Gourt > Recreation > Aviation > Pilots > Flight Planning
Flight planning is the process of producing a flight plan to describe a proposed aircraft flight. It involves two safety-critical aspects: fuel calculation, to ensure that the aircraft can safely reach the destination, and compliance with air traffic control requirements, to minimise the risk of mid-air collision. In addition, planners normally wish to minimise flight cost by appropriate choice of route, height, and speed, and by loading the minimum necessary fuel on board.
Flight planning requires accurate weather forecasts so that fuel consumption calculations can account for the fuel consumption effects of head or tail winds and air temperature. Safety regulations require aircraft to carry fuel beyond the minimum needed to fly from origin to destination, allowing for unforeseen circumstances or for diversion to another airport if the planned destination becomes unavailable. Furthermore, under the supervision of air traffic control, aircraft flying in controlled airspace must follow predetermined routes known as airways, even if such routes are not as economical as a more direct flight. Within these airways, aircraft must maintain flight levels, specified altitudes usually separated vertically by 1000 or 2000 feet, depending on the route being flown and the direction of travel. When aircraft with only two engines are flying across oceans, they have to satisfy extra safety rules to ensure that such aircraft can reach some emergency airport if one engine fails.
Producing an accurate optimised flight plan requires a large number of calculations (millions), so commercial flight planning systems make extensive use of computers (an approximate unoptimised flight plan can be done by hand in an hour or so, but more allowance must be made for unforeseen circumstances). Some commercial airlines have their own internal flight planning system, while others employ the services of external planners.
More on [ Flight planning ]
Clarence, crash victims consider 3407 memorial: Family and friends of flight 3407 victims are planning a perman.. http://idek.net/n3M
YNNBuffalo (YNN Buffalo) Tue, 15 Dec 2009 06:41:22 -0000
Clarence, crash victims consider 3407 memorial: Family and friends of flight 3407 victims are planning a perman.. http://idek.net/n3M
Only reasonable flight home after Christmas is out of Rockford... But the Internet is hindering my transportation planning... #fb
CLBrannan (Christine Brannan) Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:01:59 -0000
Only reasonable flight home after Christmas is out of Rockford... But the Internet is hindering my transportation planning... #fb
Flight 3407 crash memorial: Family and friends of flight 3407 victims are planning a permanent memorial to reme.. http://idek.net/n1O
YNNBuffalo (YNN Buffalo) Tue, 15 Dec 2009 03:27:47 -0000
Flight 3407 crash memorial: Family and friends of flight 3407 victims are planning a permanent memorial to reme.. http://idek.net/n1O
Planning my flight to Guam. If my company uses Northwest, I'd be spending 5-6 hrs in Tokyo. That would be nice!
groinksan (Alan Tuttle) Tue, 15 Dec 2009 02:42:39 -0000
Planning my flight to Guam. If my company uses Northwest, I'd be spending 5-6 hrs in Tokyo. That would be nice!
RT @clancycnn: Now, word coming in that if you were planning to take a British Airways flight this Christmas...you better shop another a ...
frankmat (Francisco Mateo, CPP) Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:44:19 -0000
RT @clancycnn: Now, word coming in that if you were planning to take a British Airways flight this Christmas...you better shop another a ...
@MariSmith Oh no! wasn't planning to pack a raincoat.. as long as it's warm we'll be happy :) c u sn!! (need long flight to catch up on Zs!)
FionaPriestley (Fiona Priestley) Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:33:11 -0000
@MariSmith Oh no! wasn't planning to pack a raincoat.. as long as it's warm we'll be happy :) c u sn!! (need long flight to catch up on Zs!)
Aeroplanner - Offers online flight planning, sectional charts, and weather outlooks.
AirplaneCharts.Com - Aviation VFR and IFR Charts. Sectional and Terminal Charts. NOS Low Altitude Enroute Charts and Approach Plates.
Meta Description: [ Sectional charts, Terminal charts and WAC charts. Instrument Approach plates and Enroute charts ]
Airports En Route - Airports directory with flight plan calculator. Computes distance, track, heading, ground speed and time en route between US and Canadian locations.
Meta Description: [ serves as a advisory resource for pilots and other air travelers ]
Aviation Formulary - Introduction to the mathematical processes used in navigation including great circle navigation theory.
Meta Description: [ Aviation Formulary ]
Canso - Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation - Exists to ensure the provision of air navigation services for civil aviation communities worldwide.
