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Activation of flight plan in USA

P

petersb

Well Known Member
Need clarification on how to activate a VFR flight plan in the US.

I understand you look for the nearest VOR on your map and use the frequency on the top of the box.

Example on leaving Sheboygun there is a VOR-DME with 122.1R Green Bay, but that is receive only, Manitowoc the same

So I look at Oshkosk where there is a Vortac with 122.25 Green Bay, that should work

Or if you look at Milwaukee there is Milwaukee RCO 122.4 and 122.65 Green Bay

Seems rather imprecise, Milwaukee at one point suggested 132.95, not sure who that is..

Thoughts please

Regards Peter
 
The R for "receive only" means FSS can only receive on that frequency, not transmit. To communicate over Sheboygan's Falls VOR for example, tune 122.1 in your com radio and set your nav radio (VOR receiver) to the Falls VOR frequency 110.0. Make sure you have your audio panel and VOR receiver set to hear the dots and dashes identifying the VOR through your headset.

Now transmit on 122.1 and tell Green Bay Radio that you're over the Falls VOR listening 110.0. So you'll talk on 122.1 and listen to their replies on 110.0.
 
Or consider using flight following. Leaving Sheboygan tune up Milwaukee approach on 127.0. "Milwaukee Approach Experimental xyz, VFR request." "Exp XYZ Milwaukee app, go ahead." Milwaukee app, Exp XYZ is an RVX/G, just off Sheboygan at 2500 climbing for xxxx, request VFR flight following to XYZ airport." RVX, squawk xxxx..... RV XYZ radar contact 05 miles SW of the Sheboygan airport, maintain VFR, proceed on course." Now your with ATC and receiving radar services until canceled; typically when destination airport is in sight.
 
Don't confuse flight following with a flight plan. If you suddenly drop off the radar with flight following, ATC might activate search and rescue. Or they may assume that you flew out of radar range and do nothing.

Besides the FSS frequencies on the chart, the 'universal' frequency of 122.2 works at nearly all FSS in the US. You both transmit and receive on this frequency. As noted in a previous post, an R means FSS receives (you transmit) on that frequency. On call up say "listening on ABC VOR" so they know where to transmit. And do listen to the VOR. Once communication is established, just ask them to activate your vfr flight plan from abc to xyz, tell them time off was xxxx zulu. Do not forget to close the flight plan. After landing you can call 800-flightbrief to do so. Some towers will do it if you ask them, but you must ask.

For any ATC communications, some specialists don't care, but some hate, the use of the word 'request'. (Of course you have a request. Why else would you call?) I suggest you avoid it.
 
Dbro172 said:
Or consider using flight following. Leaving Sheboygan tune up Milwaukee approach on 127.0. "Milwaukee Approach Experimental xyz, VFR request." "Exp XYZ Milwaukee app, go ahead." Milwaukee app, Exp XYZ is an RVX/G, just off Sheboygan at 2500 climbing for xxxx, request VFR flight following to XYZ airport." RVX, squawk xxxx..... RV XYZ radar contact 05 miles SW of the Sheboygan airport, maintain VFR, proceed on course." Now your with ATC and receiving radar services until canceled; typically when destination airport is in sight.
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Thanks for the response Derek

Actually this is exactly what I did. Initially Milwaukee suggested a frequency change to 122.2 then told me to stay with them, I asked to activate the flight plan and for flight following for my flight to Canada ( need flight plan to cross border). . I received transponder codes and was handed off several times ending up with Selfridge before they handed me off to London Canada.

Looks as though the flight plan may not have been activated

So what I have read on the forum so far is to broadcast on 122.2 anywhere in the US, and a FSS somewhere will answer, the call would be "Radio (general term Radio as you may not know who you are talking to initially ) this is Canadian ABCD airbourne Sheboygan requesting activation of flight plan "

Do they also do the flight following ?
 
