A flight plan is a detailed document filed with ATC that outlines the planned route, altitude, and other operational details of a flight, ensuring safe and efficient air traffic management.
The Minimum Safe Altitude (MSA) ensures that an aircraft remains safely above terrain and obstacles along its route, providing a buffer for emergency situations and navigational inaccuracies.
The Top of Descent (TOD) is a calculated point in flight planning where the aircraft should begin its descent from cruising altitude to reach the destination airport at the correct altitude and configuration.
A Standard Instrument Departure (SID) is a predefined flight procedure that provides a structured route for aircraft departing from an airport, ensuring safe and efficient traffic flow.
ETOPS refers to regulations and standards that allow twin-engine aircraft to fly routes that are farther than 60 minutes from an alternate airport, by ensuring they meet specific safety and maintenance requirements.
