INSERT

the first cruising speed as in (a) and the first cruising level as in (b), without a space between them.

THEN,

following the arrow, INSERT the route description as in (c).

(a) Cruising speed (maximum 5 characters)

INSERT

the True Air Speed for the first or the whole cruising portion of the flight, in terms of:

Kilometers per hour, expressed as K followed by 4 figures (e.g., K0830), or

Knots, expressed as N followed by 4 figures (e.g., N0485), or

Mach Number, when so prescribed by the appropriate ATS, to the nearest hundredth of unit Mach, expressed as M followed by 3 figures (e.g., M082).

(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

Altitude in hundreds of feet, expressed as A followed by 3 figures (e.g., A045; A100); or

* Standard Metric Level in tens of metres, expressed as S followed by 4 figures (e.g., S1130); or

Altitude in tens of metres, expressed as M followed by 4 figures (e.g., M0840); or

For uncontrolled VFR flights, the letters VFR.

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 the ATS route, and/or a change of flight rules is planned,

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.

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.

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 1 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).

NOTE-
Provisions for the application of route designators are contained in ICAO Annex 11, Appendix 1, while guidance material on the application of an RNP type to a specific route segment(s), route(s) or area is contained in the Manual on Required Navigation Performance (RNP) (Doc 9613).

(2) Significant point (2 to 11 characters)

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 zeroes, 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 zeroes, e.g. 4620N07805W.

(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/N0305F180

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/NO284A050 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 is planned followed by the letters PLUS, without a space between them.

Examples:

C/48N050W/M082F290F350

C/48N050W/M082F290PLUS

C/52N050W/M220F580F620

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 name of the aerodrome, preceded by DEST/

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/

INSERT

0 (zero) if no other information,

OR,

any other necessary information in the preferred sequence shown hereunder, in the 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/CAP 0745 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 reclearance in flight.

Examples:
RIF/DTA HEC KLAX
RIF/ESP G94 CLA APPH
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/

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/

Name of destination aerodrome, if ZZZZ is 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 alphanumeric 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.

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 location beacon aircraft (ELBA) 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 fluorescent.
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
INSERT number of dinghies carried; and

(CAPACITY)

INSERT total capacity, in persons, of all dinghies carried; and

(COVER)

CROSS OUT indicator C if dinghies are not covered; and

(COLOR)

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.

III. Filed by

INSERT

the name of the unit, agency or person filing the flight plan.

IV. Acceptance of the flight plan

Indicate acceptance of the flight plan in the manner prescribed by the appropriate ATS authority.

V. Instructions for insertion of COM data

Items to be completed:

COMPLETE the top two shaded lines of the form, and
COMPLETE the third shaded line only when necessary, in accordance with the provisions in PANS-RAC, Part IX, 2.1.2, unless ATS prescribes otherwise.

For further information, please contact:

Federal Aviation Administration
Air Traffic Service International Staff
AAT-30C Room 425
800 Independence Avenue SW
Washington DC 20591

Page Last Updated: February 12, 2003

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