CPL Flight Planning key terms

A forecast chart depicting hazardous weather such as fronts, turbulence, icing, cumulonimbus and jet streams over a large area, used before flight to identify conditions along and near the planned route.

A coded forecast of conditions expected at an aerodrome, giving wind, visibility, weather, cloud and expected changes, with a validity period used to judge whether destination and alternate aerodromes will be usable.

A coded routine observation of actual weather at an aerodrome at a stated time, including wind, visibility, weather, cloud and temperature, used to confirm current conditions before departure or approach.

An aerodrome to which a flight may proceed if landing at the intended destination becomes impossible or inadvisable, selected by reference to forecast weather, runway suitability and fuel reserves.

A forecast of wind direction, wind speed and temperature at specified altitudes and locations, used to compute cruise headwind or tailwind components and to estimate true airspeed and fuel consumption.

A notice distributed by means of telecommunication containing information on the establishment, condition or change of any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard, essential to personnel concerned with flight operations.

The official national document containing aeronautical information of a permanent nature, including aerodrome data, routes, procedures and airspace, forming the basis for pre-flight planning and chart preparation.

A map produced for navigation that shows aerodromes, airspace, radio navigation aids, obstacles and terrain, selected according to the phase of flight such as en route, terminal area or approach.

Specified information provided to air traffic services about the intended flight of an aircraft, filed in a standard format so that alerting and search and rescue services and traffic coordination can be provided.

The standard form on which flight plan data are entered in prescribed fields, covering aircraft identification, rules, type of aircraft, route, levels, aerodromes and supplementary information such as endurance and persons on board.

The set of data elements required in a filed plan, including aircraft identification, departure time, route and levels, destination, alternate, cruising speed, endurance and emergency equipment carried.

A formatted communication between air traffic services units or between an operator and ATS, such as a departure, arrival, delay or change message, that keeps flight plan data current during the flight.

A message sent to relevant ATS units when an aircraft has departed, giving the actual departure time, so that subsequent units and search and rescue alerting are correctly timed.

The operator's defined method for calculating fuel, covering taxi, trip, contingency, alternate and final reserve fuel, ensuring a planned minimum is carried and monitored throughout the flight.

The fuel required from take-off to landing at the destination aerodrome, computed from the planned route, cruise level, expected wind and the aircraft's fuel flow.

Fuel carried to cover unforeseen factors such as deviations from forecast wind, routing or level, normally a defined percentage of trip fuel or a fixed time allowance.

A fixed minimum quantity, usually expressed as time at holding speed at a stated altitude, that must remain on landing or at diversion and must not be planned for use.

The fuel needed to fly from the destination to the selected alternate aerodrome, including approach and landing, when an alternate is required by the fuel or weather rules.

The process of recalculating route, fuel and destination while airborne, using actual winds, fuel remaining and weather, and notifying ATS of any change to the filed plan.

A change of destination or route in flight, made because of weather, fuel, technical or passenger considerations, requiring new fuel, time and navigation calculations and ATS notification.

The point along a route beyond which an aircraft can no longer return to the departure aerodrome with the fuel remaining, calculated from fuel available, fuel flow and wind components.

A point on the route from which the time to fly to either of two aerodromes is the same, used to decide the diversion action point when fuel or weather margins are limited.

The direction of the aircraft's path over the ground measured in degrees from true north, derived from the chart line drawn between departure and destination.

The direction in which the aircraft nose points relative to true north, obtained by applying the wind correction angle to the true track to counter drift.

The angular difference between true track and true heading needed to compensate for crosswind, calculated from wind speed and direction relative to the aircraft's true airspeed.

The speed of the aircraft relative to the ground, found by combining true airspeed with the headwind or tailwind component, and used to compute time and fuel for each leg.

The speed of the aircraft through the air at the selected cruise power and altitude, corrected for temperature and compressibility, and used as the basis for time and fuel calculations.

The calculated distances and speeds for take-off, including ground roll, screen height and climb gradients, adjusted for mass, pressure altitude, temperature, wind and runway slope and condition.

The calculated landing distance and approach climb requirements, adjusted for mass, pressure altitude, temperature, wind and runway condition, ensuring a safe stop within the available distance.

The altitude indicated when the altimeter subscale is set to the standard datum of 1013.2 hectopascals, used as the reference for performance charts and flight levels.

Pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature, representing the altitude at which the aircraft's engine and wings behave as if at that height, strongly affecting take-off and climb performance.

The determination of total mass and centre of gravity position by summing aircraft, fuel, payload and baggage, confirming limits are respected so that handling and performance remain safe.

The point at which the aircraft's total weight is considered to act, which must lie within a certified forward and aft range for stability, control and performance throughout the flight.

The highest mass at which the aircraft is certified to begin the take-off run, limiting payload and fuel and constrained further by runway, climb and obstacle performance on the day.

The document prepared by the operator for a specific flight, showing route, levels, fuel, masses, times and alternates, and serving as the working reference for the crew and for fuel monitoring.

The lowest altitude that provides a defined clearance above terrain and obstacles within a specified area, used to check that planned and diversion routes remain safely above the ground.

The total time an aircraft can remain airborne with the fuel available, entered in the flight plan and used to check that reserves and diversion options remain viable.