Airspace & Safety Initiative

Pre-flight Planning

 
Pre-flight Planning

Sky Demon Light Pre-Flight Planning tool

NATS has recently awarded its Safety Compliance Mark to SkyDemon Light, a free online pre-flight planning tool. The mark indicates that the product complies with functionality set out by NATS to enhance GA flight safety. The tool can be found at www.skydemonlight.com

And more information on the NATS Safety Compliance Mark for pre-flight planning can be found here: www.nats.co.uk/nats-pre-flight-planning-compliance-mark/

Pre Flight Briefing

There is a lot of information which can make your flight safer and more enjoyable. On the other hand if preparation becomes too complex pilots may be put off from flying or abandon really vital planning tasks. One way of managing this contradiction is to split the tasks into long, medium and short term. A degree of discipline helps. It's no good confirming the validity dates for your licence or the chart and then not remembering where you recorded the information. Keeping records on paper or electronically in a form that suits you reduces last minute panics. There are links to fuller information below. This data is also covered in a more detailed 20 page check list prepared by Irv Lee more details on www.higherplane.co.uk

Background Preparations

These are things to do when you have some free time. They are not specific to a particular flight but ensure you are well organised with less to do when a specific flight is in prospect.

  • Save relevant material from magazines or the web in some retrievable manner
  • Perhaps put a query on a suitable forum for hintson possible destination and routes
  • Check medical, licence and rating currency and revalidate where needed
  • Check compliance with 90 day passenger rule or local currency rules
  • Confirm you have charts and other information likely to have a long validity
  • Look over background data to check for new material or refresh the memory on existing material for example AIC's, CTR navigation guides, listening squawks
  • Register with relevent websites such as AFPEX and the Met office
  • Get useful phone numbers in your mobile and load data on any suitable electronic deviceyou use
  • Organise spare keys for the aircraft, hangar doors and security gates.

Specific Preparation

These are things to do when a trip is in prospect perhaps a week or a few days ahead with some reasonable idea on the planned destination or activity.

  • Obtain specific data with such as overseas charts or airfield charts
  • Check opening times, fuel availability and prior permission rules at possible destinations alternates and fuel stops
  • Put some lines on the charts. Check that the route is feasible given experience levels, aircraft range and proposed load
  • Note current radio frequencies
  • Review the aircraft checklists and POH for speeds, range etc.
  • Check availability of portable equipment such as lifejackets, dinghy, PLB
  • Is the aircraft equipped e.g. compulsory ELT or Mode C/S transponder
  • Book the aircraft.

Short Term Preparation

These are the tasks for the day before and immediately pre trip.

  • Domestic details in hand, car or hotel booked
  • Mark up the final route. Put it in the GPS where appropriate
  • Prepare a flight log
  • Do a weight and balance
  • Get met information a day ahead and a few hours ahead
  • Check notams
  • As required get PPR, file a flight plan and a GAR
  • Recheck aircraft availability, hangar access, fuel arrangements etc.
  • Aircraft documents e.g. insurance, C of A and release to service in place
  • Personal pilot equipment such as torches, Sick bags, PLB fuel strainer, check list, cleaning materials, headsets, kneeboard, charts, pencils, specs, sunglasses, fuel drain, check list, charts and a handheld radio all in place
  • Make an honest personalassessment. Am I feeling really well? Am I and my passengers well prepared confident we can enjoy the flight
  • Has the aircraft got the flight manual, spare oil, a tow bar and cleaning materials.

Tips for the Organised Pilot

  • Always carry a minimalistovernight bag just in case. A great stress reducer
  • Don't be too proud to ask an instructor or more experienced friend for advice or even to accompany you
  • Hide spare aircraft keys somewhere accessible from outside the aircraft.
  • Cross check a pre loaded GPS route against a chart for gross errors especially if it contains any user entered waypoints
  • Don't be complacent if on a local sightseeing flight. Many infringements involve experienced local pilots and even instructors. Perhaps highlight easily missed restrictions on your chart.

Here is a list of websites that will help with your pre-flight planning, also don't forget the video guides on this website.

NOTAM checking

» The official AIS Site
» NOTAMs
» Temporary AIP changes

You can also dial the temporary airspace restrictions freephone for today's update on 0500 354 802 or +44 208750 3939

» Eurocontrol AICs

Weather

» Met Office TAFS and METARS
» Meteo France

Flight Planning

» NATS AFPEx

You may also fax a plan to 01489 612793 and the AFPEx helpline is 0845 601 0483 or 01489 612792