Flight Planning and Monitoring
Flight Planning and Monitoring tests the preparation of a legal and practical flight plan, fuel planning, alternate selection and in-flight replanning. The examiner wants a defensible fuel figure and a plan that can be monitored against actual progress.
Fuel and plan structure
- Trip fuel is from takeoff to destination. Contingency fuel is usually a percentage of trip fuel or a time-based allowance. Alternate fuel covers destination to alternate. Final reserve is held for the planned holding period. Taxi fuel and any extra fuel are added separately.
- The flight plan includes route, levels, alternate, endurance, persons on board and emergency information. ATC flight plan filing does not replace the operational flight plan.
- Monitoring compares actual fuel, time and position with the plan. A negative trend requires early diversion or reprioritisation.
- Alternate selection considers weather, runway suitability, fuel and ATC/airport availability.
Worked example
Trip fuel 2,500 kg; contingency 5% of trip = 125 kg; alternate 600 kg; final reserve 600 kg; taxi 150 kg; extra 200 kg. Total fuel = 2,500 + 125 + 600 + 600 + 150 + 200 = 4,175 kg. The contingency is based on trip fuel, not on total fuel. If actual trip fuel rises, recalculate the contingency and remaining margin.
Traps
Calculating contingency on total fuel; omitting taxi fuel; treating final reserve as available for diversion; and filing an alternate that is weather-suitable but not operationally usable. Also remember that a flight plan is not a guarantee of clearance.