Individual Flight Plan (FPL)

033-05-01Pablo Asensio Martínez2026-04-011 min

Purpose

The FPL provides ATS with information regarding the intended flight for safety (SAR) and traffic management. It must be submitted at least 60 mins before departure (or 3 hours for flow control areas).

International flight plan form

Key Fields

  • Item 7 (Callsign): Aircraft identification.
  • Item 8 (Rules): I (IFR), V (VFR), Y (IFR to VFR), Z (VFR to IFR).
  • Item 9 (Type & Wake): E.g., B738/M (Medium).
  • Item 10 (Equipment):
    • Radio: S (Standard: VHF, VOR, ILS), G (GNSS), R (PBN), Y (8.33 kHz radio).
    • Surveillance: C (Mode C Transponder), S (Mode S), B1 (ADS-B Out).
  • Item 13 (Dep/Time): 4-letter ICAO code and EOBT (Estimated Off-Block Time) in UTC.
  • Item 15 (Route): Cruising speed, flight level, and route defined by waypoints/airways.
  • Item 16 (Dest/Time/Alt): Destination, EET (Estimated Elapsed Time), and Alternates.
  • Item 18 (Other Info):
    • PBN/: Performance Based Navigation capabilities (e.g., PBN/A1B1).
    • REG/: Registration if different from callsign.
    • OPR/: Operator.
    • RMK/: Remarks.

Delays

If the flight is delayed by more than 30 minutes (for controlled flights) or 60 minutes (for uncontrolled), the FPL must be amended or cancelled and resubmitted (specific rules vary by region).