Welcome back to VATSIM’s S.O.A.R.! Today we are going to dissect the flight plan form and how to make sure your plan is ATC ready! The VATSIM flight sim form is very similar to the real world ICAO flight plan, but much like real life, not every country follows the same rules. The guidance here is general and should be cross checked with the procedures for wherever you are exploring!
Services like SimBrief (https://simbrief.com) can be a great tool for creating flight plan routes and will automatically fill out the form for you!
- Callsign
Callsign is simple, Who are you? Airliners use an airline ICAO code followed by a flight code of up to 4 numbers (i.e. UAL1234 or BAW9HG)
A common error is to file with the airline’s IATA code. We always use the three letter ICAO code (i.e. SWA1234 is correct, WN1234 is not)
- Flight Rules
You have two choices here, VFR or IFR. VFR relies on looking outside the windows and using visual points for navigation. Choose this if you are flying in the traffic pattern or planning a visual cross country flight. In some regions, a VFR flight plan may not be necessary, so be sure to check your local regulations!
IFR is for instrument flight. Airliner flights are almost always IFR flights, but most general aviation airplanes can (and do!) still file IFR flight plans for some cross country flights. These flight plans include every waypoint you plan on utilizing to get to your destination.
- Type
Your type code is simply what type of airplane you are flying! ICAO has a database of these codes available here: https://www.icao.int/publications/DOC8643/Pages/Search.aspx
- Wake Category
When an aircraft creates lift, it also creates wake turbulence. Those wakes can cause a hazard for other aircraft. The VATSIM form conveniently lays out which option to select as long as you know your aircraft’s maximum takeoff weight.
- Equipment
The equipment codes listed here tell ATC what avionics your aircraft has installed. Pilots can determine their aircraft’s applicable codes using the ICAO legend here: https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/FAA%20FPL%20Quick%20Reference%20Brochure%20%282022-09-15%29.pdf
- Departure
This is simply the ICAO code for your departure airport.
- Off Block UTC
Enter what time you plan to depart from your departure airport. Be sure to convert local time to UTC. There is a helpful clock at the top of the webpage if needed!
- Altitude
Enter altitude in feet here (No flight levels). A general rule of thumb (applicable to most country’s airspace rules) is to use an even altitude when flying west and an odd altitude when flying eastbound. Typically, VFR flights will be at an even or odd thousand + 500 feet.
- Airspeed
This is where you will enter your planned airspeed in knots. It should be true airspeed (and not mach number or groundspeed)
- Arrival
This is simply the ICAO code for your arrival airport.
- Enroute Time
Your enroute flight time should be entered in the HHMM format (i.e. 0130 would be an hour and a half flight time).
- Fuel Endurance
Fuel endurance follows the same format as enroute time.
- Route Details
This is where you should enter your route of flight. For an instrument flight, it will include all of your waypoints, navaids, airways and in certain countries, your instrument departure or arrival.
A VFR flight plan might include navaids, it might simply be a direction of flight, or it may be blank. Depending on the pilot’s intentions for their flight.
- Remarks
Remarks are optional fields at the end of the flight plan. They include data such as tail number, date of flight and SELCAL code. One important field for VATSIM operations is the free text box at the bottom of the form. If you are flying for a virtual airline, it may be useful to include the callsign if it’s fictional. A simple phraseology might be CALLSIGN “VATSIM” in that box.
With all of these fields completed, you are ready to file your flight plan! Plans are held on file for 2 hours, so be sure to connect within that time frame and enjoy your flight!
