CFC Flight Plan Filing & Amendments 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When an operator cancels a flight after the flight plan has been accepted by ATC, which ICAO message type should the flight communicator transmit?
- DLA (Delay message)
- CHG (Change message)
- CNL (Cancellation message) (Correct answer)
- DEP (Departure message)
Correct answer: CNL (Cancellation message)
A CNL message is transmitted to notify ATC that the filed flight plan has been cancelled before the flight departs.
Question 2: What information is mandatory in the 'Supplementary Information' (Item 19) of an ICAO flight plan?
- Aircraft color and markings, emergency radio frequencies, survival equipment, and persons on board (Correct answer)
- Alternate aerodrome ATIS code and runway in use
- Pilot certificate number and medical class
- Fuel type and engine manufacturer
Correct answer: Aircraft color and markings, emergency radio frequencies, survival equipment, and persons on board
Item 19 requires endurance in hours/minutes, persons on board, emergency and survival equipment, aircraft color/markings, and contact information for search and rescue purposes.
Question 3: A transoceanic flight plan requires a fuel tankering amendment en route, increasing the aircraft's estimated time en route. The flight communicator should primarily update which flight plan field?
- Item 13 (Departure aerodrome and time)
- Item 16 (Total EET and destination) (Correct answer)
- Item 10 (Equipment)
- Item 9 (Aircraft type)
Correct answer: Item 16 (Total EET and destination)
The total estimated elapsed time (EET) is contained in Item 16, and any change in flight duration must be reflected there to ensure accurate oceanic position sequencing.
Question 4: Under what circumstance is a 'STAR' (Standard Terminal Arrival Route) notation added to a flight plan?
- When the pilot requests it or ATC assigns one, it is noted in the route field (Item 15) (Correct answer)
- It is automatically appended by the FDPS without pilot input
- It is filed separately from the main flight plan
- It is only used for military aircraft arriving at civilian airports
Correct answer: When the pilot requests it or ATC assigns one, it is noted in the route field (Item 15)
STARs may be noted in Item 15 of the flight plan when the pilot requests a specific arrival procedure or when ATC coordination requires its inclusion.
Question 5: A flight plan lists 'PBN/B2' in Item 18. What does this indicate?
- The aircraft is equipped for RNAV 5 (B-RNAV) operations
- The aircraft has a performance-based navigation category B, level 2 restriction
- The aircraft uses barometric VNAV with 2 NM accuracy
- The aircraft is approved for RNP 2 operations (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The aircraft is approved for RNP 2 operations
In ICAO PBN notation, B2 refers to RNP 2, indicating the aircraft meets the Required Navigation Performance standard of 2 NM total system error.
Question 6: A flight communicator notices that a filed flight plan omits the aircraft's transponder capability. In which item should Mode C capability be indicated?
- Item 7
- Item 9
- Item 10 (Correct answer)
- Item 18
Correct answer: Item 10
Item 10 of the ICAO flight plan covers radio communication, navigation, and approach aids equipment, including transponder codes such as 'C' for Mode C.
Question 7: What is the flight communicator's responsibility when a pilot reports an in-flight diversion due to weather before formally declaring an emergency?
- Wait for the pilot to declare an emergency before taking any action
- Coordinate immediately with ATC to update the flight plan destination and notify the new destination's ground facilities (Correct answer)
- File a new flight plan from the original departure point to the diversion airport
- Only update the flight plan after the aircraft has landed safely
Correct answer: Coordinate immediately with ATC to update the flight plan destination and notify the new destination's ground facilities
The flight communicator should proactively coordinate with ATC to amend the filed destination and alert receiving facilities to prepare for the diverting aircraft.
CFC Flight Plan Filing & Amendments 4
When an operator cancels a flight after the flight plan has been accepted by ATC, which ICAO message type should the flight communicator transmit?