IFR flight planning
IFR (instrument flight rules) flight planning is an important factor for pilots who fly under certain conditions. When an aircraft undertake a journey which necessitates the use of certain on board equipment there are stringent rules to which the flight plan must adhere. When instrument metrological conditions apply, IFR flight planning is needed; instrument meteorological conditions denote the kind of weather conditions whereby pilots need to use a set of instruments by which to navigate. Usually IFR flight planning is a very useful tool when weather conditions are unfavourable, reduced visibility can make a simple or short journey into another thing altogether, when clouds are heavy or obscuring, then a pilot needs more than his or her eyes and ears to successfully navigate the journey. Rain, snow, high winds and cloud can all reduce not only visibility but also stability and it is in these cases where aircrafts onboard tools can make a huge difference to the safety of all concerned.
IFR flight planning and potential obstacles
The skills of a good pilot are incredibly important when it comes to navigating a craft; the ability to use the landscape outside the aircraft as a way to steer a course is a large part of ensuring the safety of all on board. During bad weather however, this visual skill is not as reliable and so on-board tools can be extremely useful in working out the height of an aircraft even when the pilot cannot see a horizon. The best IFR flight planning will always take into account any natural features of any particular route which may pose a hazard or risk during times of poor visibility, by plotting routes which take mountains for instance into account, the aircrafts’ safety is more or less guaranteed even in very bad weather. Pilots undertake rigorous preparation and training for IFR flight planning as the various aspects of it are complex. As flight planning maintains specific formulae which have been carefully calculated, aircraft can usually undertake journeys under a variety of potentially awkward circumstances and still almost guarantee the safety of the craft no matter how bad the weather.
Overview
As a good flight planning service is so important to safety, it is advisable for pilots to utilize the very best available. As computer technology improves almost annually on a massive scale, so flight planning systems become ever more sophisticated. The safety of the craft, the passengers and the pilot is the main concern and outside factors must not be allowed to compromise this; a comprehensive flight plan will take into account all potential risks and unexpected occurrences and it is worth investing in the best available. The weather, landscape and fate may all conspire to put flights in awkward positions but risk minimization is possible thanks to the sophisticated calculations which computer plans are now able to create. As air traffic has increased so steadily over the years, so technology has advanced in tandem and now even the longest and most difficult flights are as safe as the shortest thanks to forward planning.