Preflight Planning Policy
NATOPS General Flight and Operating Instructions, OPNAVINST 3710.7, states,
"Before commencing a flight, the pilot in command shall be familiar with all available
information appropriate to the intended operation. Such information should include but
is not limited to available weather reports and forecasts, NOTAMs, fuel requirements,
alternatives available if the flight cannot be completed as planned, and any anticipated
delays."
Flight Planning Branch Role
Much of a pilot's preflight planning is conducted in the flight planning branch of the
facility. Although the overall responsibility for preflight planning rests with the pilot in
command, you, as an AC, share the responsibility. You must ensure that charts and
publications are up to date and available for the pilots use, and you must also be aware
of any recent changes that might affect the safety of the flight.
The flight planning branch should have sufficient Flight Information Publications (FLIP),
navigation equipment, and related information applicable to the mission of the facility.
Table 7-3 lists the information that should be provided by the flight planning branch.
Publication/Information
Requirements
FLIPs (Sufficient quantity
Planning, area charts, enroute low altitude, enroute high
for mission)
altitude, enroute supplements, terminal low altitude, terminal
high altitude, standard instrument departures (SID),
standard terminal arrivals (STAR)
NOTAM
Shall be maintained up to date for ready reference and
displayed according to Department of Defense (DOD)
Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) System, OPNAVINST 3721.20
Publications that shall be
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 91; Aeronautical
made available in limited
Information Manual (AIM); Contractions Manual; Location
quantities for reference
Identifiers; NOTAM Publication; Foreign Clearance Guide;
(where required)
International Flight Information Manual; International
NOTAMs; Air Almanac; Catalog of Maps, Charts, and
Related Products (Part 1); Bulletin or Bulletin Digest; chart
updating manual (CHUM)/CHUM Supplement
Information that shall be
A general flight planning chart, local area flight planning
prominently displayed
charts of suitable scale showing VFR arrival and departure
(appropriate to the
corridors, a scaled terrain/obstruction map to include
mission of the air activity)
overlays depicting current SID courses, and their proximity
to known hazards
Table 7-3 -- Information provided by the flight planning branch
7-4
