Question On Closing IFR Flight Plans
02-12-2012, 11:24 AM
#1
A Second Past V1
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: Assumed
Posts: 743
Question On Closing IFR Flight Plans
Just curious why a good deal of military aircraft call FSS to close out their instrument flight plans...at towered airports?
When you wheels touch down at a towered airport (when the tower is operational), tower closes the instrument flight plan for you. Here is an FAA reference to that fact:
http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/a...apter%2010.pdf
Page 10-3 says:
If you have more information, please feel free to shed light on this.
When you wheels touch down at a towered airport (when the tower is operational), tower closes the instrument flight plan for you. Here is an FAA reference to that fact:
http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/a...apter%2010.pdf
Page 10-3 says:
Cancelling IFR Flight Plans
An IFR flight plan may be cancelled any time a pilot is
operating in VFR conditions outside Class A airspace by
stating “cancel my IFR flight plan” to the controller or air-toground
station. After cancelling an IFR flight plan, the pilot
should change to the appropriate air-to-ground frequency,
transponder code as directed, and VFR altitude/flight level.
ATC separation and information services (including radar
services, where applicable) are discontinued when an IFR
flight plan is cancelled. If VFR radar advisory service is
desired, a pilot must specifically request it. Be aware that
other procedures may apply when cancelling an IFR flight
plan within areas such as Class C or Class B airspace.
When operating on an IFR flight plan to an airport with
an operating control tower, a flight plan is cancelled
automatically upon landing. If operating on an IFR flight
plan to an airport without an operating control tower, the
pilot is responsible for cancelling the flight plan. This can
be done by telephone after landing if there is no operating
FSS or other means of direct communications with ATC.
When there is no FSS or air-to-ground communications are
not possible below a certain altitude, a pilot may cancel an
IFR flight plan while still airborne and able to communicate
with ATC by radio. If using this procedure, be certain the
remainder of the flight can be conducted under VFR. It is
essential that IFR flight plans be cancelled expeditiously. This
allows other IFR traffic to utilize the airspace.operating in VFR conditions outside Class A airspace by
stating “cancel my IFR flight plan” to the controller or air-toground
station. After cancelling an IFR flight plan, the pilot
should change to the appropriate air-to-ground frequency,
transponder code as directed, and VFR altitude/flight level.
ATC separation and information services (including radar
services, where applicable) are discontinued when an IFR
flight plan is cancelled. If VFR radar advisory service is
desired, a pilot must specifically request it. Be aware that
other procedures may apply when cancelling an IFR flight
plan within areas such as Class C or Class B airspace.
When operating on an IFR flight plan to an airport with
an operating control tower, a flight plan is cancelled
automatically upon landing. If operating on an IFR flight
plan to an airport without an operating control tower, the
pilot is responsible for cancelling the flight plan. This can
be done by telephone after landing if there is no operating
FSS or other means of direct communications with ATC.
When there is no FSS or air-to-ground communications are
not possible below a certain altitude, a pilot may cancel an
IFR flight plan while still airborne and able to communicate
with ATC by radio. If using this procedure, be certain the
remainder of the flight can be conducted under VFR. It is
essential that IFR flight plans be cancelled expeditiously. This
If you have more information, please feel free to shed light on this.
02-12-2012, 11:29 AM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,839
Just curious why a good deal of military aircraft call FSS to close out their instrument flight plans...at towered airports?
When you wheels touch down at a towered airport (when the tower is operational), tower closes the instrument flight plan for you. Here is an FAA reference to that fact:
http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/a...apter%2010.pdf
Page 10-3 says:
If you have more information, please feel free to shed light on this.
When you wheels touch down at a towered airport (when the tower is operational), tower closes the instrument flight plan for you. Here is an FAA reference to that fact:
http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/a...apter%2010.pdf
Page 10-3 says:
Cancelling IFR Flight Plans
An IFR flight plan may be cancelled any time a pilot is
operating in VFR conditions outside Class A airspace by
stating “cancel my IFR flight plan” to the controller or air-toground
station. After cancelling an IFR flight plan, the pilot
should change to the appropriate air-to-ground frequency,
transponder code as directed, and VFR altitude/flight level.