Density Altitude Calculator - JavaScipt calculator for pilots. Determines density altitude from the altitude, air temp, altimeter setting and relative humidity.
Meta Description: [ On-Line JavaScript Density Altitude calculator. Metric and/or English units.
Calculates density altitude from altitude, air temerature, altimeter setting and dew point.
Richard J. Shelquist, Longmont, Colorado. Other pages include
Web-published sufi poetry, realtive horsepower calculators, SC... ]
Ed Williams' Aviation Page - Formulas and on line calculators for aviation navigation.
Meta Description: [ Ed Williams' Aviation Page ]
Flight Plan Information - Provides online flight planning and submission. Includes flight navigation log (printable) for generation of computed flight plans, Java applets for the calculation of wind correction and ground speed, mass and balance, density altitude, flight level, cross wind component and other aviation related calculations.
Meta Description: [ Site map of flightplan calculators. ]
FlightLogXL - Flight log in Excel. Calculates heading, distance and time based on entered waypoints.
Meta Description: [ VFR easy flight planner for general aviation pilots.
Made for MS Excel. Completely Free!
--- Pianificatore voli VFR per piloti di aviazione generale. Completamente Gratuito! ]
Flycalc - Flycalc is a web based, navigation tool for New Zealand based flight plans.
Meta Description: [ Flycalc is a web based, navigation tool for New Zealand based flights. Flight plans are generated automatically using a drag and drop map that contains all New Zealand aerodromes and airfields. Flycalc returns flight headings, distances, and durations taking into account, wind speed and direction... ]
Jeppesen Sanderson - Publisher of flight information, supported by computer flight planning services, aviation weather services, and aviation training systems.
Meta Description: [ Making Every Mission Possible - aeronautical charts, aviation training materials, flight planning, navigational data, aviation weather and more. ]
Joe's Navigation Course - Aeronautical navigation lessons for a beginner. Provides the lessons with graphics. Available in Dutch and English.
Meta Description: [ Presenting a useful aeronautical navigation lesson, with lots of graphic’s on each page. Written in two languages - Dutch and English. ]
National Air Traffic Services - Provides aeronautical information services including let down plates and aviation warnings. Free registration required.
Nav Canada - Provides navigation services like air traffic control, weather information and many other services.
Meta Description: [ NAV CANADA is a private, non-share capital corporation that owns and operates Canada's civil air navigation service (ANS). With operations coast to coast, we provide our customers air traffic control, flight information, weather briefings, aeronautical information, airport advisory services and e... ]
NotamPlot - Free UK NOTAM plotting software for private pilots. Download, features and user guide. Limited features in free version.
Meta Description: [ NotamPlot Graphical NOTAM Plotting Software ]
Penguin Air Electronic AFD and Planning - Source for the electronic Airport Facility Directory, approach plates, the FARs and the AIM.
Meta Description: [ The P.A.L. CD and download service combine the airport facility directory,
navigation and pre-flight information, approach plates, airport diagrams, FARs and the AIM into several
inexpensive sources for your aviation needs. ]
Pocket FMS - Shareware flight planning and moving map solution for PC and pocket PC. Instructions and downloads.
Meta Description: [ PocketFMS is the ultimate flightplanning and Moving Map software for private pilots. It runs on Windows NT, 2K, XP and CE. Some features: Customizable Moving Map with (relative) terrain, airspace avoidance, meteo incorporated in flightplan, W&B computation & plot, worldwide covering databases. ]
QDM - Flight planning for the private student pilot made easy. QuDieM Navigator wind computer and free on-line aircraft bookings.
Meta Description: [ Flight planning for the private & student pilot made easy. QuDieM Navigator wind computer and free on-line aircraft bookings. ]
Royal Institute of Navigation - If you have an interest in navigation in its broadest terms - from aircraft Cat III landings though sailing for pleasure to orientation strategies with young children, then you should consider membership of the RIN.
Meta Description: [ The home of navigation - past, present and future. ]
The Institute of Navigation - Non-profit professional society dedicated to the advancement of the art and science of navigation.
U.S. Sectional Maps On-Line - Aviation Sectional maps for educational purposes. Not to be used for flight planning or in-flight navigation.
Meta Description: [ U.S. Sectionals for those interested in aviation tools & techniques. Not to be used for flight planning or in-filght navigation. Provided as examples. ]
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