VFR flight plan equipment[PDF]
Contents
Introduction
- Navigation capabilities dedicated to ATC management
- Regulatory equipment depending on flight type, flight rules
- Type of advanced surveillance systems for airport and airspace infrastructures management
In addition to this equipment which is instrument-related, operators are required to report about the surveillance equipment aboard their aircraft, otherwise called transponders.
In this particular documentation, the following subjects will be dealt with:
- Common general aviation equipment including descriptions and goals
- Required equipment for VFR flights as per regulations
- Methodology to establish present equipment in an aircraft based on several examples of VFR aircraft, more or less sophisticated
Common VFR flight equipment
Radio and Navigation
Letter | Description |
---|---|
D | Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) is a transponder-based radio navigation technology that measures distance between the equipment on ground and an aircraft by timing the propagation delay of VHF or UHF radio signals. |
F | Automatic Direction Finder (ADF) is a radio-navigation instrument that automatically and continuously displays the relative bearing from the aircraft to a suitable radio station. |
G | Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). The term GNSS encompasses all the satellite navigation systems such as GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO. |
L | Instrument Landing System (ILS) is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway. |
N | It shall be specified if no COM/NAV approach aid equipment for the route to be flown is carried, or the equipment is unserviceable. |
O | VHF Omni directional Range (VOR) is a type of radio navigation system for aircraft. The system relies on ground based transmitters which emit signals to a VOR receiver inside the aircraft. The navigation signal allows the aircraft receiving equipment to determine a magnetic bearing from the station to the aircraft. |
R | Performance Based Navigation (PBN) levels that can be met. It is used by ATC for clearance and routing purposes. The insertion of R in the field 10a requires PBN/ to be present in field 18. The PBN sub-field contains the RNAV and/or RNP certifications and operational approvals. |
S | It shall be specified if standard COM/NAV/approach aid equipment for the route to be flown is carried and serviceable. If the letter S is used, standard equipment is considered to be VHF RTF, VOR and ILS unless another combination is prescribed by the appropriate ATS authority. |
V | Very High Frequency (VHF) Radio Telephone (RTF). Radio equipment onboard the aircraft. |
Y | Very High Frequency (VHF) with 8.33 kHz spacing channel: it was decided in 1994 to introduce a further channel split from 25 kHz to 8.33 kHz. |
Transponder type
Letter | Description |
---|---|
A | Transponder - Mode A (4 digits - 4096 codes) |
C | Transponder - Mode A (4 digits - 4096 codes) and Mode C |
N | It indicates that no surveillance equipment for the route to be flown is carried or the equipment is unserviceable. |
P | Transponder Mode S, including pressure-altitude, but no aircraft identification capability. |
S | Transponder Mode S, including both pressure-altitude and aircraft identification capability. |
X | Transponder Mode S, with neither pressure-altitude nor aircraft identification capability. |
IVAO pilot interface Software Default Equipment
By default, the IVAO Pilot Interface provides equipment that may be included automatically in your flight plan, independently of your cockpit instruments.
- VHF receiver (2 channel) = letter V in the flight plan equipment section
- VHF receiver is compatible 8.33kHz frequency spacing = letter Y in the flight plan equipment section
- Mode S transponder = letter S in the flight plan transponder section (compatible with mode C)
VFR-Flight Regulatory Equipment
Radio and Navigation
Radio requirement (V)
8.33kHz Frequency Spacing (Y)
Transponder requirement (/C, /S)
Performance Based Navigation (R)
This basic RNAV capability is usually to carry a basic GPS onboard:
- Performance Based Navigation (PBN) is required = letter R
- Basic GPS carried = letter G
- PBN equipment requires a complementary remark in field 18 of flight plan = for Basic GNSS (i.e. GPS) text to insert is PBN/B2.
There is not a common flight level. Each country has defined its own limiting flight level. The following table will provide regulations for several countries in Europe:
Country | PBN is required above | Country | PBN is required above |
---|---|---|---|
Austria | FL95 | Italy | FL95 |
Belgium | FL95 | Netherlands | FL95 |
France | FL115 | Spain | FL150 |
Germany | FL95 | Switzerland | FL100 |
Ireland | FL95 | UK | GND |
Methodology
Principle
Conclusion
VFR flights do not require many regulatory types of equipment. Usually, these aircraft are fitted with few equipment and it is easy to determine them rapidly. It then takes a few minutes only to file a flight plan stating the correct equipment.
See also
Reference
- None
Author
- VID 150259 - Creation
- VID 450012 - Wiki Integration
DATE OF SUBMISSION
- Timestamp is not found!
COPYRIGHT
- This documentation is copyrighted as part of the intellectual property of the International Virtual Aviation Organisation.
DISCLAIMER
- The content of this documentation is intended for aviation simulation only and must not be used for real aviation operations.