ATC separation and information services (including radar
services, where applicable) are discontinued when an IFR
flight plan is cancelled. If VFR radar advisory service is
desired, a pilot must specifically request it. Be aware that
other procedures may apply when cancelling an IFR flight
plan within areas such as Class C or Class B airspace.
When operating on an IFR flight plan to an airport with
an operating control tower, a flight plan is cancelled
automatically upon landing. If operating on an IFR flight
plan to an airport without an operating control tower, the
pilot is responsible for cancelling the flight plan. This can
be done by telephone after landing if there is no operating
FSS or other means of direct communications with ATC.
When there is no FSS or air-to-ground communications are
not possible below a certain altitude, a pilot may cancel an
IFR flight plan while still airborne and able to communicate
with ATC by radio. If using this procedure, be certain the
remainder of the flight can be conducted under VFR. It is
essential that IFR flight plans be cancelled expeditiously. This
allows other IFR traffic to utilize the airspace.operating in VFR conditions outside Class A airspace by
stating “cancel my IFR flight plan” to the controller or air-toground
station. After cancelling an IFR flight plan, the pilot
should change to the appropriate air-to-ground frequency,
transponder code as directed, and VFR altitude/flight level.
ATC separation and information services (including radar
services, where applicable) are discontinued when an IFR
flight plan is cancelled. If VFR radar advisory service is
desired, a pilot must specifically request it. Be aware that
other procedures may apply when cancelling an IFR flight
plan within areas such as Class C or Class B airspace.
When operating on an IFR flight plan to an airport with
an operating control tower, a flight plan is cancelled
automatically upon landing. If operating on an IFR flight
plan to an airport without an operating control tower, the
pilot is responsible for cancelling the flight plan. This can
be done by telephone after landing if there is no operating
FSS or other means of direct communications with ATC.
When there is no FSS or air-to-ground communications are
not possible below a certain altitude, a pilot may cancel an
IFR flight plan while still airborne and able to communicate
with ATC by radio. If using this procedure, be certain the
remainder of the flight can be conducted under VFR. It is
essential that IFR flight plans be cancelled expeditiously. This
If you have more information, please feel free to shed light on this.
Time, place, service, type of aircraft?
In my time, I never cancelled if on an IFR flight plan for the very reasons that you quote above and MOST of the time my community was required to use IFR filing "to the maximum extent possible".
USMCFLYR
02-12-2012, 01:34 PM
#3
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Position: Walmart Greeter
Posts: 694
I have never closed an military IFR flight plan after landing at my destination, regardless if it was a MIL or civilian airport. I have asked ground/tower to close an IFR flight plan after returning to a field that I took off from in an emergency.
Without knowing the specific cases you are referring to, perhaps different training squadrons require their students to do so on the off chance a SAR effort would be initiated for a flight plan not being closed out. I have never heard of that however, just a guess.
Without knowing the specific cases you are referring to, perhaps different training squadrons require their students to do so on the off chance a SAR effort would be initiated for a flight plan not being closed out. I have never heard of that however, just a guess.
02-12-2012, 01:36 PM
#4
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Joined APC: May 2010
Position: Baja Vermont
Posts: 5,197
Here's where I think the confusion comes from. Don't confuse the military rules and the FAA material. If you filed thru a base ops and land at a civilian airport, the FP close message may or may not get back to the military base ops where the flight plan was filed. Similarly, depart a civil field, the DM message may not make it thru the system, so your military base of arrival may not find out you are on the way.
That is my experience, most times it is not an issue, but sometimes for reasons I cannot explain the messages don't crossover civil to military. The whole issue is on doing a comm search to see that you are not missing.
GF
That is my experience, most times it is not an issue, but sometimes for reasons I cannot explain the messages don't crossover civil to military. The whole issue is on doing a comm search to see that you are not missing.
GF
02-12-2012, 02:43 PM
#5
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Position: A-300 F/O
Posts: 281
I never close an IFR at a towered airport nor do I teach it.
