CFC Flight Plan Filing & Amendments 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A DVFR flight plan is required when a VFR aircraft intends to enter which type of airspace?
- Class B airspace within the US
- An ADIZ (Air Defense Identification Zone) (Correct answer)
- Restricted airspace below 10,000 feet MSL
- A TFR with a 3 NM radius
Correct answer: An ADIZ (Air Defense Identification Zone)
A Defense VFR (DVFR) flight plan must be filed when any aircraft, VFR or otherwise, intends to penetrate an Air Defense Identification Zone.
Question 2: Which item in an ICAO flight plan specifies the aircraft's SELCAL code?
- Item 10 (Equipment)
- Item 18 (Other information) with prefix SEL/ (Correct answer)
- Item 7 (Aircraft identification)
- Item 19 (Supplementary information)
Correct answer: Item 18 (Other information) with prefix SEL/
The SELCAL code is entered in Item 18 preceded by the designator SEL/ as part of the 'Other information' field.
Question 3: A pilot files a VFR flight plan but then requests an IFR clearance before departure. What action must the flight communicator coordinate?
- Cancel the VFR plan and file a new IFR flight plan (Correct answer)
- Add 'IFR' to the remarks section of the existing plan
- Change the flight rules in Item 8 via a CHG message
- No change is needed; ATC will convert the plan automatically
Correct answer: Cancel the VFR plan and file a new IFR flight plan
A VFR and IFR flight plan cannot coexist for the same flight; the VFR plan must be cancelled and a new IFR flight plan filed.
Question 4: What is the purpose of the 'DEP/' prefix in Item 18 of an ICAO flight plan?
- Indicates a departure delay
- Specifies a departure aerodrome not listed in the ICAO location indicators document (Correct answer)
- Indicates the departure runway in use
- Provides the departure gate number
Correct answer: Specifies a departure aerodrome not listed in the ICAO location indicators document
The DEP/ prefix in Item 18 is used to provide the name or coordinates of a departure aerodrome that does not have a published ICAO 4-letter location indicator.
Question 5: How should a flight communicator handle a situation where conflicting information exists between the airborne position report and the filed flight plan route?
- Trust the filed plan; pilots sometimes make navigational errors
- Verify with the pilot and coordinate a route amendment with ATC if needed (Correct answer)
- Immediately declare an emergency on the pilot's behalf
- Disregard the discrepancy if the aircraft is within 10 NM of the filed route
Correct answer: Verify with the pilot and coordinate a route amendment with ATC if needed
Conflicting route data must be verified with the crew, and if intentional, a CHG message is sent to update the flight plan so ATC maintains accurate tracking.
Question 6: In FAA domestic flight plan format, which field contains the pilot's name and contact phone number?
- Remarks
- Pilot's information block / Field 15 (Correct answer)
- Destination contact / Field 11
- Aircraft data / Field 4
Correct answer: Pilot's information block / Field 15
On the FAA Form 7233-1, the pilot's name, address, and telephone number are entered in the designated pilot information block (Field 15).
Question 7: A flight plan is filed with 'N/A' in the alternate aerodrome field. Under what condition is this permissible for an IFR flight?
- When the destination has an instrument approach and forecast weather meets the 1-2-3 rule (Correct answer)
- When the pilot holds an ATP certificate
- When the aircraft has dual navigation systems
- When the flight is less than 100 NM
Correct answer: When the destination has an instrument approach and forecast weather meets the 1-2-3 rule
FAR 91.169 allows omitting an alternate when forecast weather at the destination meets at least 2,000-foot ceilings and 3 SM visibility from 1 hour before to 1 hour after ETA (the 1-2-3 rule).
CFC Flight Plan Filing & Amendments 3
A DVFR flight plan is required when a VFR aircraft intends to enter which type of airspace?