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FSS

FSS does not have radar so they can't provide flight following. That service is provided by Approach or Center. Hope that helps....
 
turbosaaber said:
FSS does not have radar so they can't provide flight following. That service is provided by Approach or Center. Hope that helps....
Click to expand...

Ok, so call FSS on 122.2, activate flight plan with whoever answers then tell them you are switching back to App/Dep/Terminal/Centee for flight following.

A little easier in Canada, flight plans are automatically activated at specified time in flight plan, then update actual take off with Terminal who also provides flight following.


So the way I understand it, there are FSS around the US that are only interested in flight plans, not tracking actual movements on radar (App/Dep/ Terminal). You can use the general 122.2 frequency or look for a VOR in the general vicinity and use the frequency on the top of the box
 
I think you've got it. In the US, FSS do flight plans, and weather. So while you're opening your flight plan with them, you can also ask for weather updates. Then go back to ATC if you want radar flight following.
 
BobTurner said:
I think you've got it. In the US, FSS do flight plans, and weather. So while you're opening your flight plan with them, you can also ask for weather updates. Then go back to ATC if you want radar flight following.
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Thanks Bob , like to be legal wherever possible

Peter
 
Just as a side note to that. If you file VFR with foreflight you can also activate through them. I have done it many times flying back to Ottawa and it has been seamless. Flight plans have always been transferred over to Navcan with no issues. Only thing is you need a data connection. I have done it over wifi at an fbo or I tether to my cell and use that.
 
FSS frequencies

FYI, 122.2 will not necessarily work all over the US.

I was flying in upstate NY a few days ago in an area where FSS uses a VOR frequency to broadcast (which I don't have). I tried 122.2 to reach them but it did not work for me.

BTW, you can file, activate and close flight plans on Foreflight.
 
Mattmountain said:
Just as a side note to that. If you file VFR with foreflight you can also activate through them. I have done it many times flying back to Ottawa and it has been seamless. Flight plans have always been transferred over to Navcan with no issues. Only thing is you need a data connection. I have done it over wifi at an fbo or I tether to my cell and use that.
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Thanks gentlemen, I use FlightplanGo, I have never used it to file a flight plan but I know it is available.

I understood that in the US the flight plan does not automatically activate at the proposed takeoff time, so when you enter a flight plan with Foreflight how do you activate it, I thought it had to be done when airborne.

I do prefer the format of Foreflight , however, the idea of renting an app for a year and not owning it doesnt sit right with me.
 
petersb said:
.....

I do prefer the format of Foreflight , however, the idea of renting an app for a year and not owning it doesnt sit right with me.
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I think of it as getting a yearly subscription to all of the US sectionals.... the other goodies just come along with it.

An AZ to GA trip I did a few years ago (pre iPad purchase) needed 10 sectionals for full coverage - ForeFlight eliminated that...:)
 
You can also file a flight plan with an "assumed departure time" , which will trigger its activation automatically. Saves a call during flight. I usually file the plan a day or so ahead of time, then call 15 minutes or less before departure to add the assumed departure time so that I minimize instances of unexpected delays and additional calls.

erich
 
BobTurner said:
For any ATC communications, some specialists don't care, but some hate, the use of the word 'request'. (Of course you have a request. Why else would you call?) I suggest you avoid it.
Click to expand...

The way I've always understood "request" is you giving the controller chance to get ready to take your request or maybe he/she needs a second to tend to other traffic before he/she is ready to listen to you.

i.e. "XYZ Approach, Experimental 123, five thousand, information X-ray, request", ATC talks to two other aircraft before responding to you... "Experimental 123 go ahead."

The alternative is for Experimental 123 to open up with some long-winded radio call and ATC wishes you would shut up so they could vector two planes from hitting each other.
 
