I85PREP
⌘ K
EASA ATPL 033 Flight Planning study materials
EASA ATPL 033 Flight Planning study resources

EASA ATPL 033 Flight Planning: Flight documentation: operational flight plan, load sheet, ATS plan, meteorological and NOTAM documents

EASA ATPL 033 Flight Planning · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

All guide sections

Flight documentation: operational flight plan, load sheet, ATS plan, meteorological and NOTAM documents

Domain 8 covers the paperwork used and carried in flight: operational flight plan, load sheet, ATS flight plan, meteorological and NOTAM documentation.

Operational flight plan

  • Prepared by the operator for each flight: registration and type, departure, destination and alternates, route and levels, masses (DOW, payload, TOM, LM), every fuel component, times and ETAs, and MEL/CDL items.
  • It is signed by the commander (or an authorised representative) to signify acceptance of the route and fuel, and is the working document for in-flight monitoring.

Load sheet

  • Shows DOW, traffic load, ZFM, take-off mass, fuel on board, CG/trim, distribution by hold, LMC entries and signatures; the trim setting is passed to the crew.

Meteorological and NOTAM documentation

  • Pre-flight package: METAR/SPECI, TAF with validity and amendment status (AMD, COR, NIL), trend forecasts, SIGMET/AIRMET, winds and temperatures aloft, and for long-range flights significant weather charts and volcanic ash advisories.
  • NOTAMs: check the Q-line subject and condition, validity from B) to C), scope, and the plain-language E) item; AIP SUP, SNOWTAM and ASHTAM cover major changes and runway conditions.
  • Records such as OFP, load sheet and flight documentation are retained, typically for three months.

Worked example

NOTAM A1234/25 NOTAMN, Q) EGTT/QMXLC/IV/BO/A/000/999/... A) EGLL B) 2503150600 C) 2503201800 E) RWY 09L/27R CLSD DUE WIP. The Q-code subject is runway and the condition is closed; validity runs from 15 March 0600 to 20 March 1800 and covers the departure aerodrome. The plan must therefore use 09R/27L, and the take-off chart must be re-read for that runway, including any displaced threshold and reduced TODA.

Traps

  • Using an expired or superseded NOTAM instead of the later NOTAMR/NOTAMC.
  • Confusing the ATS flight plan with the operational flight plan.
  • Ignoring TAF amendment status or a NIL TAF.
  • Letting the load sheet reach the crew without the final LMC reflected.