Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

You might think that Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) are just about how to control and use your instruments in the aircraft, but you need more than skill–you need a rock-solid plan. IFR flight planning is about preparing for every twist and turn along the route. What Is an IFR Flight Plan?

Flight Plan

Pilot Institute

JUNE 27, 2025

The FAA defines controlled airspace as “a generic term that covers the different classifications of airspace (Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, and Class E airspace) and defined dimensions within which air traffic control service is provided to IFR and VFR flights.” Aircraft must operate under ATC clearance.

AGL

Air Facts

MAY 7, 2025

The equipment was often not much modernized from the military days so the pilots likely hoped for good weather as they filed their flight plans. It was common practice for tower controllers to monitor the area control centre enroute frequency. It was a winter night shift in a Western Ontario air traffic control tower.

Weight-Shift-Control

Flying Magazine

JULY 25, 2025

They need to not only understand things like airspace boundaries, cloud clearance requirements, and surface visibility minimums, but must also be able to coordinate their turns, manage their altitudes and headings, and work the radios while putting that knowledge to use. The goal is to train for real-world decisions, not video game shortcuts.

Cockpit

Fear of Landing

JULY 4, 2025

Cairns Airport has 24-hour air traffic control services based on the control tower. The controller on duty had dealt with a flight at half past midnight, the last flight of the night. The next scheduled flight was at 05:00. The strobes were never turned back on. It was 01:42. There were not.

Cockpit

One Mile at a Time

AUGUST 27, 2024

As an aviation geek, I love listening to air traffic control audio, and always enjoy the VASAviation YouTube channel, which does a great job covering noteworthy air traffic control interactions. An Aeromexico Boeing 737 MAX 8 with the flight number AM401 was preparing to depart to Mexico City (MEX).

Air Traffic Control

Aerotime

NOVEMBER 22, 2024

Yakobchuk Viacheslav / Shutterstock With the doors set and everyone in their seats, ground staff disembarked, and doors all secured, your flight is finally ready to depart. The take-off process With everything all set, and the plane lined up on the centerline of the runway, the pilots now request clearance for take-off.

Cabin Crew

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 23, 2024

For an instrument pilot, though, there is one key difference between a smaller, non-towered airport and a larger one with an air traffic control tower: obtaining an IFR clearance. To review, flying an IFR trip involves four main steps: File a flight plan (either with Flight Service or in an aviation app).

Clearance

Pilot Institute

DECEMBER 6, 2024

CRAFT is a simple way pilots remember their IFR clearance. It helps break down the instructions from air traffic control into clear, easy-to-follow steps. Key Takeaways Use the acronym CRAFT as a helpful guide to break down your IFR clearance. Heres a better way to keep track of your clearances.

Clearance

Pilot Institute

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

Before entering Class C airspace, pilots must receive clearance from Air Traffic Control (ATC). Maintaining awareness of airspace boundaries helps with the planning and carrying out of successful flights. Before flying into Class C airspace, a pilot must obtain a clearance from ATC.

Clearance

Pilot Institute

DECEMBER 12, 2024

Talking to air traffic control (ATC) while flying IFR is challenging in the beginning, but with time and practice, you can master it! Knowing what to say, when to say it, and how to say it keeps you on track during your flight. Use the CRAFT acronym to note down departure clearances quickly. Every flight has those.

Approach

Universal Weather

JANUARY 16, 2024

Priority clearance may be possible to arrange, at CIQ’s discretion, to allow you to clear at a separate counter in the main clearance hall. At Mykonos (LGMK) and Corfu (LGKR) only, there is a small separate lounge appointed to GA/BA traffic only. For departure to non-EU destinations, CIQ clearance is necessary.

Clearance

Plane and Pilot

JULY 3, 2024

Certainly, most pilots understand they are using ATC services when operating in IFR or VFR conditions while on an IFR flight plan, and they must talk to ATC within certain airspace, typically Class A, B, C, and D. The good news was that the aircraft landed without incident, and we were only hanging out for a few extra minutes.

Weather

Flightworx

FEBRUARY 2, 2024

From the critical steps of flight plan filing and securing landing permits to the practicalities of fuel management, airport fees, and navigating customs and immigration, we will explore the facets that make private jet travel in the UK both a privilege and a responsibility. Don’t leave access to chance.

Runway

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 2, 2024

You don’t need to check in with air traffic control (ATC) when flying VFR in Class E. It helps separate traffic at different altitudes. Class E is always in the background, making sure both VFR and IFR traffic can coexist in safety. No ATC clearance is required for VFR flights below 10,000 feet.

Airspace Classes

Fear of Landing

MAY 30, 2025

The controller cleared the aircraft to 23,000 feet cruising altitude and then, after the pilot read back the clearance, handed the pilot off to another controller at Atlanta Center. The pilot contacted the second controller and advised that the aircraft was maintaining 23,000 feet.

Cockpit

Pilot Institute

DECEMBER 19, 2024

Flying at non-towered airports can feel like stepping into a space where youre both the pilot and air traffic controller. youll need to master the basics of situational awareness, traffic patterns, and CTAF communication can make non-towered operations not only manageable but smooth and predictable.

Pilot

Photographic Logbook

APRIL 19, 2024

However, there was a presidential TFR (temporary flight restriction) around Scranton that lay on a direct line between Sodus and Philly. It added less than 10 minutes to the overall flight time. The reroute was minimal, an insertion of Yardley VOR (ARD) into my flight plan.

Approach

Airspeed Junkie

AUGUST 1, 2024

Daily responsibilities include pre-flight checks, weather analysis, creating and filing flight plans, coordination with ground crews and air traffic controllers, and continuous in-flight monitoring and communication.

