight Plan After gathering the appropriate information, above, any of the following means can be used to file your flight plan:

Submit a hardcopy flight plan form to a Flight Service Station –

For a Domestic Flight with No RNAV Desired fill out FAA Form 7233-1.

Instructions for filling out the form can be found in the AIM, Section1, Paragraph 5-1-8.

For a Domestic Flight Desiring RNAV Routes fill out FAA Form 7233-4.

Instructions for filling out the form can be found in FAAO 7110.10, Flight Services, Appendix A, ICAO Flight Plans.

Call Flight Services (1-800-WX-BRIEF or 1-800-992-7433)
Provide the information to the flight services specialist, who will file your flight plan.

File electronically with a Flight Plan Filing Service
These Services provide on-line flight plan forms with instructions on their websites.

NOTE: Pilots of domestic flights desiring RNAV routes should check with the flight plan filing service to determine if the service can file an ICAO FPL for their domestic flight. If the service cannot accommodate the request, pilots can file an ICAO FPL with a Flight Service Station as described above.

Direct User Access Terminal Systems (DUAT) is an FAA-contracted service which provides direct access to weather briefing, flight planning and flight plan filing information through two vendors. The service is free to qualified pilots, dispatchers and other authorized users at http://www.duat.com or http://www.duats.com.
Other commercial Flight Plan Filing Services are available to pilots; information on these services can be found on the internet or through aviation publications and notices.