I teach to call to activate a VFR departing civil to civil, and I teach to close a VFR when landing at a civil field regardless of whether departure was military or civil.
If departing IFR or VFR civil to mil, I teach to specifically request a departure message be sent to destination base operations.
I teach to call to activate a VFR departing civil to civil, and I teach to close a VFR when landing at a civil field regardless of whether departure was military or civil.
If departing IFR or VFR civil to mil, I teach to specifically request a departure message be sent to destination base operations.
02-13-2012, 07:52 AM
#6
A Second Past V1
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: Assumed
Posts: 743
Thanks for the input guys.
BDGERJMN, you may be right in these calls being from training squadrons. Not really sure though, since we just take the call sign, see no flight plan, ask where they landed, and when they say they were IFR and landed at an airport while the tower was operating, that's pretty much the end of the conversation.
galaxy flyer, I think if someone were to call to confirm an IFR flight plan has been closed at a civilian airport, maybe the request should be to instead send an arrival message to your baseops?
Tweetdrvr, we do look for those rogers from baseops if you filed MVFR to a military base, because once they confirm its received, they take over the SAR lead (should it come to that) and we play more of an assisting role. We will send the departure messages when you make the request either way, but those are a little more critical for our operations.
BDGERJMN, you may be right in these calls being from training squadrons. Not really sure though, since we just take the call sign, see no flight plan, ask where they landed, and when they say they were IFR and landed at an airport while the tower was operating, that's pretty much the end of the conversation.
galaxy flyer, I think if someone were to call to confirm an IFR flight plan has been closed at a civilian airport, maybe the request should be to instead send an arrival message to your baseops?
Tweetdrvr, we do look for those rogers from baseops if you filed MVFR to a military base, because once they confirm its received, they take over the SAR lead (should it come to that) and we play more of an assisting role. We will send the departure messages when you make the request either way, but those are a little more critical for our operations.
02-13-2012, 01:02 PM
#7
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Just curious why a good deal of military aircraft call FSS to close out their instrument flight plans...at towered airports?
When you wheels touch down at a towered airport (when the tower is operational), tower closes the instrument flight plan for you. Here is an FAA reference to that fact:
http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/a...apter%2010.pdf
Page 10-3 says:
allows other IFR traffic to utilize the airspace.
If you have more information, please feel free to shed light on this.
When you wheels touch down at a towered airport (when the tower is operational), tower closes the instrument flight plan for you. Here is an FAA reference to that fact:
http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/a...apter%2010.pdf
Page 10-3 says:
Cancelling IFR Flight Plans
An IFR flight plan may be cancelled any time a pilot is
operating in VFR conditions outside Class A airspace by
stating “cancel my IFR flight plan” to the controller or air-toground
station. After cancelling an IFR flight plan, the pilot
should change to the appropriate air-to-ground frequency,
transponder code as directed, and VFR altitude/flight level.
ATC separation and information services (including radar
services, where applicable) are discontinued when an IFR
flight plan is cancelled. If VFR radar advisory service is
desired, a pilot must specifically request it. Be aware that
other procedures may apply when cancelling an IFR flight
plan within areas such as Class C or Class B airspace.
When operating on an IFR flight plan to an airport with
an operating control tower, a flight plan is cancelled
automatically upon landing. If operating on an IFR flight
plan to an airport without an operating control tower, the
pilot is responsible for cancelling the flight plan. This can
be done by telephone after landing if there is no operating
FSS or other means of direct communications with ATC.
When there is no FSS or air-to-ground communications are
not possible below a certain altitude, a pilot may cancel an
IFR flight plan while still airborne and able to communicate
with ATC by radio. If using this procedure, be certain the
remainder of the flight can be conducted under VFR. It is
essential that IFR flight plans be cancelled expeditiously. This
An IFR flight plan may be cancelled any time a pilot is
operating in VFR conditions outside Class A airspace by
stating “cancel my IFR flight plan” to the controller or air-toground
station. After cancelling an IFR flight plan, the pilot
should change to the appropriate air-to-ground frequency,
transponder code as directed, and VFR altitude/flight level.