BLittleton said:
The way I've always understood "request" is you giving the controller chance to get ready to take your request or maybe he/she needs a second to tend to other traffic before he/she is ready to listen to you.

i.e. "XYZ Approach, Experimental 123, five thousand, information X-ray, request", ATC talks to two other aircraft before responding to you... "Experimental 123 go ahead."

The alternative is for Experimental 123 to open up with some long-winded radio call and ATC wishes you would shut up so they could vector two planes from hitting each other.
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I always thought that too...

This is what the AIM says -

a. Initial Contact.

1. The terms initial contact or initial callup
means the first radio call you make to a given facility
or the first call to a different controller or FSS
specialist within a facility. Use the following format:

(a) Name of the facility being called;

(b) Your full aircraft identification as filed in
the flight plan or as discussed in paragraph 4−2−4,
Aircraft Call Signs;

(c) When operating on an airport surface,
state your position.

(d) The type of message to follow or your
request if it is short; and

(e) The word ?Over? if required.


I don't see how you can get in a VFR Flight Following request and be "short" as required...:)

I guess you could change "request" to "Flight Following request" as type of message to follow but would that really help?
 
az_gila said:
I guess you could change "request" to "Flight Following request" as type of message to follow but would that really help?
Click to expand...

Just call up and say "Flight Following" ('request' is implied).
If the controller is too busy, he'll say "RV 123, unable flight following".
Or if he can help, he'll say "RV 123 squawk 5558 ident", and, a bit later, "RV 123 radar contact 7 thousand five hundred, say destination" and you reply "Tracy" (and tell him if the altitude read out is wrong).

I think you'll see that this minimizes frequency congestion, especially if it's busy and the answer is 'no'. If it's not busy, sometimes I give him the whole request on initial call up. But I don't say 'request', it just seems to bug some controllers.
 
BobTurner said:
Just call up and say "Flight Following" ('request' is implied).
If the controller is too busy, he'll say "RV 123, unable flight following".
Or if he can help, he'll say "RV 123 squawk 5558 ident", and, a bit later, "RV 123 radar contact 7 thousand five hundred, say destination" and you reply "Tracy" (and tell him if the altitude read out is wrong).

I think you'll see that this minimizes frequency congestion, especially if it's busy and the answer is 'no'. If it's not busy, sometimes I give him the whole request on initial call up. But I don't say 'request', it just seems to bug some controllers.
Click to expand...

Thanks... sounds like a good option. :)
 
+1 on using 1800wxbrief.com... makes opening and closing VFR flight plans a breeze with text messaging. They will also send you a reminder so you don't forget.

I'm pretty impressed with the service. I spoke to the guys at Oshkosh. Lots of new features coming. Even though I'm a die hard Foreflight user, I actually use the 1800wxbrief.com site for preflight briefings. It works really well.
 
DUATS vs 1800wxbrief.com

Just last month I had an issue where a flight plan was not properly closed. I originally filed a flight wethermeister/Duats the night before but weather forced a departure more than an hour before my filed plan. Unfortunately Duats does not send the plan to FSS until an hour before your flight so I had to file a new plan instead of modifying the original verbally.
No big deal right?
Well, the system got confused when a new flight plan was filed (while I was in flight by Duats) so when I closed my flight plan, a second one somehow remained open triggering the phone calls.

FSS acknowledged it as a glitch on their side about a week later but now I only use 1800wxbrief.com as the flight plan is ALWAYS available to modify and has a tighter integration with FSS.
 
petersb said:
Thanks gentlemen, I use FlightplanGo, I have never used it to file a flight plan but I know it is available.
Click to expand...
FWIW I file via FltPlanGO all the time, especially for IFR flights. Then activate when airborne. It is very, very simple to do. :cool:
 
BobTurner said:
OF course, this only works if you can take off and climb under VFR.
Click to expand...
If the WX is IFR, then I get my IFR clearance while still on the ground. For a VFR flight I can't depart anyways so the issue is moot. I still use FltPlanGo to file the flight plan which is super simple. :D
 
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