IFR Flight Planning
What is IFR flight planning? How important is it? These are just two of the questions which many people wonder when looking at the complexities of flight planning and all it involves. IFR (instrument flight rules) refers to any flight which undertakes with the need for instruments to assist the pilot in navigating the craft safely to its destination. IFR flight planning is used in situations where it is known that a flight will be undertaken in certain situations where navigation is impossible to successfully undertake using the senses alone.Visual flight rules are not always enough to ensure that a journey can be made successfully; this can be due to weather conditions.
IFR Flight Planning and VFR Compared
IFR flights need a pilot to have undergone intensive training in order that the complex tools are used for the best results. VFR flights use a pilots own sight and hearing in order for them to navigate and the rules of VFR are rather simpler than those of IFR and pilots can make their own decisions regarding speed and bearing with more ease than a pilot who is flying under IFR. VFR flying allows the utilisation of the outside environment in decision making, the position of the horizon for instance can tell a pilot a lot about the height and course of their craft. IFR flight planning is all the more important when we consider this, the craft and the pilot is relying on relayed information at almost all times. There is little room for manoeuvre of rules during IFR flight whereas VFR flight allows a pilot to choose to use instruments as and when they see appropriate. Of course no matter what rules are being used, the fact remains the same that the flight plan is there to ensure that the best routes are taken and in the most cost effective and risk free fashion. IFR Flight planning requires careful weather predictions but still, a pilot flying under the rules of IFR needs to be constantly aware of change in weather and temperature as well as many other factors, this is why reliable and careful flight plans are so important to the safety of all concerned.
IFR Flight Planning and Obstacles
No matter what the weather, within reason a flight which is taken under IFR rules is more or less always able to continue, even through cloud. There needs to be no minimum visibility as the instruments on board are able to effectively “see” for the pilot. When an aircraft is in flight, one of the most important aspects of good IFR flight planning is taking into account the possibility of other craft in the airways. Planning needs to be extremely accurate as miscalculations can lead to disaster with regards to the necessary space needed to make the chosen route a successful and safe one. IFR flight planning takes all imaginable situations into account and attempts to ensure that the minimum of risks are taken on any flight.