Enroute Changes
Table 7-9 depicts what actions you should take when the pilot of an aircraft on a VFR
flight plan notifies you of a major flight plan change.
Change
Information to Obtain from Pilot
Controller Action
Destination
Flight plan type, aircraft ID, aircraft type,
Transmit a flight
Change
departure airport, old destination, present
notification message
position, altitude and route, new
to departure station as
destination, estimated time enroute (ETE)
well as to the original
and new destination
stations
Change from IFR A complete new flight plan
Transmit flight
to VFR
notification message
to destination tie-in
station
Change ETE
New ETA
Forward new
information to
destination station
Table 7-9 -- Enroute changes
IFR Flight Handling
All procedures and reports required for handling VFR flights also apply to IFR flights.
Additional flight plan handling is required to provide separation between aircraft
operating IFR, and often certain reports must be sent to both flight service and the Air
Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC).
Transmitting IFR Flight Plans
Federal aviation regulations require, in part, that a pilot file a flight plan and obtain an
ATC clearance before operating in controlled airspace according to IFR rules. When a
pilot files an IFR flight plan, it must be transmitted to the ARTCC within whose control
area IFR flight is proposed to begin. The IFR flight plan proposal is sent to the ARTCC
via LABS communications systems when the aircraft s proposed departure time is 15
minutes or more from transmittal time. When time is critical, the message is transmitted
via interphone.
7-12
