AeroDynamic Aviation®
VFR Cross Country Flight Plan Guide
Day before flight:
1. Gather current charts, A/FD, navigation log, POH performance data, flight computer, etc.
2. Spread out charts and eyeball approximate route of flight considering the following:
• Route: Try to choose the most direct route but consider terrain during the climb, en route and
descent. Use victor airways, obvious landmarks, and navigation aids if available. Make sure
there are easily identified checkpoints along the route. Power lines, private airports, and train
tracks are usually not easily identifiable!
• Airspace: Avoid restricted airspace and MOA’s. Plan for appropriate clearances, weather
minima, and equipment required for class B, C, & D airspaces.
• Terrain: Make sure you don’t have terrain along your proposed route that is higher than the
aircraft’s service ceiling. For safety make sure you have at least 2000 foot obstacle/terrain
clearance.
• Airports: Make sure there are appropriate (runway lengths & available services) airports for
needed, planned or unplanned stops.
• Fuel: Do you need a fuel stop? At what fuel indication would you divert for fuel? How much
are you landing with? Does your destination have fuel services and available 24 hours?
• Emergencies: In case of an in-flight emergency make sure there are suitable landing sites
(on and off airport). Don’t fly long distances over lakes or open water.
• Night: Cities and highways are most of your visual references at night. Be especially alert to
mountainous terrain, instrument conditions, airport lighting availability, and emergency
landing sites. Pack a flashlight, extra batteries, and emergency supplies.
3. Use plotter and pencil to draw intended route of flight.
4. In your navigation log, begin to enter the structure of the flight plan. Some of the details will be added
later with current weather. For now, start with the departure airport in the first “Checkpoint” box.
5. The first checkpoint should be an easily identifiable point approximately 10-15 miles from the
departure airport. It usually goes along with the “Top of Climb.” The Top of Climb is the point at
which the airplane reaches its initial cruising altitude. This point is determined from the climb
performance charts in the POH. The Top of Climb will be determined when you get the weather for
the flight, as it is determined by winds and temperatures.
6. Identify and mark an “X” at each checkpoint along the route. The check points should be evenly
spaced along the route and have clearly visible references (freeways, airports, tall towers, cities, etc.).
The route should have checkpoints approximately every 15-20 miles. If your airplane’s airspeed
indicator is in MPH instead of KTS, you should use statute miles for distance but will need to convert
winds aloft from KTS to MPH.
7. In the “Checkpoint” box enter or draw a description for each checkpoint you identified, i.e.
intersection of roads, which airport, height of tower, etc. and the distance to the next checkpoint.