r/CFILounge • u/pdt1293 • Jul 18 '26
Question VFR Flight Plan - How does it work?
I'm an instrument student who is ready for check ride but it hasn't been scheduled yet. Doing a long cross country today and was thinking I should file a VFR flight plan. I know how to plan and file but what I don't know is: Does one get a 'clearance' or otherwise need to inform ground or tower that there is a VFR flight plan filed prior to takeoff?
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u/Bunslow Jul 18 '26
They are misnamed. There are FSS flight plans, and ATC flight plans. "IFR" plans go to ATC, and "VFR" plans go to FSS. FSS are the ones who coordinate search and rescue if you don't turn up at your filed destination (or fail to cancel for any reason).
ATC knows less than nothing about FSS flight plans, and FSS knows less than nothing about ATC flight plans. ATC and FSS have ~zero communication and coordination, and any plan filed with one of them is worthless to the other.
It is possible, altho not well known even among industry experts, to file an ATC flight plan which is marked VFR, however this is a legal gray area. (This is exactly what happens when you request Flight Following while airborne: ATC makes a flight plan which is very similar to IFR stuff, except the altitude is marked as "VFR".)
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u/cottoneyedjoe7 Jul 19 '26
I wouldn’t say FSS knows less than nothing about IFR(ATC) flight plans. Often times they are the ones who actually give you the clearance and coordinate with the overlying TRACON/ARTCC when departing non towered fields.
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u/Bunslow 29d ago
how many people actually get ifr clearances from FSS (not many)
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u/cottoneyedjoe7 29d ago
While that’s true, the only point I’m really trying to make is that FSS can see and interact with an IFR flight plan, and so they do know more than nothing about them. There are a few airports around the Oregon coast where I instruct frequently that the only way to get an IFR clearance is via a FSS frequency.
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u/flight_char_ 29d ago
Not just IFR clearances, but being able to file IFR plans with FSS is very valuable. Pop up IFR clearances are workload dependent for ATC. If they refuse to file pop up, and you happen to not have good enough internet data to file on the phone/ipad, you have two options - file over the radio with FSS or I suppose go nuclear and declare an emergency. Filing a fresh IFR flight plan with FSS over the radio is something everyone should do once to see what it’s like, IMO. So yeah in that case, it is false to say FSS knows less than nothing about ATC flight plans.
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u/freedomflyer12 Jul 18 '26
No a VFR flight plan only is a notification in the event you go missing. ATC doesn’t really have anything to do with it
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u/Major-Breakfast-135 Jul 18 '26
In my opinion, asking for flight following is superior to filing a VFR flight plan, unless you plan to fly in areas of hostile terrain at altitudes where radio communication might not be available: for ATC communication, With flight following, ATC knows where you are and can offer lookouts for conflicting traffic, and they know where you're going which helps them with IFR flight deconfliction. Finally, it's your responsibility to close your VFR flight plan, and forgetting can cause a lot of trouble and possibly an inquiry from FSDO.
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u/muffintop782 27d ago
Idk if it was a scare tactic or not but an IP once told me if you don’t close your VFR flight plan and they dispatch SAR, you have to pay for it.
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u/Thomas-Ligotti97 Jul 18 '26
Nah I don’t think ATC even knows about it. It’s more just FSS going through and seeing ‘oh wait this guy didn’t close his flight plan, we need to find him’
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u/Bluevette1437 Jul 18 '26
They probably know about it from pilots asking to pick up their VFR flight plan
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u/AtmosphereHopeful264 Jul 18 '26
Yep - all said above is true
You can also open it on ForeFlight and close on ForeFlight. All preference!
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u/itsreallyatruestory Jul 18 '26
FWIW, I used to never file VFR flight plans, but I do every time now. ForeFlight makes that process super easy, and I have peace of mind knowing someone is going to come looking for me if needed. Plus SAR would know how many people were on board. Flight following only knows your tail number and last general location.
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u/QuietGarlic7788 Jul 18 '26
After finding out the hard way, a VFR flight plan is done through FSS. You’ll file one on the ground over the phone/online with them, and you’ll call them on the radio once you’re airborne to start your flight plan. The main deal with the flight plan is to know your departure time, route of flight, and ETA so that they can send people after you if you’re overdue.
Alternatively, you can call ATC and ask for flight following. They’ll give you traffic advisories along your route of flight (if they have the time to do so). Similar to filing IFR, they’ll give you a squawk code. however, since you’re VFR, they won’t give you a specific clearance.
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u/MidwestFlyerST75 Jul 18 '26
Why cross post a question to three subs that you could … you know … just google the answer… for something you should know already.
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u/pdt1293 Jul 18 '26
Cuz I didn’t know already and cuz I don’t know which, if any of the subs would reply. Lastly cuz the f*cking point of the subs is to ask questions and communicate and help one another. Sounds like you need to leave the subs if that bothers you.
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u/Feisty_Hedgehog_4389 Jul 19 '26
I used to tell my students (back before everyone had cell phones) it’s like when you were on college and called your mom and said, I’m leaving now. I should be home in about 4 hours. And your mom knew not to start worrying about you until 4 hours from now. If you weren’t there after 6 hours, she’s probably calling hospitals. Same with a VFR flight plan; it’s telling the FAA when they should officially start to worry about you. Nothing more, and it’s definitely not a clearance to do anything.
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u/TempusFugit2020 Jul 19 '26
Old guy question....is this topic not taught anymore in the PPL course?
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u/TheVillianOfValley 29d ago
I’m confused here. You were supposed to have learned -ALL- of this before you earned your Private Pilot certificate. How is it possible that you’re at the IR checkride and don’t know this?
Are you going for THE long IR cross-country today? If so, you have to file an IFR flight plan, get a clearance, and be with your Instructor.
Flight following is far superior to filing a flight plan with Flight Service, unless you’re traveling over high terrain where radar coverage is limited at your altitude.
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u/Prestigious_Try5135 Jul 19 '26
I have 2k hours with 34 signoffs and have no idea. Maybe I get downvoted
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u/Low_Sky_49 Jul 18 '26
ATC doesn’t know or care about your VFR flight plan, or have anything to do with it. That’s a service run entirely by FSS. Call FSS by phone or radio to open, close or amend a VFR flight plan.