Alaska Transitions to ICAO Flight Plan Format
The FAA transitioned to mandatory use of the international flight plan format for all IFR and VFR domestic and international civil flights in the contiguous United States in August 2019.
Effective March 26, 2020, all domestic and international civil flights in Alaska must use the international flight plan format as well. The change is part of an effort to modernize and streamline flight planning and supports the FAA’s NextGen initiatives.
Benefits of the international form make it easier and more intuitive for pilots to use and will increase safety.
- An increase in the size of the departure and destination fields allows for a greater variety of entry types
- Transmission of the supplemental pilot data field, which contains pilot contact information, along with the VFR flight plan to the destination facility, to reduce search and rescue response times
- Air traffic control gains access to detailed equipment codes to identify aircraft capability
The international format will also allow for integration of Performance Based Navigation and enhance air traffic control services by allowing for easier identification of equipage, which can make greater use of airspace.
With the exception of military flight operations, the international format is required for all IFR and VFR flights across the NAS. Guidance on how to complete an international flight plan is available at www.faa.gov/go/flightservice.
Please contact Flight Service on our feedback email if you have any questions at 9-AWA-ATO-SYSOPS-FS@faa.gov.