ATC separation and information services (including radar
services, where applicable) are discontinued when an IFR
flight plan is cancelled. If VFR radar advisory service is
desired, a pilot must specifically request it. Be aware that
other procedures may apply when cancelling an IFR flight
plan within areas such as Class C or Class B airspace.
When operating on an IFR flight plan to an airport with
an operating control tower, a flight plan is cancelled
automatically upon landing. If operating on an IFR flight
plan to an airport without an operating control tower, the
pilot is responsible for cancelling the flight plan. This can
be done by telephone after landing if there is no operating
FSS or other means of direct communications with ATC.
When there is no FSS or air-to-ground communications are
not possible below a certain altitude, a pilot may cancel an
IFR flight plan while still airborne and able to communicate
with ATC by radio. If using this procedure, be certain the
remainder of the flight can be conducted under VFR. It is
essential that IFR flight plans be cancelled expeditiously. This
allows other IFR traffic to utilize the airspace.
If you have more information, please feel free to shed light on this.
Navy 3710 Requirement.
02-13-2012, 03:25 PM
#8
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Posts: 818
http://www.marines.mil/unit/aviation...ts/3710.7U.pdf
4.9 CLOSING OF FLIGHT PLAN
It is the responsibility of the PIC/formation leader to ensure that the proper agency is notified of flight termination.
4.9.1 Military Installations
At military installations, the pilot either shall verbally confirm the closing of the flight plan with tower or base operations personnel or deliver a copy of the flight plan form to base operations.
4.9.2 Nonmilitary Installations
At nonmilitary installations, the pilot shall close the flight plan with flight service through any means of communication available. Collect, long distance telephone service may be used if required. When appropriate communication links are known or suspected not to exist at the point of intended landing, a predicted landing time in lieu of the actual landing shall be reported to an appropriate aeronautical facility while airborne.
Note
Cancellation of an instrument flight plan does not meet the requirement for closing out the flight plan. When a landing report has been properly delivered, the flight plan will be considered closed out.
4.9 CLOSING OF FLIGHT PLAN
It is the responsibility of the PIC/formation leader to ensure that the proper agency is notified of flight termination.
4.9.1 Military Installations
At military installations, the pilot either shall verbally confirm the closing of the flight plan with tower or base operations personnel or deliver a copy of the flight plan form to base operations.
4.9.2 Nonmilitary Installations
At nonmilitary installations, the pilot shall close the flight plan with flight service through any means of communication available. Collect, long distance telephone service may be used if required. When appropriate communication links are known or suspected not to exist at the point of intended landing, a predicted landing time in lieu of the actual landing shall be reported to an appropriate aeronautical facility while airborne.
Note
Cancellation of an instrument flight plan does not meet the requirement for closing out the flight plan. When a landing report has been properly delivered, the flight plan will be considered closed out.
02-13-2012, 04:02 PM
#9
Moderate Moderator
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: Curator at Static Display
Posts: 5,681
Legacy Rule
Air Force rules used to say just what FlyBoyd quoted above. It was taught that way for years.....that a civilian tower wouldn't guarantee the closing of the "search and rescue/accountability" part of the flight plan. That ties-in to the Departure Message/Arrival Message that Galaxy Flyer is talking about.
In the big re-write of 11-202, about 3 years ago, they said that was either no longer the case, or never was. (Note--Galaxy: that's AFR 60-16 to you and me).
So, if you are still seeing it happen, it is a leftover from the old days or old guys. (But this Old Guy knows better!)
In the big re-write of 11-202, about 3 years ago, they said that was either no longer the case, or never was. (Note--Galaxy: that's AFR 60-16 to you and me).
So, if you are still seeing it happen, it is a leftover from the old days or old guys. (But this Old Guy knows better!)
02-13-2012, 05:36 PM
#10
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Position: 73 gear slinger
Posts: 312
Guys might be calling to verify all the info for their next leg is in the system.....and, since they already have the FSS on the phone.... just verifying the previous flt plan was closed...for added piece of mind.
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