Complex Flight Plans

Flight plan with GPS waypoints
When we fly a complicated route over rugged and sparsely populated terrain, we would like to file a flight plan that tells the exact route. Unfortunately, today's format of flight plans was formulated in the olden age of Telex communication, where each character was considered an expensive item to transmit. As a result, there is no way to tell the flight service precisely where we are going, even if we add some description of the route in the remarks section.

Come the modern way of defining and storing routes to the rescue. In our case, we use the Garmin Pilot, where the route can be graphically modified and then displayed with GPS coordinates for each waypoint. We use that information as follows.

First, we file the regular flight plan, with limited information as constrained by the current form. We include the phone number of a contact person who will monitor our flight. That is, upon landing at the destination, we have agreed to call that person. In the remarks section of the flight plan, we write "Contact person has graphic map of entire route."

Next, we take a screen shot of the entire route. It is not necessary that details of the sectional be readable, as long as the GPS coordinates of the waypoints can be clearly read. If the route is so complex that it does not fit with readable waypoints on one screen, we make screenshots of suitably enlarged sections. We send these screen shots to the contact person via email.

Now suppose the unthinkable but actually possible happens: We have a significant problem and the flight terminates in some mishap. When the plane becomes overdue, the flight service calls the contact person, who then says, "Let me send you the graphic map of the entire route." Thus, any rescue effort has precise information where to look.

This approach requires discipline on the part of the pilot. The flight must adhere to the graphic route, no exception allowed. We accomplish this by using the autopilot to track the precise heading of each segment.

Complicated? Not really. Important? You will think so if you have to make an emergency landing in a remote location, with the plane possibly hidden by trees, and are waiting for the rescuers.

Addendum 2018

The Garmin Pilot now has the option of filing the flight plan, with all its waypoints, via the Leidos Flight Service. So we now can work out the entire route, with all deviations to avoid obstacles, controlled airspace, and so on. Once that route has been stored, we can file it via the Leidos Flight Service by a single click.

The process has two additional, pleasant aspects.

First, if after filing you discover an error or want to change something for whatever reason, simply click that you want to change the flight plan. The flight plan then pops up, you make the changes, and file again.

Second, you can file a flight plan shortly before the actual departure. In the olden days, it happened to us several times that we had filed a flight plan via DUATS, but when we tried to activate it in the air, it wasn't available yet. This annoying problem cannot happen anymore.  

Despite all these advances, we still email screen shots of the route to the contact person as described above. The more people are aware of your plans, the more they can help in case things go wrong. 

Have any questions or feedback about filing flight plans with the Garmin Pilot, using the Leidos Flight Service? Please share your thoughts in the comments. 

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