Flight plan vs itinerary by trip type
A flight plan or flight itinerary lets someone raise the alarm if you go missing.
What is required (CAR 602.73):
| Trip | Required | Itinerary allowed? | Cite |
|---|---|---|---|
| VFR, under 25 NM from departure aerodrome, within Canada | Neither (filing still wise) | n/a | CAR 602.73(2) "within 25 NM" |
| VFR, 25 NM or more from point of origin (exactly 25 NM: file) | Flight plan or itinerary | Yes | CAR 602.73(2); PSTAR 9.03 |
| IFR | Flight plan | Only if the flight is, in part or in whole, outside controlled airspace, or facilities are inadequate to pass the plan to an ATC unit, an FSS or a CARS (either alone is enough) | CAR 602.73(3); TC AIM RAC 3.5.1 |
| Canada-foreign (international boundary), any distance | VFR or IFR flight plan, filed before departure | No; CVFR flight plan also not accepted for Canada-U.S. | CAR 602.73(4); TC AIM RAC 3.5.1, 3.5.3 |
Flight-plan format, Canada-foreign (TC AIM RAC 3.5.3, 3.14.3):
| Destination | Format |
|---|---|
| U.S. | Canadian flight plan (Canada-U.S. flights not classed "international flights" for flight-planning purposes) |
| Any other country | ICAO flight plan (per ICAO Doc 4444) |
Itinerary (CAR 602.75(2); TC AIM RAC 3.5.2):
- Filed with a responsible person, an ATS unit or a community aerodrome radio station.
- Responsible person: individual who agreed with the filer to see that an ATC unit, an FSS, a CARS, or an RCC is notified if the aircraft becomes overdue.
Trap: swapping plan and itinerary (a Canada-foreign crossing needs the plan, with an ICAO plan for any country but the U.S.), or choosing an IFR itinerary for preference or a short flight; only the two conditions above allow it.
References
- CARs 602.73
- CARs 602.75
- TC AIM RAC 3.5
- TC AIM RAC 3.5.1
- TC AIM RAC 3.5.2
- TC AIM RAC 3.5.3
- TC AIM RAC 3.14.3
- PSTAR 9.03