Pilot

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 10, 2023

New Adventures in Flight Planning and Filing I decided to test-drive my PIN and the whole FRZ process for the first time as my annual fall solo flight in October of 2023. Any flight into the FRZ requires a FRZ flight plan. change the transponder to 1200) after terminating flight following or cancelling IFR.

Transponder

Universal Weather

JANUARY 18, 2024

CDM programs determine if airway and airport slots match flight plans. In the event of a missed match, flight plans are auto-cancelled. Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) clearance is normally available at the LFMN GAT 0800-2100 local. Our blog has more information about A-CDM in Spain and Italy.

Air Traffic Control

Photographic Logbook

JULY 9, 2024

Exactly like NYC, downtown Boston is encircled by restrictive Class Bravo airspace down to the surface that requires explicit clearance to enter. Date Aircraft Route of Flight Time (hrs) Total (hrs) 09 July 2024 N21481 BVY (Beverly, MA) - BVY 1.2 November Four Eight One, continue inbound, you'll get your Bravo clearance from Tower."

Clearance

Photographic Logbook

JULY 6, 2024

I think this because whenever multiple aircraft depart Sodus bound for the same destination, we almost always pique the curiosity of air traffic control. Fueled and Ready Date Aircraft Route of Flight Time (hrs) Total (hrs) 06 Jul 2024 N21481 SDC (Sodus, NY) - CGS (College Park, MD) - SDC 5.0 What's going on at X today?"

Pilot

Universal Weather

APRIL 8, 2024

Heli Transfers In an innovative approach to transportation, Universal Aviation France is collaborating with a helicopter service to offer quick transfers from downtown Paris to LFAQ, providing a seamless connection for international departures with on-site customs clearance. Customs clearance can be done in the Fixed-Base Operator (FBO).

Runway

Flight Training Central

DECEMBER 18, 2023

Air Traffic Control is there to help, but they aren’t perfect. Even in the beginning days of learning to fly, your instructor will teach you the importance of reading a clearance back to the controller instead of saying “Roger”. Once you read back your clearance, you are held to it. report left base).

Clearance

Photographic Logbook

JULY 21, 2024

I think he was anxious about the air traffic control communications, but he planned to follow me in trail so that he could see how the radio work went. We departed on a more southeast heading to ensure clearance with Stewart International's class Delta airspace. Scott followed in Eight One Six.

Weight-Shift-Control

Ask the Pilot

JUNE 28, 2024

The pilots, the flight attendants, and their aircraft were dispatched, flight-planned, and fueled for a trip to Edinburgh. Essentially you eyeball the airport through the windshield, report “field in sight” to ATC, get your clearance and go ahead and land. angle irresistible. But that isn’t what happened.

Air Traffic Control

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 20, 2024

A pilot deviation happens when you violate an FAA regulation or an instruction from Air Traffic Control (ATC). This could be caused by landing without clearance, straying from an assigned altitude, or any number of other errors. Pre-flight planning reduces surprises and supports safer flight operations.

Runway

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 19, 2023

But I also needed to be airborne at 3:00 pm or else amend my flight plan and arrival time with US Customs in Ogdensville, NY. She disclosed that she took flight lessons when she was younger, but only had experience with Cessnas. I pre-flighted the Warrior, mentally refreshed on my plan for getting home, and cranked the engine.

Approach

Photographic Logbook

AUGUST 13, 2023

A Dunkin' in Jasper, GA made for makeshift flight planning space as we waited on fog to lift at Pickens County Airport. We taxied to the end of runway 34, ran the airplane up, then called Atlanta Center on the phone to get our instrument clearance from the ground. I cooked eggs for breakfast to keep them from going to waste.

Approach

Universal Weather

FEBRUARY 22, 2023

If CAD is closed at the time of your request, Air Traffic Control (ATC) can process short-notice permits. Note that PPR confirmations need not be placed in your flight plan’s International Civil Aviation Organization section. The only flights that are handled differently are large aircraft.

Clearance

Universal Weather

MAY 9, 2023

Our guide covers everything from Prior Permission Required (PPR) procedures and landing permits to flight planning, customs clearance, and cultural considerations, as well as the unique challenges of operating at regional airports, managing potential fuel shortages, and preparing for peak seasons in popular locations.

Clearance

Universal Weather

JUNE 13, 2023

The following is an overview of what you need to know when operating to Argentina: The Flight Plan Filing Process In Argentina, flight plans must be submitted in person at least two hours prior to international departure. Note that flight plans are only valid for 30 minutes after ETD.

Flight Plan

Jetwhine

JULY 1, 2024

They also planned to use a flap 15 setting to reduce the aircraft’s ground roll on the 8,000-foot runway. the crew’s flight planning software indicated the aircraft would require a takeoff distance of 5,972 feet. Flight planning tools don’t offer takeoff numbers for operations that exceed the aircraft’s limitations.

Flight Plan

Universal Weather

MAY 9, 2023

If a temporary importation is approved, you must provide the approval number to air traffic control to obtain permission for domestic travel. In the case of tech stops, arrival cards are not needed, and CIQ clearance is not required so long as crew/passengers do not embark/disembark.

Clearance

Inflight Pilot Training

APRIL 16, 2024

You’ll need both US and Canadian charts for your flight, and all flights from Canada to a foreign state, like the US, must be detailed in a flight plan. Be sure to check the Canadian Aviation Regulations ( SOR/96-433 ) for details on filing a flight plan. What Is CANPASS? Upon returning to the U.S.,

Air Defense Identification Zone

Flying Magazine

MAY 27, 2025

I don’t think the check ride went very well because the CFI was raising a stink that lingered about the DPE’s insistence that the applicant know how to file and activate a flight plan and know the procedure for obtaining flight following. Listen for your tail number and traffic in your vicinity.

Flight Plan