(Ramapriya) wrote

Bob, since you're an experienced pilot, can you explain (preferably
with an example) what exactly are the various elements of a flight
plan? Of the stuff I got to see and learn on that flying trip, the
flight plan was the one thing that was just not intuitive at all, and
appeared awfully complex to comprehend.

But not so experienced as a typist....:-) It would take me
a week to type it out.

I will try to find you a web site for the answer.

The "flight plan" can mean either of two things. One is the
documentation of the planning that the pilot or flight
dispatcher (or computer) has done to serve as directions for
the flightcrew to follow. Second is a document filed with
Air Traffic Control telling them what you would like to do
and requesting their clearence for that flight.
Pilots tend to call both "the flight plan", but at the old
Pan American Airways, the first was refered to as the
"Flight Plan Analysis" to distinguish it from the ATC FP.

Bob Moore