MaxSez: Expert Server & "No" Flight Plan!

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MaxSez: Been following the Expert Server Status for the last few week.
I note with great dismay the number of so called “Trash Hauling Experts” who fail to File a Basic Flight Plan.
In my opinion that’s “Pilot Error”! In the real world “No Flight Plan filed” by a commercial Pax carrying aircraft is a major FAA gig.
If your gonna Fly, Fly Right! (No Ticket No Shirt! FDS should make the failure to file on the “Expert” an automatic violation for Trash Haulers)
Just Sayin…

(Note: IF Rules are based on US FAA Regs. Don’t care what the rules are in the UK or Timbuktu. IF Rules,Rule!)

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Well said, Max. There should be a requirement to make an FPL (only in expert). If you don’t, you don’t get to fly anywhere.

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Agreed, but only as an IFR aircraft, of course.

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As a newly christened IFATC, I see this on >80% of aircraft. This is horrible and unacceptable.

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Everyone should have a flight plan, regardless of what you’re doing.

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How about if you’re doing patterns? You don’t really need a FPL for that.

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Well they don’t need one but it is a good practice. You want people to know what happened to you if you crashed into a remote mountain area…

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I’m part of that 80%. I won’t really say much else it’s just sometimes I’m lazy which I know is still unacceptable. So don’t need to tell me twice. I’m supposed to have one. But with mustache might I will start doing some. But my procrastinating self stops me too. I’ll be getting a mob of replies at my door threatening to cut the mustache. Well I’ll let them come. But I will one day change my ways… if I’m less lazy. ;)

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@Nicholas_L… Nick my friend all “Commercial Pax Carrying Aircraft” Fly IFR in the States. (They may fly a Visual Approach ect. But IFR for busses is the norm)

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Not aircraft flying VFR …

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All ya gotta do is click on your destination airport and add that. Nothing else. At least it letd ATC know your planned destination. Makes there lives easier. Takes two secounds.

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And he never said anything about vfr. He specifically mentioned IFR commercial aircraft

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@hubandspoke1 @Kyle.Plane… MaxSez: VFR Do I or don’t I file. FAA is floating a Chg presently requiring both IMC & VMC must file.
Filing for VFR is optional if your remains in your home field doing touch & go’s. In today’s crowded sky’s if your a GA VFR driver only a fool Fly’s cross country unfiled. Remember: "There are bold pilots and old pilot but there are NO old bold pilots!..

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For places like London, you’d need a flight plan, of course. For some island hops, I don’t think so. It really depends if you’re going VFR (Freeflight) or actually doing a flight while connected to DEP/APP or CTR. But of course you’ll specify that to ATC if you want to fly from EGKK-EGBB or just fly around the region for some XP.

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By doing so, doesn’t that remove the option for “VFR Flight Following”, leaving just “Flight Following”?

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I’m not sure. I was talking about the of people flying commercial aircraft and don’t wanna file a flight plan

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I agree. The flight plan really helps us in terms of staffing the airports. There may be 50 flights on the server but I see 3 inbound to KLAX I wouldn’t think much of it. However once I start controlling we get 30 inbound from KSAN all heading in without approach. If they all would had filed a plan we would have seen the demand and tried to fully staff it. If we see the demand we try our best to staff it.

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@Chris_S… MaxSez: clear and concise Chris… One of the underlying reasons for the post was a recognition of the impact a failure to file has on ATC.
No Codes so no 1200’s ect.

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If you’re VFR, you still know where you want to go. You don’t just take off and think “I’ll just go wherever the wind takes me today” (unless in a balloon).
At the very least, file a plan that is just direct to your destination airport, even if you don’t follow the line. It shows up as a destination and let’s atc know to expect you. You’ll still be allowed to fly VFR.

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